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 22News has compiled a list of towns that have mask mandates here. 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. Heres a town-by-town breakdown of local mask policies: Note: The following towns also require masks in all municipal buildings. Not every school is ready for that just . This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Less than a month after the peak of the omicron surge, here's a rundown on the status of mask policies across the region. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. COVID doesnt stop at every town line," Driscoll said. "Probably at least until the spring," she said. Several cities and towns around Massachusetts are beginning to lift their respective indoor mask mandates. 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. Charlie Bakers recent decision to lift the mask mandate. Masks continue to be required in the settings defined below, except for when eating, drinking, sleeping, or as provided for in applicable guidance, and for an individual in a group that is exempt from the Order. The state program can take a victory lap after the smash success of Wakanda Forever.. The town of Sharon has had a mask mandate since the end of August 2021, but Health Administrator Leandra McLean said the transmissibility rate is still too high to end it. 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. Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images. In skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities licensed or operated by the Commonwealth: masks are required for staff and visitors. 2 min read. I am vaccinated and boosted, and the number of vaccinated Massachusetts residents is high, though people are still getting breakthrough infections. Absent a statewide mask mandate, the number of communities that are requiring people to mask up while inside public places has risen in recent weeks across Massachusetts. The loosening of restrictions comes as COVID-19 cases linked to omicron have begun to recede. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Data from the Department of Public Health on Friday revealed that 5,218,681 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. 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 Drivers and other staff on transportation provided by the HST Brokerage system must wear masks. community health centers and clinics or other licensed medical/clinical settings that care for patients with acute illness and/or immunocompromised patients (e.g. In fact, some measures are back to where they were last fall before a surge in infections related to delta and omicron variants. All rights reserved. In Massachusetts, the mask mandate was imposed in August and was extended three times. 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. We will use this information to improve this page. Unless there is solid evidence that TikTok is a political and military threat, all of this Sturm und Drang has no actual point. Staff, patients, vendors, and visitors must all wear masks at the following sites: hospitals, emergency medical services, primary care and urgent care settings. Protests outside Boston mayor's house spark debate, Mass. "In city buildings, you need your mask, and in the schools, the children in schools are still wearing masks, but those may be coming to an end soon," Golden said. 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. ( WWLP) - Cities and towns across the state have re-implementing mask mandates as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has overtaken the Delta variant as the most dominant strain in the country.. '"It's wonderful to see people's smiling faces," said Lenny Marcus, who directs the Program for Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Harvard's T.H. The mask mandate remains in place in public places like buses and city buildings. As the African proverb warns, Do not throw away the oars until the boat reaches the shore.. A statewide mask mandate in schools is set to end February 28, but cities and towns are free to keep them in place if they so choose, and many of them are doing just that. Drivers and other staff on transportation provided by the HST Brokerage system must wear masks. We dont blame you. Consider wearing a mask especially if you have a weakened immune system, 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 immune system or is at increased risk for severe disease. Consider wearing a mask especially if you have a weakened immune system, 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 immune system or is at increased risk for severe disease. Town Mask Mandate Announcement, effective February 11, 2022. But when I consider those kids returning from weeklong family trips out of town, or staycations at home all I can think is superspreader. How many people have they interacted with? In many cases, the requirement is limited to municipal buildings. Want to know the face covering rules and restrictions in your community? Its been a dizzying few months in Massachusetts when it comes to rules on masks and vaccines in this stage of the pandemic. It will be up to each business to decide whether to require masks. 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. 2023 www.metrowestdailynews.com. The town is holding that meeting on February 16. Under Worcester's new policy, masks will still be required on public transportation, in the airport and at some other public spaces. In skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities licensed or operated by the Commonwealth: masks are required for staff and visitors. Here's our running tally of which of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts have brought back masking rules. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. Boston, the. I know the restauranteurs said the vax proof mandate drove away customers, but the restaurants I visited were full. WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) spoke with health officials from two towns south of Boston: Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App. Below is a list of cities and towns where masks are required in all indoor public places: Belmont Starting Aug. 9, masks or face I had just enjoyed eating out in restaurants Id avoided before the mandate. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. The latest numbers are good news. Just over 75% of the population has gotten a booster shot. We will use this information to improve this page. A new law enacted on Feb. 16 effectively barred mask mandates in schools, by giving parents the right to exempt their children from mask-wearing without stating a reason beginning March . Everyday Wealth with Soledad OBrian and Jean Chatzky, Health News: Powered by Tufts Medical Center, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. As for vax mandates, school staff in Boston right now need to be vaccinated, but a new agreement struck with the city will allow unvaccinated teachers back into the classroom if case counts are low, and they agree to take COVID tests twice weekly. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. will have to continue wearing masks at school, Mass. 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. "If youre going to get your coffee or going to the gym to work out, you dont need your mask. An appellate court justice has temporarily blocked the city from enforcing the mandate for police and fire departments. Dozens of schools across the state are already mask-free. As is Mayor Michelle Wus recent decision to lift the mandate requiring proof of vaccination for restaurants, bars and gyms. Kanton Mathis' 12-year-old son Eric wants to wear his mask at his Decatur, Georgia, school, where masks are now optional . Use this button to show and access all levels. I wish I felt as confident as he does. . Staff, patients, vendors, and visitors must all wear masks at the following sites: hospitals, emergency medical services, primary care and urgent care settings. Your best bet is probably to still make sure youve got a photo of your vax card handy when going out and about in the Boston area, even if the town youre in doesnt have an explicit vax mandate policy. Masks will still be required on buses statewide, even if theyre not mandatory in classrooms. Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. Mask mandates return to college campuses as COVID-19 flares. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Thank you! "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.". And. Some towns and cities have community-wide mask requirements. Plenty more have followed since. Where they are, where they aren't, and when they (might) end. Please limit your input to 500 characters. You skipped the table of contents section. . Charlie Baker recently said he has no plans to bring back a statewide mask mandate.Dr . With Cantons vaccination rate hovering around 80%, the town will be voting on lifting their mask mandate Monday night. Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. I think, in general, we want to see a significant decrease in cases that is maintained over time.". But Dr. Simone Wildes, a South Shore Health infectious disease physician, warns of jumping the gun. Virginia. With infection and hospitalization numberscoming down, are we finally turning a corner in the pandemic? Framingham was among several communities to recently issue mask. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. "It would be a lot easier if we were able to move as a region, but right now the system isnt set up that way. isolation and quarantine guidance which includes wearing a mask in public for 5 more days after they leave isolation or quarantine on day 5, regardless of vaccination status. Thank you! Wearing a mask provides protection against COVID and other viruses, especially when indoors or in crowded spaces. Boston's source for local news. Massachusetts doctors are now are recommending that everyone wear masks in all public indoor spaces, but Gov. Updated: Aug. 13, 2021, 8:56 a.m. | A lock icon ( Many of his customers said they prefer the masks to be optional. Billerica: Employees of the town will be required to wear masks while moving throughout the building. But keep in mind that we've had three big spikes since this pandemic began two years ago and we could have another one. Knowing which town or city has or hasn't ditched the mask rule may be confusing, which is why Hannah Ritchie, who works in Lowell, will keep the mask on. Not everyone is breathing a sigh of relief that the mandates are being lifted. At least 18. It helps me relax" Anne Pofcher of Beverly said. The most recent guidance says that K95, K94 and N95 masks offer the best protection. 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. All key COVID-19 metrics, including deaths, cases, and . By February 15, ICU bed capacity had already dropped to 90 percent, there were 278 hospitalizations a day, and the community positivity rate was at 5.4 percent. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022: Please do not include personal or contact information. Even though lots of states have been dropping their school mask mandates, the CDC thinks its too soon to take that step, and is sticking with its guidance that kids stay masked in schools. The same release said 41% of eligible city residents have received a booster shot, which was up two percent from the week prior. Breaking news when it happens. I am all about learning to live with COVID-19, but I dont understand why we couldnt start that transition from a position of strength. As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. All rights reserved, With cases and hospitalizations both down in Massachusetts, New COVID Cases in Mass. Data from the Department of Public Health on Friday revealed that 5,218,681 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. Until we get down to low levels of transmission, I think mask use is one of the last measures to be removed," Hamer said. Boston's K-12 students are returning to the classrooms today after school vacation week, officially Mid Winter Break. This is also complicated: a number of cities and towns in the Boston area don't have vaccine requirements, including Arlington, Cambridge and Somerville, but lots of business owners have imposed their own rules. Check storefronts and online before heading out without a mask. 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. 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. It's an uneasy milestone for many, As Mass. Billerica: Masks required in indoor public spaces or private spaces open to the public. State education officials, meanwhile, announced the end of in-school mask mandates by Feb. 28, although local districts will get to decide if masks stay after that date. Support GBH. So again, you need to check out what your community or favorite restaurant or gym require. Im not ready to throw my mask away yet. And some cities and towns have no requirements at all. So many public health officials across the state believe it's safe to ease up restrictions. Lowell also let its mask mandate expire. Individual businesses can implement their own mandates,. Its not as though I dont have COVID fatigue, like millions of other Americans. How Parents Are Finding Baby Formula in Boston, Heres Every Last Olympian with Local Ties, This search result is here to prevent scraping, On the Market: A Penthouse Unit in a Former Boston Brewery, Here's Where to Find the Best Fish and Chips in Boston, On the Market: A Back Bay Townhouse Overlooking the Charles, Here are the 2023 Boston Marathon Winners, The Interview: Crime-Fiction TV Writer and Novelist Dennis Lehane, Careers and Internships at Boston Magazine, Fewer than 200 COVID-19 hospitalizations per day, A community positivity rate below 5%, as defined by the Boston Public Health Commissions seven-day moving average. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. A growing number of cities and towns across Massachusetts are rolling back their mask and vaccine mandates as COVID-19 cases decline. Please let us know how we can improve this page. (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. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. . Municipal requirement Masks required inside municipal buildings, including libraries, seniors centers and at public meetings. For example, Worcester voted to end its indoor mask requirement starting Friday. Town of Essex, MA Essex Town Hall 30 Martin Street Essex, MA 01929. 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. Staff, patients, vendors, and visitors must all wear masks at the following sites: vaccination sites, primary care and urgent care settings, and any medical/clinical settings that primarily care for patients with acute illness and/or immunocompromised patients. BOSTON MA. Follow Abby onTwitter@AMPatkin. It had quite a run with its strict no-people policy, and was closed for longer than any other states capital. Yet while some states, including California and New York, require most people to wear masks indoors in public places, Massachusetts has held out. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. They say three quarters of Americans are immune; by March they expect the immune numbers will be higher. Bostons K-12 students are returning to the classrooms today after school vacation week, officially Mid Winter Break. 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. "It's a lot easier to breathe, said owner Alaina Bracket. For example, many restaurants in Cambridge require proof of vaccination.
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