Watching remotely. Getting right into things with the emergency ordinance to require masks in Omaha with exceptions. Hearing from health experts first.

Mark Rupp says wearing a mask is not an infrigenment on civil liberties, it's a small price to pay to keep our community safe.

"Wearing a mask should not be a political statement"

I imagine there's going to be a lot of testimony that goes against that.

Mark Rupp is an infectious disease doctor at UNMC -- quoted widely during the pandemic

Dr. Lindsay Northam at Nebraska Methodist. Works with elderly and immunocompromised people, has worked with many people who are fighting and losing to COVID-19 infections.

Northam:

"This isn't even a matter of health and public safety, this is about compassion and being kind to each other."

Northam said her sister and brother (both teachers) didn't sign on to fight a disease like COVID-19 from the classroom. Public needs to do the right thing to limit disease spread by having a mask mandate.

Dr. Adi Pour, director of the Douglas County Health Department, says we need a mask mandate because we have widespread community transmission. Says our 7-day average is many times higher than safe standards set by global health organizations.

"We have a long way to go."

Dr. Pour closes out and now we're onto public testimony. Starting with proponents.