Hastings passes mask mandate

HASTINGS, Neb. (KHGI) — The Hastings City Council has voted unanimously to impose a mask mandate for the community.

However, it was no easy decision. After an almost two-hour meeting, people from both sides of the argument shared their opinions.

“For those of us on the front lines, we are not working tirelessly, we are exhausted. And we are sick and tired of people calling us heroes and thanking us for what we do and turning around and often refusing to do the bare minimum to make our lives easier” said a nurse in support of the mandate.

“We should not be driven by fear but by the constitutions and freedoms that so many including my family fought for and this is what this is about, not people getting sick or not getting sick,” said a speaker opposed to the mandate.

Now that it has been approved, the mandate will go into effect on Thursday. Public health officials say this policy comes at a critical time.

According to the South Heartland District Health Department Executive Director Michele Bever, compared to the total number of coronavirus cases over the first seven months of the pandemic, last month’s case count nearly doubled it.

City employees are feeling the impact as well. According to Mayor Corey Stutte, 20% of Hastings Fire and Rescue is under quarantine.

“They’re certainly spread thin,” said Mayor Stutte.

But, with the mask mandate now in place, Eric Barber, president and CEO of Mary Lanning Healthcare, is asking people for compliance.

“Understanding that the current trajectory is not sustainable for our local health care system,” said Barber. “I’m going to encourage you to be as compliant as you can and try not to be too obnoxious about having people police whether or not you are choosing to comply.”