Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert stood alongside city and county officials Monday to give the latest recap of COVID-19 news in the greater Omaha area.

With two new cases confirmed in Douglas County last night and the St. Patrick’s holiday celebrations incoming, Stothert has decided to limit gatherings to 50 people or fewer. This includes people inside of restaurants or bars.

The mayor has also signed an emergency ordnance to go in front of Omaha City Council on Tuesday to provide full-time city employees with up to 80 hours of paid administrative leave if they are diagnosed with or are taking care of someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

“We feel that these are really extraordinary times, and we need to take emergency measures,” Stothert said.

So far, Omaha has one case of community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. A second report would trigger “non-pharmaceutical intervention,” said Dr. Adi Pour, director of the Douglas County Health Department. That intervention likely would require Omaha schools, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues to shut down for 6 to 8 weeks.

The implications of a city-wide shutdown could be detrimental to business owners.

“This has the potential to severely effect our economy,” said Stothert. “I worry if small businesses will survive this.”

Conversations are underway within Omaha’s philanthropic community to provide support to workers, especially hourly employees in the private sector, who would be affected by a long shutdown with assistance for rent, mortgage and food.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners will be taking two weeks off after Tuesday's meeting, and the Omaha City Council will not be meeting again until April 21.

County offices also not accepting walk-ins until further notice with some limitations. The Douglas County Courthouse is taking steps to limit visitors.

The Omaha Police Department will be appointing a medical director to coordinate COVID-19 responses from law enforcement.