As the Omicron variant surges throughout the Metro, nearly two thousand cases in the past two days in Douglas County alone, masks are now mandated for Omaha police and firefighters.

The Omaha Police Department reported that 35 employees are off work due to testing positive for COVID. The Omaha Fire Department also reported that 39 employees have tested positive for COVID. 

Most employees are vaccinated and have mild symptoms; however, a few unvaccinated employees have recently been hospitalized.  

The two agencies say that the safety of their employees is the highest priority. 

Today, at the recommendation of medical directors, Chief Todd Schmaderer and Chief Dan Olsen in consultation with Mayor Jean Stothert, are implementing a mask mandate for all OPD and OFD employees.

All OPD employees will be required to wear a surgical mask while indoors, in a vehicle with another person, and when interacting with the public. 

OFD employees will be required to wear surgical or N95 masks in medical emergencies. Firefighters will be required to wear surgical masks when interacting with the public and inside Fire Stations.

Schmaderer, Olsen and the medical directors will continue to monitor the local COVID infection rate, and when safe to do so, will re-evaluate the mask mandates.