MAYOR: Lincoln mask mandate likely to continue past Aug. 31

Lincoln's mask mandate will likely be sticking around for the foreseeable future, Lincoln's mayor said Friday. 

Lincoln’s mask mandate will likely be sticking around for the foreseeable future, Lincoln’s mayor said Friday.

The mandate was set to expire at the end of August, but Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said she anticipates it will be extended as schools and colleges reopen.

“We don’t know what the next few weeks could hold,” she said.

As for how long the mandate could be extended, Gaylor Baird said it wouldn’t happen until there’s a “clear picture” that Lincoln is coming out of the pandemic. She said it’s best to be conservative and adhere to something that’s been proven to reduce the spread.

Gaylor Baird said more information about the mandate and directed health measures would be released next week.

The announcement comes as the COVID-19 Risk Dial for Lincoln and Lancaster County dropped to the “yellow” (moderate) level for the first time since July 2.

Health officials say the key metrics used to determine the risk dial’s placement – including case numbers, positivity rate and hospital capacity – have all been trending in a positive direction since the start of the month.

Health Director Pat Lopez said weekly cases have decreased for three straight weeks, as has the positivity rate.

“We are moving into yellow cautiously and we want everyone to understand that our progress can be lost if we let down our guard,” she said.

Officials announced 38 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total for Lancaster County to 3,591.