Mask mandates in Massachusetts: With COVID delta variant rising, these towns and cities have enacted face-covering guidelines. So many public health officials across the state believe it's safe to ease up restrictions. Join us. And what about vaccine requirements elsewhere? Brookline did the same thing. "Masks are one of the most important measures just because of the way the virus is transmitted. Keep in mind, these advisories and mandates only come from local governments. In Salem, which is right next door to Beverly, the mask mandate is in placeuntil March 8. Mask mandates return to college campuses as COVID-19 flares. Im just so happy that its lifted because I want people to come in and feel comfortable and be able to relax, David Bucci, the owner of City Eats said. As is Mayor Michelle Wus recent decision to lift the mandate requiring proof of vaccination for restaurants, bars and gyms. With cases and hospitalizations both down in Massachusetts, some think it is time to ease up on restrictions, while others are still not comfortable taking masks off. Im not ready to throw my mask away yet. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Salem had a short-lived indoor vaccine mandate, which it rescinded on February 8. Freestanding, outpatient behavioral health settings are not subject to the requirements of this Order. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. Framingham was among several communities torecently issuemask mandates, with Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and the Board of Health issuing a joint order last Friday. "It doesnt make sense to me because they were so emphatic about it before and now theyre saying you dont have to do anything? Why N95, KN95 masks are so much more effective than cloth, Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky announces indoor mask mandate, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Home of Traffic and Weather Together on the 3s. The same release said 41% of eligible city residents have received a booster shot, which was up two percent from the week prior. Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. I think I will be wearing it for a while," Arlene Dacey of Beverly said. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Mask Recommendations and Requirements, is. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Upload file: february_11_2022.pdf. Dr. David Hamer, a professor of global health and medicine at Boston University, said he understands why some want to ease restrictions, but when it comes to masks, he said the public should use caution. . "If youre going to get your coffee or going to the gym to work out, you dont need your mask. Worcester's Board of Health voted Monday night to rescind a citywide mask mandate, following other communities that have made similar moves as COVID-19 cases decline. Salems Board of Health voted unanimously to end its mask and vaccine mandates on February 7, a change that took effect immediately. Only staff and vendors must wear masks at the following sites: adult day health programs, dental offices, speech, occupational and physical therapy settings and other freestanding medical/clinical settings that do not primarily care for patients with acute illness or immunocompromised patients. Town Mask Mandate Announcement, effective February 11, 2022. Masks are optional for residents as further described in DPH Guidance: Caring for Long-Term Care Residents During the COVID-19 Response. Town of Essex, MA Essex Town Hall 30 Martin Street Essex, MA 01929. Massachusetts on Tuesday loosened its mask guidance for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, now suggesting only certain groups at higher risk for the virus wear masks indoors. While it is too early to say if it will be lifted, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said they will look at all of the data before making a decision. Please let us know how we can improve this page. As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images. Meanwhile, lots of other cities and towns still require masks, though policies are changing almost daily. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. No Yes. Positive test rate has dropped sharply in recent weeks, according to state health data however, many residents are now testing with rapid kits at home, those results don't get formally reported running pandemic totals. (WHDH) - The list of Massachusetts communities opting to bring back indoor mask mandates continues to grow as the omicron variant fuels a surge in new COVID-19 cases. Other Massachusetts communities that have either voted to drop their mask mandate or allowed it to expire include Beverly, Billerica, Malden, Mansfield, Lowell and Worcester. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The CDC recommends that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you can wear for as long as you need it. Were here to help. "If you havent yet received your COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask can also help prevent germs that come from another persons respiratory droplets from getting into your nose and mouth.". If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) Kids ages 5-11 will need to have at least one dose by March 1, and two doses by May 1. The moves come after COVID-19 infections have seen a sharp drop. Charlie Baker recently said he has no plans to bring back a statewide mask mandate.Dr . Each town has its own specifics around these requirements, so visit the community's website for more information. The decision is aimed at relaxing restrictions and boosting business at places such as Purple Carrot Bread Co. in downtown Lowell. Youll also need either proof of vaccination or a negative test taken no more than a day in advance. When you see it on a map, its striking just how much variety there is when it comes to policies town-by-town and city-by-city. moves to relax mask rules, students say COVID is still taking a toll. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Feb 11, 2022 at 1:10 pm ET. As the delta variant pushes a new rise in coronavirus cases, infecting the unvaccinated as well as a small percentage of fully vaccinated people, communities in Massachusetts are once again implementing mask-wearing requirements. And hospitals are still full of people struggling to recover from COVID-19 infection. You can try, CHARTS: Mass. Just over 75% of the population has gotten a booster shot. Updated: Jan 7, 2022 / 06:13 PM EST. Charlie Bakers recent decision to lift the mask mandate. Doctors and parents are divided about the kids going maskless, but the governor said the significant drop in COVID-19 cases and deaths supported the change, saying, We have all the tools we need to keep schools safe as we move into dealing with the next phase of managing COVID.. community health centers and clinics or other licensed medical/clinical settings that care for patients with acute illness and/or immunocompromised patients (e.g. Nantucket: Masks mandated for customers and staff at retail stores, restaurants, bars, performance venues, places of worship, event spaces and other businesses Newton: Masks are required for. She hosts Basic Black, which focuses on current events impacting communities of color and appears weekly on Beat the Press, examining local and national media coverage. Related:Natick implements a public mask mandate. How Mask Policies Have Changed In MA Towns, Cities - Worcester, MA - With COVID-19 cases declining in many areas, mask mandates are ending. Belmont: The town of Belmont has decided to enact a town mask mandate to cover municipal buildings, as well as any indoor public