Lincoln – Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts rejected a call from two state lawmakers to resume normal school and business activities right away, saying that could lead to a surge in new cases that might overwhelm the state’s hospitals.

Ricketts said he will stick with the state’s current plan, which includes school closures and restrictions on businesses and social gatherings until at least April 30.

His remarks at his daily coronavirus press briefing at the state Capitol came in response to a question about a newspaper column by state Sens. Steve Halloran and Steve Erdman, both conservatives who normally agree with the Republican governor.

The senators argued in the Hastings Tribune that shelter-in-place orders across the U.S. have devastated the economy, put students at a disadvantage and “made the cure worse than the disease.”

The senators contend that lifting the restrictions and allowing healthy people to contract the virus would create a “herd immunity” that would protect society as a whole. Epidemiologists and other public health experts say that approach would lead to a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths, and social distancing is the only way to protect people who are most at risk.

“If Nebraska continues to operate within its current mitigation policy, civil unrest will eventually ensue,” wrote the senators, who are both in their 70s, a high-risk age group. “All life is sacred and valuable, but Nebraskans also need to re-open their businesses, go back to work, go back to school and get the elective surgeries they need.”

Ricketts said he agrees with the senators “100%” about the need to reopen schools and businesses as soon as possible, but he warned that doing so too soon could lead to a spike in cases.

“The big key, again, is what we have said all along, which is about being sure we don’t overwhelm the health care system,” he said. “That’s what we’re working to manage to. We’ve got to stay home and stay healthy until the end of April.”