Nebraska courts were ordered to remain open until further notice despite the coronavirus outbreak.

Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael G. Heavican issued an administrative order on Thursday that requires courts to stay open unless he declares a nonjudicial day in the state.

Heavican ordered the courts and probation officers to devise and implement emergency preparedness plans “to carry out mission essential functions” should the courts be closed.

The order requires attorneys to promptly notify opposing counsel and the courts if they reasonably suspect a participant in a scheduled hearing, trial, conference, deposition or other proceeding is at elevated risk for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The order outlines criteria for those at elevated risk.

Such persons are prohibited from attending a judicial proceeding without court authorization.

Additionally, Heavican ordered attorneys to notify opposing counsel and the courts if litigation requires travel or other actions contrary to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other foreign or domestic public health officials.

In January, Heavican said in his State of the Courts speech that the Nebraska Judicial Branch hosted a conference last year on pandemic preparedness. It also completed a bench book in 2018 to guide judges responding to a pandemic.

“Nebraska judges are now better prepared for the need to respond quickly and efficiently to pandemic quarantines and related legal issues,” Heavican told state lawmakers on Jan. 22.

Read the full text of Thursday’s order at bit.ly/nebctcovidorder.