(Omaha, NE) -- The two Republican members of the Omaha City Council say they will support extending the city's mask mandate, but with an age amendment in place.
City Council members Brinker Harding and Aimee Melton will propose the amendment during Tuesday's meeting. They propose changing the age requirement for mandatory mask wearing from 5 to 12. All current mandate rules will remain the same. Council member Vinny Palermo also signed onto the request for the amendment.
If the amendment is adopted, parents, schools and businesses can still enforce their own mask policies.
Councilman Brinker Harding says they're taking what their constituents have voiced concerns about into consideration with the amendment. "Extending the mask mandate with this change provides the protection they desire and an option to improve the lives of children and the effects of long-term mask use.”
Aimee Melton says, “This amendment provides the freedom for parents, schools and businesses to make common sense decisions about mask use for children, while providing the public health protection overwhelmingly supported by the people I represent.”
(Photo by WOWT 6 News)