Nebraska leaders are rolling out guidelines and procedures about how to reopen amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
At his daily coronavirus briefing on Tuesday, Governor Pete Ricketts was joined by dentistry experts to speak about the guidelines as medical facilities begin performing elective procedures again on May 4th.
Dr. Charles Craft, Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services Dental Health Director, says dental healthcare has been no exception to the impact of coronavirus on Nebraskans over the past few months. He says dental professionals across the state are utilizing information from organizations like the CDC to create safety protocols."As we prepare to reopen elective dental services May 4th, the DHHS have been in constant communication and have pooled resources together to review information."
Craft says more precautions will be in place for dental offices, like patient screening, enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE), infection control, and limits on certain procedures. "It will mean a new normal for the dental world. The decision to remain open or closed is up to each practice."
Dr. Ken Tusha, immediate past president of the Nebraska Dental Association said a list of protocols for dental offices will be available for the public to view. "Guidelines include screening the team on a daily basis and patients who come in. They may be sitting in their car, talking to them on their cellphones when we do this."
Tusha says dentistry went through a similar episode in the 1980's with the AIDS crisis and that caused new protocols, just as the coronavirus pandemic will. "Rest assured, we got this. We will beat this."
At his Tuesday briefing, Ricketts also detailed guidelines for businesses like restaurants that may reopen beginning May 4th for dine-in.
Zoe Olson, Executive Director of the Nebraska Restaurant Association said reopening guidelines and the "Nebraska promise" will be posted inside all restaurants. Olson say the promise is made both ways between restaurants and customers, and all the guidelines and protocols will be available online. "The promise is you will not come into our restaurants and dining rooms if you are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. Understand we are doing everything we can to make this the safest environment we can for the consumer."