For the first time in ten months, Lincoln and Lancaster county residents will be able to take off their masks in most places starting Friday. Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Director Pat Lopez made the announcement Tuesday, also moving the community’s COVID-19 dial to “green” for the first time since it was implemented.
Updated Directed Health Measures also take effect Friday and allow local restaurants and bars and other businesses to open at 100% capacity. The changes come as the Lincoln area continues to see falling cases of COVID-19 and increased vaccinations. Last week there were only 78 new COVID-19 cases and the area’s test positivity rate has also dropped.
“This is good news for our community,” Lopez said Tuesday. “But we need to remember that masks will still continue to be recommended for unvaccinated residents. For example, we recommend that unvaccinated employees of restaurants, bars and other food establishments who have direct contact with the public should continue to wear a face covering.”
Most public gatherings will be allowed, but gatherings that include more than 500 people still need approval from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. The new guidance takes effect at midnight on Thursday. Omaha’s mask mandate expires next week and city leaders are not expected to try to renew it.