LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts was joined by various officials Monday to discuss the state’s response to COVID-19 and the WellPower Movement challenge.
Gov. Ricketts joined the press conference virtually, saying he had potential exposure to COVID-19 over the weekend. He is waiting for his test results and said the gathering where the possible exposure happened was a business gathering, not a social function.
Over the weekend, hospitalizations dropped enough for the state to go into the green category, which loosened Directed Health Measures. There are currently 312 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in the state.
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Gov. Ricketts said if hospitalizations go up, restrictions will tighten again. He urged Nebraskans to continue safety measures and added that 44,000 individuals were vaccinated last week.
The governor said in regards to meatpacking plants that local health directors are organizing how vaccines are distributed in each area of the state.
Local health directors will work with employers and vaccination distributions will look differently depending on location.
In general, vaccines in Nebraska are being distributed on a population basis. When asked why rural areas are farther ahead on vaccinating, the governor said the reason was there could be fewer healthcare workers to vaccinate or more residents not agreeing to take the shots.
Additionally, the governor and other guests discussed the state’s WellPower Movement campaign, which encourages residents to prioritize physical, mental and spiritual health.
Residents can sign up here to register for a challenge to track physical exercise and can earn virtual badges and qualify for prizes.
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