Despite the recent rise of COVID cases in Nebraska, Gov. Pete Ricketts is not renewing any Directed Health Measures, such as limiting crowds at sporting events, but continues to push for more vaccinations and early treatments.

Those treatments range from controversial proposed COVID treatments such as ivermectin to the far more medically accepted monoclonal antibodies.

Ricketts is calling on Nebraskans who show early signs of COVID, such as fever and coughs, to get tested and strongly consider the monoclonal treatment.

According to the governor, if your doctor says no, get a second opinion: "We strongly recommend that you get that monoclonal antibody treatment. That means talking to your doctor and getting the prescription for it. If your doctor won't give you that prescription without a good reason, I've had many people tell me their doctors just didn't want to do it, get a new doctor."

At the same time the state will be protecting physicians who go the less traditional routes.

"Attorney General Doug Peterson has done the work and the research on treatments such as ivermectin and  hydroxychloroquine and any doctor who wants to prescribe those will not be penalized here in Nebraska for doing those,” said Ricketts.

As of early today the state is reporting 523 COVID hospitalizations, down from a peak of 637 earlier this year.

Last year’s peak, when many Directed Health Measures were put in place, was 987 hospitalizations.

One final note, the state’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Gary Anthone says Nebraska is seeing more vaccinations from people who initially shied away for them.

“So we’re not saying that the people who haven’t been vaccinated have dug in their heels and won’t consider getting vaccinated," said Anthone. "We’re still seeing those patients come in.”