SCHUYLER - Despite eased DHM restrictions in Colfax County, caution is still being urged amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and the temporary closure of the Schuyler Cargill plant.

Monday, the Schuyler plant became the latest meat packing plant in Nebraska to idle its operations, as the company says the closure is out of an abundance of caution. It's unknown at this time how many employees at the plant may have tested positive for COVID-19, but Schuyler Mayor Jon Knutson believes it was the smart choice for Cargill to make.

"Obviously we've been asked by the governor and the president to keep our plants open, but there was certainly some fear and probably some misinformation," Knutson said. "Rumor spread, and then it became a very simple answer for Cargill to take care of its people."

As of Monday, the East Central District Health Department reported 241 cases of COVID-19 in Colfax County, but no further details have been released regarding the cases, a strategy that the health department says it will continue to implement.

"Our strategy has been to not identify places where folks work," said Chuck Sepers, Chief Public Health Officer with the East Central District Health Department. "I know on social media we've been getting a lot of pushback about where people work or live, but those are things that we've purposely avoided, and that's not something we would share moving forward."

As COVID-19 continues to be monitored in Colfax County, Mayor Knutson believes the best course of action for Schuyler to take is to continue to practice social distancing, even though lighter directed health measures are now in place for the county.

"We'll probably make some more informed decisions in the next few days, but I predict that we will want the same message out, to stay closed down," Knutson said. "It's certainly going to hurt businesses, but how much is a life worth, we just don't really want to go down that road."