Ricketts' order postpones evictions for residents impacted by COVID-19

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts on Wednesday issued an executive order providing temporary halt to evictions for those residents whose job status has been affected by coronavirus.

The order covers any rent nonpayment that accrued on or after March 13 by tenants who can prove to their landlord that:

The order mandates landlords to defer eviction notices for those in the above circumstances to May 31, but only for nonpayment. Landlords are still allowed to move forward with evictions due to criminal conduct, vandalism, or material noncompliance by the tenant, according to the order.

The order also protects those who may have themselves or know someone with coronavirus — confirmed or not — from being evicted.

Tenants must still pay rent or make arrangements with their landords to do so, the order states.

The order, which expires on May 31 unless further extended by the governor, comes a day after

asking them to forgive or suspect eviction on tenants affected by coronavirus.

The

said in a news release Wednesday that it and

have recommended to its members that, during the COVID-19 crisis, they:

"The COVID-19 virus will have an unprecedented economic impact on our members and residents alike," the AAN release states. "We believe it is vitally important for each of us to do what we can to help our neighbor. The AAN is prepared to take whatever steps it can to keep our residents in their homes."