OMAHA- Papillion, unlike other metro-area communities, tied its mask mandate to the state's rolling average for COVID-19 hospitalizations, a move given the state’s dropping rolling average of hospitalizations has allowed the city to drop its mandate only 10 days after its implementation. Papillion’s threshold to drop the mandate was 20% of hospital beds in use, which is also when Governor Rickett’s Directed Health Measures returned to guidance instead of enforceable measures.

Coronavirus experts believe this removal of the mandate and ones similar across the county early in falling numbers could lead to another spike in cases. Papillion will be without a mask mandate until at least January 5th when another public hearing will be held on the matter. Businesses in Papillion will still be able to require masks on their premises.

“Hospitalizations are a lagging indicator, they don’t necessarily give you any insight into what’s happening right now,” Dr. James Lawler of UNMC said. “It’s like driving by looking in the rearview mirror.”

City officials are encouraging people to mask up, wash their hands and social distance. Papillion businesses will also continue to have the right to require masks on their premises.

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