Pandemic brings out new restrictions for area events

WAUSA — The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing area schools to limit attendance at sporting events and other extra curricular activities.

Besides a limit on how many people can attend events, the NSAA is also requiring the following of schools, officials and spectators for all winter season contests:

• Active participants are permitted, but not required, to wear face coverings during competition/performance.

• Coaches and non-active participants (those not currently on the court, mat or stage) are required to wear face coverings at all times. Cheer and dance are considered non-active participants.

• Spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times while attending indoor events.

• Face coverings must cover the nose and mouth.

• The host school may establish additional requirements in consultation with local health departments.

The pandemic continues to rage across the country and in Nebraska. Nebraska passed a grim milestone last week.

Nebraska now has over 1,000 deaths linked to the coronavirus. To make matters worse, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 remains high in the state.

Officials reported 29 new deaths Monday to give the state 1,018 total since the pandemic began. The state also reported 1,941 new cases of the virus to push the total up to 128,407.

The number of people being treated for the virus in hospitals grew Monday to 907 from the previous day’s 896. The state record for for admissions is 987, which was set Nov. 20.

Several Directed Health Measures were set to expire Monday, but they were extended through the end of 2020 by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

The current DHMs are similar to the ones put into place earlier this year and in October. They include at least six feet of separation in places like restaurants and bars.

At the Governor’s Monday press conference, he was asked again why he has not called for a statewide mask mandate.

“We have Directed Health Measures in place that for example require masks when you are going to be in a business and you are going to be closer than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes or more. And we have taken actions to limit gatherings and so forth. We are putting together a plan that is right for Nebraska,” said Ricketts.

Ricketts added that masks are just one tool in helping the fight against the virus.

Also during the news conference, John Hilgert with the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs said there have been over 40 confirmed cases of the virus in the state’s four veterans’ homes. Those cases include veterans and staff.

He said, like in long-term care facilities, staff members at veterans’ homes who test positive quarantine for 14 days, and that creates hardships on the rest of the staff.

“That’s more overtime, more stress. You know that people like to say that our healthcare workers have been working tirelessly since spring,” said Hilgert. “I know that is supposed to be a compliment, but I am here to tell you that they are tired. They are not tireless.”

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