Omaha extends rule requiring masks because of coronavirus

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha residents will have to continue wearing masks in public at least into October because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Omaha’s City Council voted Tuesday to extend its mask requirement that was set to expire later this month through Oct. 20. Everyone in the state’s largest city is required to wear face coverings in most indoor public spaces where they are not able to maintain 6 feet of social distance.

Douglas County Health Director Adi Pour said wearing masks is important now that most businesses and restaurants in the city have reopened.

“Either we close down businesses again, or we wear masks,” Pour said.

Councilman Pete Festersen, who sponsored the extension, said requiring masks is a practical way to control the spread of the virus. Several local school officials sent the council letters supporting the mask requirement.

Nebraska reported 287 new virus cases Tuesday to give the state 34,674 since the pandemic began. There have also been 399 deaths linked to COVID-19.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has risen over the past two weeks from 266.71 new cases per day on Aug. 18 to 320 new cases per day on Tuesday.