Omaha Mask Mandate Lifted By Douglas Co. Health Director

OMAHA, NE — The temporary indoor mask mandate was lifted Wednesday by Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse.

The mandate was enacted Jan. 11 during the surge of the omicron variant.

The announcement comes as COVID-19 metrics have been falling in Omaha in recent weeks, though the county is still listed as a place of high risk of transmission, according to the Douglas County Health Department website.

COVID-19 metrics dropped to levels laid out in the order for it to be rescinded, according to health officials. The seven-day total cases per 100,000 residents fell below 200 on Wednesday, well below the peak of over 1,700 in January, and hospital capacity in the county was at 85 percent as of late Tuesday.

A total of 277 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in the county Tuesday, including 51 in intensive care.