Lincoln – Among the latest coronavirus patients in Nebraska is state Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus, who has been receiving care at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said Tuesday that he was “praying for (Moser) and his family as he goes through this recovery process.” Moser, 68, was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2018.

The Columbus music store owner previously served as the city’s mayor from 2004-2016. In an April letter to his constituents, Moser said he supported the “tough, but necessary” decision to postpone the legislative session because of the pandemic.

Lawmakers suspended their session in late March but are expected to return July 20 to finish the remaining scheduled days.

Another lawmaker, Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas, announced last month that his 72-year-old father had died in New York after contracting the virus.

Omaha-area hospitals have continued to reported upticks in coronavirus patients. Nebraska Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Gary Anthone, said Douglas County’s hospitals were treating 135 patients Tuesday, up from 122 last week. Hospital beds or ventilators remain available, Anthone said.

“Everyone feels like they’re able to handle the situation,” he said.