You need to take this virus seriously. That is the guidance from two Omaha area elected officials.
Omaha City Councilman Ben Gray and Douglas County Commissioner Chris Rodgers, who is also the county's health board president, have both been vocal during the debate about a local face mask mandate. The two joined Omaha Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Logan on Friday to speak about the district's decision to move to 100% virtual learning for the start of the school year.
Speaking after the Friday news conference, both Rodgers and Gray said they supported Dr. Logan’s decision. “I think that Dr. Logan made the absolute right decision,” Gray said, noting that it is going to be challenging for some families. “We’ve got to stop playing with this virus,” he said.
Gray said he will be voting in favor of a face mask mandate at Tuesday’s emergency meeting of the City Council.
“We aren’t going to break this. We have got to yield to this,” Rodgers said. “The virus is the driver and for the next 18 months, it’s going to be driving.” Rodgers said even with a vaccine, the timeline won’t be quick. "When it breaks us, then we have to shut down, which no one wants," he said.
Rodgers says the environment of both work and learning are going to have to change. “We thought were in Phase Two, but we’re probably in the second or third quarter of Phase One."