The week of Easter is typically packed with activities from start to finish. However, in 2020, church pews will sit empty and parks which host raucous Easter egg hunts will be eerily quiet. A holiday associated with renewal of life now falls in a period where traditional celebrations have been canceled in order to save lives. The entire state of Nebraska is now under a Directed Health Measure (DHM), issued by the Governor last week to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The DHM orders all K-12 schools to keep their buildings closed to students until at least May 31. All scheduled school-sponsored extracurricular activities are also canceled through the end of next month. There will be no track season this year, graduation ceremonies are postponed, and alternatives for prom are being organized. 

The DHM also orders the shutdown of dining areas in restaurants and bars. All food and drink orders must now be fulfilled through delivery, carry-out, or drive-thru. Social gatherings of ten people or more have been banned, impacting weddings, funerals, and Sunday services.

There are some in District 1 who say these measures go too far, while others say the DHM doesn’t go far enough and a statewide shutdown should be implemented. Regardless of your opinion on the measures, I do ask, however, that you take this DHM seriously.

Conducting yourself with a “business as usual” mentality and scoffing at very basic CDC recommendations is an insult to every healthcare worker, first responder, and essential employee putting their life on the line to contain a pandemic. Throwing caution to the wind by refusing to social distance and limit gatherings ensures that restrictions for COVID-19 last longer than they could have, increasing an already overwhelming challenge for our small business owners to keep their doors open after the pandemic passes.

Conservative estimates place the U.S. COVID-19 death toll at 100,000 people. We know the virus has established itself in communities through “super-spreading” events. If one of these “super-spreading” events hit District 1, our healthcare system would be very quickly overwhelmed. This is not fear-mongering, this is a fact.

If you do not believe COVID-19 is in District 1 beyond our handful of lab-confirmed cases, you are fooling yourself. Please, the next time you decide to head out for a non-essential social gathering, ask yourself: Is it really worth it? 

Your own life and the lives of your family, friends, and neighbors are at stake in our challenge to contain COVID-19’s impact. Perhaps that’s still not enough for you to cancel your weekly card game or daily coffee shop conference, so consider this thought- Husker football season is at risk, as well.

Next Easter, church pews will again be filled and kids will return to their practice of making Easter egg hunts a contact sport. This year is going to be a bit different than what we’re used to, but that doesn’t have to dampen the holiday’s celebration completely. Have a safe and blessed Easter, District 1.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604; telephone 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov.