GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- Grand Island's mask mandate won't be continuing after February 23rd.

Grand Island's City Council voted Tuesday 6-3 against a motion that would have extended the mandate into May.

The Central District Health Department asked the council to consider extending the ordinance through May 31. Director Teresa Anderson said while the data does show a significant decrease in virus activity, it’s still not as low as they want it to be. The goal is for a positivity rate of less than five percent.

Recent numbers in the Grand Island area show a 27 percent positivity rate and hospitals at 18 percent capacity.