As the pandemic reaches its one-year mark, here is a timeline of significant events of the pandemic in Nebraska:
ONE YEAR
PANDEMIC
OF A
SPRING 2020
The world freezes. In those three days, Omaha loses a few hundred million dollars. The NCAA season ends at halftime of the Creighton-St. John’s Big East Tournament game; no tournament, so no first-round games in Omaha. The College World Series is canceled. Omaha Public Schools and Lincoln Public Schools announce they would be closed for at least a week.
March 11-13
The world freezes
IN NEBRASKA
March 16: Nebraska’s first restrictions are announced, capping indoor crowds in the Omaha area at 10, squelching St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
MAR
April 28: UNMC emerges as a leader in the global clinical trial of remdesivir, later used to treat the president.
APR
March 6: First case of coronavirus disease is confirmed in Nebraska.
April 21: Test Nebraska contract is announced; Grand Island’s JBS Swift meatpacking facility finds itself in the center of the outbreak and in the national spotlight. As a critical industry, operations continue with protective equipment, temperature checks, daily sanitizations and dividers in common areas.
CHART: NEBRASKA
COVID-19 TESTING
March 11-13:
The world freezes
MAY
May 1: Nebraska Crossing reopens.
May 9: Virtual graduation at UNL.
SUMMER
JUN
June 1: Bars reopen in most Nebraska counties.
June 17: Gov. Pete Ricketts says counties won’t get state CARES Act money if they require masks at agency offices.
July 24: A summer COVID-19 surge begins; Nebraska reports its highest case totals since May.
JUL
July 20: Lincoln mask mandate takes effect.
CHART: LANCASTER CO.
COVID-19 CASES
CHART: DOUGLAS CO.
COVID-19 CASES
AUG
Aug. 11: Omaha passes mask mandate. Also, Big Ten says no football.
FALL
Oct. 14: Nebraska reports record hospitalizations.
Late September: Hayes County is last in Nebraska not to have a positive COVID-19 case.
CHART: NEBRAKSA
HOSPITAL CAPACITY
SEP
OCT
NOV
Oct. 2: Nebraska records its 500th COVID-19 death.
Oct. 24: Nebraska opens football season at Ohio State with 52-17 loss.
WINTER
Dec. 1: Nebraska records its 1,000th COVID-19 death.
Dec. 7: Nebraska reports 202 deaths in a week, a peak.
DEC
CHART: NEBRASKA
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
CHART: VACCINATION RATES, HOW NEBRASKA COMPARES
Feb. 13: Nebraska records its 2,000th COVID-19 death.
JAN
FEB
Dec. 14: First vaccinations in Nebraska.
CHART: LANCASTER CO.
COVID-19 DEATHS
CHART: DOUGLAS CO.
COVID-19 DEATHS
SPRING 2021
MAR
One year later
March 7: Fremont schools and universities are the first in Nebraska to close temporarily.
March 27: First two Nebraska COVID-19 deaths reported.
ANNIMATED MAP:
NEBRASKA COVID-19 CASES, BY COUNTY
Sept. 16: Big Ten reverses course after Nebraska, Ohio State, players and President Trump complain, announces football season will start Oct. 23-24.
Nov. 23-26: Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings, La Vista, Wahoo, Gretna, York and Ralston require facial coverings in premises open to the general public. Norfolk, Beatrice and Kearney previously had passed mask mandates, joining Lincoln and Omaha.
Z LONG/THE WORLD-HERALD
SMITHFIELD FOODS
CHRIS MACHIAN, World-Herald
ANNA REED, World-Herald
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
ANNA REED, World-Herald
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Associated Press
FRANCIS GARDLER, Lincoln Journal Star
KIRK IRWIN, via Ohio State Athletics
LILY SMITH, World-Herald
