In the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour has now ordered all public gatherings in the county to be limited to 10 people or less through April 30.
The number of cases continues to climb in Douglas County. "We have four additional cases yesterday and overnight. We know they are positive and isolating at home. Most of the cases we have had are mild, in the prime of their life, traveled and came back home," Pour says.
The order doesn't apply to courts, medical providers, public utilities, critical county and city operations, logistics/distribution centers, congregate living settings, shelters, public transportation, airport travel, shopping at fuel stations, stores or malls, and family homes.
She says daycares and child care facilities can remain open but must operate under the following rules:
Children must be kept in groups of ten or fewer with the same children in the same group each day. If there is more than one group of children being cared for at one facility the groups have to be kept in separate rooms.
Dr. Pour says testing is loosening up and increasing but is by no means available for everyone seeking to be tested.
"We have a limited amount of tests. The private labs crashed on Monday and were overwhelmed. But testing is not a panacea."
Emergency responders and law enforcement members want to be tested but Pour said it is not feasible at this time. Tests must be reserved for those who are high risk -- and the same method is being used nationwide.