photo by: Contributed Photo

Dr. Thomas Marcellino was appointed as Douglas County's health officer in 2012 by the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Board.

Public health leaders are loosening restrictions on the local health order in response to fewer COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the community, according to a press release from Unified Command partners.

Starting Friday at midnight, the mass gathering limit will be updated from 10 people to 25 people, and bars and restaurants will be allowed to remain open until midnight, instead of the previous closure time of 10 p.m.

Other changes will include that gatherings at outdoor events can have up to 200 people, so long as social distancing is enforced. The indoor capacity limit of 100 people has been removed, but there is an indoor capacity limit of 50% at entertainment venues, recreational facilities, restaurants, bars and other businesses serving food or drink indoors. Additionally, carryout, curbside, drive-through or off-premise delivery of food will now be allowed after midnight, but not for alcoholic beverages. These services were previously not allowed after 10 p.m.

The health order still requires people older than five to wear masks in indoor spaces and outdoor spaces where six feet of distance cannot be maintained.

“While we begin to loosen the restrictions on gathering limits, we need to remain vigilant when it comes to mask wearing, social distancing and washing hands frequently,” Dr. Thomas Marcellino, Douglas County’s health officer, said in the release. “As our community continues to vaccinate more and more residents, I believe we are finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to this pandemic. However, we cannot let our guard down.”