Following national guidelines on social grouping announced during the

Monday, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Nebraskans should begin limiting events to 10 people or less.

The new guidelines, announced at a 3:30 p.m. live news conference, are intended to prevent overwhelming the state's health-care system. The recommended restrictions would include restaurants, bars, weddings, funerals, churches, movie theaters, gyms, etc.

It would not apply to grocery stores.

Grocery supplies

The state is taking steps to make sure grocery stores stay stocked. In an effort to discourage hoarding, officials recommend people stock up for no more than two weeks, then one week at a time thereafter.

COVID-19 testing

Meanwhile, the state is conducting 200 tests per day and is working to expand testing. Officials are exploring the feasibility of drive-up testing.

Those seeking out testing would need to be screened first, with testing for influenza and other potential viruses happening before any testing for coronavirus. People determined to be at-risk would be tested first.

Education

All schools are advised to make arrangements to close by the end of the week and make plans to close for at least six to eight weeks. State education officials will communicate with schools on a two-week basis.

State education officials are also working on ways to provide meals to students during the closure.

Statewide assessment testing is suspended for the rest of the school year, but officials are looking into the possibility of arranging for ACT testing later in the year. Officials are also working on ways to ensure high school seniors are able to earn their graduation credits via e-learning.

Unemployment

. During that time, the state will waive requirements to search for work as well as the waiting requirement to receive benefits. Claims will be moved online, though in-person service will still be an option.

About community spread

In a press release issued Monday afternoon, Ricketts said bars and restaurants will move to takeout only on a regional basis should one more community spread case be confirmed in the state.

Community spread is when someone becomes infected by being exposed to the virus without having traveled out of the area recently. There is one such case confirmed in the state already.

At the conference later today Ricketts is expected to talk about new relief measures for Nebraskans.

Ricketts will be joined by Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt and Department of Labor Commissioner John Albin.