Beatrice Health Board to let mask mandate expire

BEATRICE – A City of Beatrice mandate for residents to wear masks in all indoor public places will be allowed to expire.

The mandate was in place until January 15th. Mayor Stan Wirth says the city has seen a decrease in coronavirus positive tests and cases since the first of the year. The coronavirus risk dial has also been on a downward trend.

"Now, make no mistake...if we see surges in the coronavirus and the new strain, B117....then we will act quickly and accordingly to what the current situation is. We do encourage folks to continue to take the necessary precautions. The virus has not gone anywhere and people are still getting sick and people are still dying. We certainly encourage the basic precautions...which is the best defense against virus....wearing masks, watching your distance, washing your hands often...and staying home if you're sick and try to avoid crowded places."

The mandate went into effect November 17th when the health board voted 5-0 to put it in place through December 15th. It was an effort to address a surge in coronavirus cases that were reducing local hospital bed availability. The mandate included all public indoor spaces.

On December 11th, the local health board then voted to extend the mask wearing rule through January 15th, hearing from a vocal group of opponents questioning the effectiveness of the masks and challenging whether the board could enact it. Some of those opponents were from outside Gage County. Mayor Wirth says wearing a mask is one of the precautions that has helped reduce virus risk.

"The scientists say yes it does....and I'm talking about medical scientists say that it does. But, I think it's a combination of things of people wearing their masks, doing the CDC guidelines...I think that all plays into the success that we're seeing in Gage County and seeing in the Public Health Solutions area."

Since the start of the new year, the health board has not held a formal meeting. The mayor says should virus numbers take a turn for the worse again, the local health board can meet quickly to take any steps to address that. There have been no reports of anyone being fined for violating the mask order. Some businesses, include major retailers, were requiring mask usage on their own.