OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — A plan to provide $40 million of additional funding to long-term care facilities amid the pandemic was presented Monday at a press conference held by Gov. Pete Ricketts and other officials.
The DHHS Director of the Division of Public Health, Dr. Gary Anthone, said 1,774 total long-term care residents in Nebraska have tested positive for COVID-19 and 238 residents have died, accounting for 36% of total COVID-19 related deaths in the state.
A total of 1,832 long-term care staff have tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, Dr. Anthone said 312 out of 496 facilities have been impacted by the pandemic in Nebraska.
To recognize the additional costs that long-term care facilities are incurring, $40 million of additional funding will be awarded across the state.
A total of $15 million is planned to come from the state while $25 million will come from the federal government.
Gov. Ricketts also stressed the importance of keeping schools open, saying transmission rates are low and students and staff are mostly getting COVID-19 out in the community.
He additionally signed two executive orders, one allowing public board members who are quarantining to be able to attend meetings electronically to be counted for quorum and still be able to vote.
The other executive order allows poll workers to be shared across county lines ahead of Tuesday to ensure there are enough workers.
Ricketts also announced the appointment of Kevin Bagley as the state's new Director of the Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
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