Virus forcing cancellation of Nebraska graduation ceremonies

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of May graduation ceremonies at the state’s four University of Nebraska system campuses, officials said. The Lincoln campus intends to hold an online event, and the May graduates have been invited to attend August, December, May 2021 ceremonies or other future commencements.

For most people, COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are among those particularly susceptible to more severe illness.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha graduates will be recognized through an online streaming commencement on May 8. The grads will be able to take part in a commencement ceremony at Baxter Arena in Omaha in December.

The Kearney campus plans to combine commencements for spring and summer graduates on July 31.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha plans to hold virtual ceremonies May 7 and 9. The grads will have chances to participate in the December ceremony or any future ceremony.

A spokeswoman for the Nebraska State College System didn’t immediately answer an inquiry from The Associated Press about commencement plans for its campuses in Chadron, Peru and Wayne.

Meanwhile, Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an executive order Monday to loosen restrictions on hospitals and other health care facilities so that they can respond to a possible surge in patients suffering from COVID-19.

The order temporarily relaxes training requirements on nursing aides, medications aides and dining assistants during the statewide emergency, but those workers would still have to demonstrate basic competence in their field before they could work. Ricketts said the order drops the state’s training requirement of 76 hours of experience down to eight until the declared emergency ends. It also would remove limits on the number of acute care beds within certain hospitals and the average amount of time a patient can stay.

“It’s an opportunity for us to have caregivers” before the situation worsens, Ricketts said at a Capitol press conference.

Ricketts also imposed tougher social distancing rules on Webster, Adams, Nuckolls and Clay counties in southern Nebraska, bringing the statewide total to 34. The order requires restaurants and bars to close their dining areas and only offer takeout or delivery.

In counties that aren’t affected, those businesses can keep their dining areas open but can’t have more than 10 people inside at once. The restrictions are designed to slow the virus’ spread and prevent it from overwhelming the state’s hospitals.