Papillion, Nebraska, officials have already ditched the city’s mask mandate just 10 days after it went into effect.
Officials of the Omaha suburb explained that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations lowered, and COVID-19 cases accounted for less than 20% of hospital beds in the last two weeks, which aligns with Gov. Pete Ricketts’ COVID-19 standards, according to the Associated Press.
“The City of Papillion’s mask ordinance has expired now that the percentage of COVID-19 patients occupying staffed hospital beds in Nebraska has dropped below 20% based on a 14-day rolling average,” the city announced in a statement on Tuesday (December 15). “COVID-19 safety measures continue to be recommended in our community.”
“We continue to recommend residents avoid gatherings, wash hands frequently, social distance from those outside their household, and wear a mask when they are in settings with others from outside their household where social distancing isn’t possible, especially indoors,” the city continued. “Also, many businesses and organizations in our community continue to require masks on their premises. The expiration of the City’s ordinance does not invalidate those requirements.”
Papillion is one of many Nebraska cities that have implemented mask mandates to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Papillion City Council members will consider reinstating the mask ordinance automatically if the state re-enters the “orange zone,” in which at least 20% of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients on a 7-day average.
There will be a public hearing on that matter on January 5.
Nebraska has tracked more than 150,800 total cases and has 677 active COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Wednesday (December 16), according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
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