Nebraska governor in quarantine after possible exposure to COVID-19

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) went into quarantine Tuesday following a possible COVID-19 exposure at a dinner gathering over the weekend.

He and first lady Susanne Shore will quarantine for 14 days following the possible exposure. Ricketts’s spokesperson added that he and Shore had dinner outside with three people Sunday evening, The Associated Press reported.

The spokesperson, Taylor Gage, added that neither the governor nor his spouse are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, and both will receive a test “at the appropriate time.”

Ricketts will host remote coronavirus news briefings Tuesday and Thursday to update the public on the state’s handling of the virus, as Nebraska sees record-setting surges in cases and hospitalizations.

The governor announced renewed COVID-19 pandemic restrictions for the state Monday, rejecting calls to impose a mask mandate but amplifying state directives to reduce the capacity for indoor gatherings from 50 to 25 percent.

He also switched 6-foot social distancing recommendations to a requirement, adding that masks should be used at indoor businesses where close contact occurs for more than 15 minutes.

Still, some health care workers are concerned Ricketts’s steps are not enough, citing worries that rising cases could overwhelm the state’s hospital system.

Nebraska lifted some pandemic health mandates in September, though measures will likely stay in place as the state’s Department of Health and Human Services reported only 1,452 available ICU beds out of 4,711.