Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has announced that more of the state's Directed Health Measures in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak are being loosened.
On Thursday, the Governor said that more businesses may reopen for customers beginning June 1st, including bars and wedding venues, as long as guidelines are followed.
Some businesses allowed to reopen on June 1st include:
- Bars, gentlemen's clubs and bottle clubs may reopen under the same rules which apply to restaurants -- 50 percent capacity, social distancing requirements, and customers must sit at tables.
- Six feet of distance must be kept between customers and entertainers, dancers or performers.
- Bar games like billiards and darts -- and arcade games -- are still prohibited.
- Venues may have gatherings of 25 percent of maximum capacity with no more than 3,000 people even if that is less than a quarter of the venue's max capacity.
- Events like wedding receptions and funeral luncheons will also have to keep tables six feet apart and only allow six people per table.
- Theaters, libraries, arenas, social clubs, auctions, zoos, stadiums, tracks, fairgrounds and auditoriums will all be allowed to reopen, but with capacity limits in place.
Events like parades, carnivals, dances, street dances, and beer gardens remain prohibited through June 30th. Parades where everyone stays in their cars are still allowed. Dance recitals will be allowed, but again under proper social distancing guidelines. Drive-in movie theaters may also operate at full capacity as long as everyone stays in their cars.
On Thursday, Ricketts also announced that more sports may begin practices, games and tournaments. Tennis, golf, and rodeos will be allowed to resume among other sports like baseball and softball. More details about how such activities will be allowed will be published soon, Ricketts said.
Practices may start June 1st for those sports and games may be held beginning June 18th. Football, soccer, and wrestling remain prohibited, he added. School gyms and weight rooms will be allowed to open.