A ban on large gatherings now carries the force of law in Omaha and across Douglas County.

Necessary shopping, continuity of business operations and some other gatherings are exempt, as the community shifts away from voluntary compliance in its approach to preventing the spread of the coronavirus. 

The Douglas County Board of Health issued the order Wednesday morning, and it will remain in effect through April 30.

The ban applies to:

• Gatherings with an expected presence of over 10 people in a venue, or 10 people per subdivided space separated by physical walls with sufficient airspace; and

• Gatherings of under 10 people where a minimum social distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained in a venue or subdivision;

Child care and day care facilities are permitted to continue operating provided that children are kept in stable groups of 10 children or fewer each day, where children may not move between groups, each group is in a separate room and child care providers stay with one group of children.

Other exceptions include:

• Courts of law;

• Medical providers;

• Public utilities;

• Critical county and city operations;

• Continuity of business operations;

• Logistics and distribution centers;

• Congregate living settings, shelters and family residences housing 10 or more people;

• Public transportation and airport travel; and

• Necessary shopping at fuel stations, stores or malls.

Excepted settlings are still instructed to “observe all applicable state and federal guidelines for infection control.”

The order does not amount to the “shelter in place” orders in effect in northern California and under consideration in New York. However, the order seeks to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Violating the ban is a Class V misdemeanor. The Douglas County Health Department asked the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and county police departments to enforce the ban as necessary.