Douglas Co. Health Director recommends temporary mask mandate; Ricketts and Stothert respond

The Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) is pursuing a mask mandate for several reasons. Here are three key points:

• Transmission rates in the county are double the CDC’s standard what is considered a high transmission rate. They are more than 15 times as high as our rates in early June.
• Current vaccination rates are inadequate to slow the transmission rate.
• Younger children cannot be vaccinated and locally four school rooms were closed in the first week of classes while another school district mandated masks for all grades. Your best protection against COVID-19 is to be vaccinated and wear a mask

"I do not support another mask mandate, and until this morning I was not aware that Dr. Huse had sent a request to the State of Nebraska for a Directed Health Measure for Douglas County.

Any new Directed Health Measures should be based on hospital capacity to care for patients, and vaccination rates.

The vaccination rate continues to increase, and the FDA’s final approval of the Pfizer vaccine is expected to increase the percentage of vaccinated persons.

I will continue to encourage vaccines and support programs to make vaccinations accessible to everyone."

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts issued a statement following news that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance attempting to re-impose mask guidance for vaccinated people.

“The CDC’s new guidance suggesting that vaccinated people wear masks indoors flies in the face of the public health goals that should guide the agency’s decision making. The CDC announcement only furthers the distrust many have with the CDC and does not help to encourage more people to get the vaccines that are helping bring the pandemic to a conclusion. The State of Nebraska will not be adopting their mask guidance.”

“Furthermore, I will reiterate my expectations for schools and universities in the fall. Schools should convene in person without mask or vaccine requirements.”

“Nebraskans exercise personal responsibility for their own health, and are encouraged to have a conversation with their doctor about the vaccine. These conversations will be important because the virus will be with us forever. Working together, we’ve successfully protected hospital capacity throughout the pandemic. It’s time for the CDC and the government to get out of the way, and to stop trying to tell people how to live their lives.”