Nebraska will require long-term care centers to develop formal plans outlining how they’ll keep the coronavirus from spreading among the vulnerable residents who live in those facilities.

Facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living centers will have to submit plans to state regulators explaining how they intend to identify ill people and deal with visitors for the rest of the year. They’ll also have to discuss their disinfection protocols.

The announcement last Friday by Gov. Pete Ricketts came as state officials scramble to keep the virus from spreading among long-term care facilities, whose residents are generally older and have underlying health problems.

Long-term care residents are among the hardest-hit population groups in Nebraska, accounting for the majority of coronavirus deaths. At least 82 long-term care facilities have reported coronavirus cases in Nebraska, including 35 with cases among residents.

Ricketts said state officials will consult with long-term care facilities on the project. The plans will also focus on residents’ mental health needs, he said.

State health officials said it’s not practical to test all of Nebraska’s long-term care residents because such testing would have to be repeated to ensure no new cases have emerged.

“A test just tells you whether you’re positive or negative at that point in time,” said Dr. Gary Anthone, the state’s chief medical officer.