Salons, tattoo parlors and similar businesses in Sarpy and Cass counties must close.

The Sarpy/Cass Health Department issued a directed health measure Sunday evening that ordered businesses in the beauty services industry to cease operations by 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

The new measure follows what Douglas and Lancaster have done by restricting businesses that cannot maintain a 6-foot separation among people, regardless of if the business stays under a 100person maximum occupancy, not counting the staff of the business.

“The Sarpy/Cass Health Department continues to collaborate with local and state government partners to monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation,” the department said in a news release. “Our collective priority is to ensure appropriate public health recommendations and requirements are in place to ensure our residents remain as healthy as possible.”

Some news media outlets reported on the discrepancy in the public health measures, which had been allowing salons and similar businesses in Sarpy County to stay open while similar places were barred from operation in Omaha and Council Bluffs.

The order in Sarpy and Cass county remains in place until April 30. The department said to expect the new order to stand “no longer than necessary to ensure the individuals or groups affected by COVID-19 no longer pose a public health threat.”

Sarpy County Board Chairman Don Kelly said health and safety are officials’ top priority.

“While we understand the hardship these restrictions put on dedicated, hardworking service professionals in our community, this is the right decision to help slow the spread of the virus,” Kelly said, noting that the county intends to enforce the measure.