As NE Covid Total Nears 29,000, City Councils Move Towards Mask Mandates

Nebraska is continuing to see an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.  Officials confirmed 264 new cases yesterday, bringing the statewide total to 28-thousand-696.  There have been 348 coronavirus-related deaths in Nebraska during the pandemic.  Douglas County has seen 11-thousand-354 COVID-19 cases, the most in the state. The Omaha City Council is set to vote on a public face mask ordinance.  The proposal would require face coverings to be worn by people ages five and older in any indoor public location.  Masks would not be required for people who can maintain at least six feet of distance from anyone who is not a member of their household.  City Council members are expected to vote on the ordinance today. The city of Bellevue is considering a face mask ordinance.  Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike says he posed a question to residents on Facebook to determine if they would support a mask mandate.  Hike says he received nearly two-thousand comments and about 60-percent of those who responded to his question were in favor of a public face mask ordinance.