space, including restaurants, bars, retail shops and gyms. This map shows the COVID-19 level in each Massachusetts community, according to the CDC's new system. The City of Lowell and the town of Beverly both dropped their indoor mask mandates this week. And some cities and towns have no requirements at all. The town is holding that meeting on February 16. "If you are infected with the coronavirus and do not know it, a mask is very good at keeping your respiratory droplets and particles from infecting others," Johns Hopkins Health System epidemiologist Lisa Lockerd Maragakis said about masks. Staff, patients, vendors, and visitors must all wear masks at the following sites: hospitals, emergency medical services, primary care and urgent care settings. In Boston, the B Together plan calls for the mandate to end when the following criteria are met: At the rate things are going, that might be right around the corner. Several cities and towns around Massachusetts are beginning to lift their respective indoor mask mandates. Earlier, when the Omicron surge was heating up late last year, DPH advised all people, regardless of health or vaccination status, to mask up indoors. You skipped the table of contents section. As of February 8, 42 of them were allowed to drop their mandates under a state program that allowed schools to qualify for an exemption. She also said it is tough having different rules in different places. Anthony Brooks Twitter Senior Political ReporterAnthony Brooks is WBUR's senior political reporter. 2 min read. Some towns and cities have community-wide mask requirements. Also, this week, the state Department of Public health relaxed its guidanceabout who should continue to wear masks and where: DPH now says people who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks in most public places, unless they or someone in their household faces a higher risk of a severe case of COVID. No doubt full of cautious customers like me drawn by the extra precaution. As of February 8, 42 of them were allowed to drop their mandates under a state program that allowed schools to qualify for an exemption if they had high vaccination rates. A number of other cities and towns have dropped their mask mandates, including Lowell, Beverly and Mansfield. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. "It's a little too soon to say, 'OK, let's get rid of the masks.' (CBS) -- As coronavirus cases in Massachusetts and around the country have risen due to the highly contagious Delta variant, some communities are starting to re-issue face mask advisories or mandates. February 28, 2022. Even if mandates are ending, masks are still a good way to protect yourself from inhaling respiratory droplets that carry coronavirus. Boston's source for local news. Worcester earlier this month voted to rescind its indoor mask mandate, which takes effect on February 18. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald) Students . WBZ-TV reports Worcesters leaders are going to ask the Board of Health to rescind the policy on Monday. In late August, the state announced it will require masks in public schools for students over age 4 and all staffers, regardless of vaccination status, until at least Oct. 1. But while the state mandate will end soon, some school districts may continue to require masks for now. They say three quarters of Americans are immune; by March they expect the immune numbers will be higher. Other cities and towns considered following in Bostons footstepsamong them Arlington, Cambridge, and Somervillebut didnt,although lots and lots of business owners have enacted their own vaccine rules. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Public Health. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. If this mandate prevents one person from having to seek medical care from our severely overtaxed health care system right now, then I think weve done the right thing, fellow board member Alexandra Rubin said. After all, higher quality options such as N95, KN95 and three-ply surgical masks have been shown to offer wearers greater protection against even the highly contagious omicron variant, according to USA TODAY. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Effective July 1, 2022, the Department of Public Health advises that individuals should wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home) if you have a weakened immune system, or if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened / CBS Boston. Statewide, the Department of Public Health is advising fully vaccinated people to wear face masks indoors in public if they have have a weakened immune system, an underlying condition that puts them at risk for severe infection, or lives with someone who is at risk or unvaccinated. For Home health care workers, including Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) and Home Health Aides in community and home-based settings where they are providing patient-facing care. Wearing a mask provides protection against COVID and other viruses, especially when indoors or in crowded spaces. So, while the numbers are trending in the right direction, Marcus counsels patience. For example, Worcester voted to end its indoor mask requirement starting Friday. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. Whether youre required to wear a face mask depends on where you are. And worrying about the increased risk of COVID-19 spread from the stubbornly unvaccinated who pose a public health threat. I know the restauranteurs said the vax proof mandate drove away customers, but the restaurants I visited were full. Meanwhile, Boston is nearing the next stage of its vaccine mandate policyper the citys B Together plan, kids 12 and older will need to be fully vaccinated to enter those places, too, beginning February 15. Vaccine Tracking And COVID Case Counts, Masks Will Be Required In Massachusetts Schools Through At Least Oct. 1, Janey Orders Indoor Mask Mandate For Boston And Its Schools To Mitigate Delta Variant's Spread, Massachusetts Cities And Towns Debate Mask Mandates, Vaccine Requirements. These are all the Massachusetts towns that have indoor mask mandates Sahar Fatima 12/15/2021 'I could just hear people screaming': Victims describe being hit by blast in South Austin building "We feel we are in a fairly safe position to do this rescission," said Dr. Michael Hirsh,Worcester's medical director, citing declining infections, hospitalizations and test positivity rates. Everyday Wealth with Soledad OBrian and Jean Chatzky, Health News: Powered by Tufts Medical Center, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Its been a dizzying few months in Massachusetts when it comes to rules on masks and vaccines in this stage of the pandemic. Everett and Waltham, meanwhile, do not have indoor mask mandates at all. One of the things that we plan to do is to bring it before the next board meeting and see if they want to change the recommendation of how we will base repealing the mandate.. (Masks are still mandated in some settings, including schools,hospitalsand public transit. The mandate includes all indoor businesses and facilities open to the public. Many Massachusetts Schools Return From February Break With No Mask Mandate February 28, 2022 / 5:00 PM / CBS Boston BROCKTON (CBS) - For the first time in months, students in most school. I do. Key numbers from the state Department of Public Health show infections, hospitalizations and positive test rates peaked in January and have been steadily dropping since. Schutt said that while the pandemic is ending, the war against the virus has no end in sight.
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