BEATRICE – With Beatrice and Gage County going under a new Directed Health Measure as of Monday, restaurants, hair salons, barbers and daycares will able to operate under somewhat relaxed rules, but with some restrictions.
A Beatrice Health Board meeting today took no action on water park or splash pad restrictions, awaiting further direction from the Governor’s Office on how such facilities will be treated.


Health Board member Dr. Steve Paulmeyer says there may be a risk difference during the coronavirus pandemic between swimming pools and splash pads.
"City swimming pools would be a challenge, just based on the current Directed Health Measures. The splash pads.....to me, I would tend to view those similar to a park...like a kids park as far as being open and our ability to limit or restrict the number of people in those places".


Directed Health Measures have kept in place a ten-person limit on groups, though daycares will soon be able to allow groups of kids up to 15, in number.


The Health Board voted to ban issuance of door-to-door peddler permits through at least September 1st, upon recommendation from Mayor Stan Wirth. Board member Rick Clabaugh supported that step.
"I would hate to have somebody....a strange person come to my door who didn't have a UPS or FedEx uniform that was wearing a mask. That would make me a little nervous. But, I think we should hold off, for awhile".


City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says peddler permits are typically issued following a background check, for individuals doing door-to-door cold calls….not for pre-arranged deliveries done by businesses.


Starting Monday, restaurants will be allowed to host indoors dining, with some restrictions. Persons will not be able to sit a bar, and any alcohol sale must be part of a purchased meal. Co-owner of the Black Crow Restaurant, Kate Ratigan, said that could be confusing for businesses trying to comply.
"Does that mean that a person has to purchase a meal to be able to have a beverage....an alcoholic beverage?"


Beatrice Police Chief Bruce Lang, noting the definition of a restaurant is somewhat ambiguous, said the DHM bars a person from coming inside the business just to drink alcohol.
"If there's nothing there, and the person just comes in an orders a drink and sits in the establishment, that's clearly not the intent of the order in the Directed Health Measure. But, if there's some sort of food on the table, I think that would make it difficult for someone to enforce it otherwise".


The Beatrice Health Board plans to review the first days of the new DHM, meeting again next Thursday, at 11:30 a.m.