Lincoln’s mask mandate that was announced earlier this week by health director Pat Lopez went into effect early Thursday morning. The Directed Health Measure requires masks indoors and will continue through September 30.
Lopez says the mask mandate was reinstituted in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The DHM requires all people ages two and older, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask when they are in an indoor space, unless six feet of separation from others at all times can be achieved.
Business owners are required to make sure their customers ages two and older wear masks any time they cannot maintain six feet of separation with non-household members.
Masks are not required for the following situations:
- Individuals eating or drinking or seated to eat or drink
- Those exercising
- Those engaged in an occupation that prevents the wearing of a mask
- Those obtaining a service or purchasing goods or services that requires the temporary removal of the mask
- A person giving a speech, lecture, or broadcast to an audience as long as six feet of distance from other individuals is maintained
- Those individuals who cannot otherwise wear a mask because of a medical condition, a mental health condition, or a disability that prevents the wearing of masks
- Courts of law; meetings or sessions of the Nebraska Legislature; individuals accessing federal, state, county, or city government services; congregate living settings; group homes and residential drug and/or mental health treatment facilities; or shelters