It helps me relax" Anne Pofcher of Beverly said. And how many of the pre-K kids too young to be vaccinated are now unsuspecting carriers of the virus or its recent mutation, omicron? Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images. The city of Lowell and the town of Beverly are dropping their mask mandates for businesses after seeing a drop in COVID-19 infections. I know the restauranteurs said the vax proof mandate drove away customers, but the restaurants I visited were full. 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. Dozens of Massachusetts schools are already mask-free. 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. Finally, mask mandates remain in force on public transportation including MBTA buses, trains and ferries as well in state health care facilities. Under Worcester's new policy, masks will still be required on public transportation, in the airport and at some other public spaces. 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. Some towns and cities have community-wide mask requirements. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. All rights reserved, With cases and hospitalizations both down in Massachusetts, New COVID Cases in 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. across the country lift indoor mask mandates and proof-of . 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. Keep in mind, these advisories and mandates only come from local governments. "It's a lot easier to breathe, said owner Alaina Bracket. Thank you! She also said it is tough having different rules in different places. Data from the Department of Public Health on Friday revealed that 5,218,681 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. WBZ-TV reports Worcesters leaders are going to ask the Board of Health to rescind the policy on Monday. Upload file: february_11_2022.pdf. Chan School of Public Health. Billerica: Masks required in indoor public spaces or private spaces open to the public. 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. Updated: Feb 3, 2022 / 11:55 PM EST. (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. My stance is that I think we should move towards a mask advisory rather than a mandate, said Board of Health Chair Anjali Schutt. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022: Please do not include personal or contact information. Municipal requirement Masks required inside municipal buildings, including libraries, seniors centers and at public meetings. Less than a month after the peak of the omicron surge, here's a rundown on the status of mask policies across the region. Were here to help. Meanwhile the neighboring town of Canton appears closer to lifting their mask mandate. It's an uneasy milestone for many, As Mass. Worcester earlier this month voted to rescind its indoor mask mandate, which takes effect on February 18. '"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. How Mask Policies Have Changed In MA Towns, Cities - Worcester, MA - With COVID-19 cases declining in many areas, mask mandates are ending. 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. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. Researchers at the University of Washington have been monitoring the levels of immunity in countries around the world. Dont expect those rules to go anywhere anytime soonyou may not want to relax your policy of stuffing spare masks into coat pockets. "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. The Centers For Disease Control has recommended that even fully vaccinated Americans in areas with substantial or high COVID transmission mask up indoors. So I feel safer, like, when I go to the grocery store, just wearing one.". For the first time since early August, the Commonwealth reported fewer than 1,000 average daily confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last week. Brookline did the same thing. Other communities have pushed further and declared a mask mandate in all indoor spaces. Here's our running. . Masks are optional for staff, patients, vendors, and visitors in these settings. In each of the settings listed below, Persons in Massachusetts over the age of 5 years old are required to wear a mask over their mouth and nose as outlined below: Non-residential healthcare facilities and programs licensed or operated by the Commonwealth, Healthcare practice settings of any provider licensed by a professional board which sits within the Department of Public Health or the Division of Occupational Licensure. Many of his customers said they prefer the masks to be optional. Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022:Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings PDF| DOC. 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. "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. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) 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. Charlie Baker recently said he has no plans to bring back a statewide mask mandate.Dr . 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. The City of Lowell and the town of Beverly both dropped their indoor mask mandates this week. Masked up with proof of vaccination and rapid tests at the ready, even as everybody else leaves all that behind. The mask mandate remains in place in public places like buses and city buildings. The state Department of Public Health issued a mask advisory on Dec. 21 recommending but not requiring the use of face coverings indoors in public. Individual businesses and other facilities may still have mask mandates in place. >> the spike has gone and now we're back to the lower numbers we like toee s repoerrt: so far the cdc is continuing to . And. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I feel like in the winter, everyone is sick with something, whether it's COVID or not. Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022:Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings PDF| DOC. Beverly is not alone in its decision. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a mask mandate that runs through the end of February. All rights reserved. With Cantons vaccination rate hovering around 80%, the town will be voting on lifting their mask mandate Monday night. The omicron variant is coming to an end, well wait to see whats on the horizon," Lowells Health Director Lisa Golden said. A growing number of cities and towns across Massachusetts are rolling back their mask and vaccine mandates as COVID-19 cases decline. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. Bucci said it was hard to understand why his customers had to wear a mask when they came into the diner, but could take it off the second they sat at a table. Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022: Please do not include personal or contact information. The Board of Health in Worcester, the state's second-largest city, voted 3-2 to begin phasing out the city's mandate. The mandate includes all indoor businesses and facilities open to the public. We will use this information to improve this page. 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 Updated: Aug. 13, 2021, 8:56 a.m. | Some places, like Medford, Malden, and Melrose, require masks only in municipal buildings. I think I will be wearing it for a while," Arlene Dacey of Beverly said. Youll also need either proof of vaccination or a negative test taken no more than a day in advance. Breaking news when it happens. 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. Mayor Michelle Wu has decided they will have to continue wearing masks at school, even though other school districts are doing away with them, per Gov. "When I heard the news that the mandate was lifted, I just thought it is progress. You can try, CHARTS: Mass. We couldn't do it without you. In MetroWest, some cities and towns have mask mandates, some have advisories and some have no local policy at all. It had quite a run with its strict no-people policy, and was closed for longer than any other states capital. 2 min read. Plenty more have followed since. So, if you are unsure of what the requirement is where you live, you should check your local health department's website. Support GBH. Please let us know how we can improve this page. All key COVID-19 metrics, including deaths, cases, and . She can be reached atapatkin@wickedlocal.com. 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. The mandate will be reviewed again on Nov. 5, Martha's Vineyard: Masks are required in all indoor spaces open to the public in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Tisbury, Medford: Face masks must be worn by all individuals ages 5 and older indoors in public spaces effective September 10, 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 indoor public spaces, Provincetown:An indoor mask mandate has been replaced by an advisory, Salem: Indoor mask mandate throughout city until November 13, Sharon: Masks require for everyone ages two and older in all indoor public places or private spaces open to the public, Somerville: Masks mandatory in all indoor public places, Truro: Masks required in indoor businesses, clubs and places of assembly, as well as crowded outdoor spaces, Watertown: Masks required in indoor spaces open to the public, Wellfleet: Masks required at indoor businesses, recommended outdoors if social distancing is not possible, Winchester: Masks required at indoor public spaces, houses of worship and indoor private spaces open to the public, Worcester: Masks required at indoor spaces open to the public starting Sept. 20, First published on August 31, 2021 / 10:06 AM. 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. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. Dropping the mask mandate on the day they return from a week off seems especially risky. . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. I may be swimming upstream against a strong public current, but Im OK with that. And what about vaccine requirements elsewhere? Wearing a mask provides protection against COVID and other viruses, especially when indoors or in crowded spaces. Where they are, where they aren't, and when they (might) end. They say three quarters of Americans are immune; by March they expect the immune numbers will be higher. Schools Continue Downward Trend, New Video Shows Moment Floor Buckled on Green Line Train on Marathon Monday, Pupdate on the Adorable Dog That Fell Asleep on Our Broadcast, Popeye's Customers Angry Over Menu Item Trash Worcester Restaurant: Police, We Spent $100,000 on an Abandoned High School, and $3.3 Million to Convert It Into ApartmentsTake a Look Inside. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Mask Recommendations and Requirements, is. In fact, some measures are back to where they were last fall before a surge in infections related to delta and omicron variants. ), COVID mask guide:Why N95, KN95 masks are so much more effective than cloth, Last Tuesday, Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders told state legislators that Gov. WORCESTER, MA This was a big week for masks in Massachusetts. An iHeartRadio station. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Mandates have come and gone, and in some cases never arrived at all. These experts aren't quite ready, Boston municipal unions bring vaccine mandate opposition to City Council. Others only require masks in public buildings. The city also recommends that the unvaccinated and people who are immune-compromised or who live with people who are immune-compromised continue to wear masks. Im prepared to be an outlier. Boston's K-12 students are returning to the classrooms today after school vacation week, officially Mid Winter Break. . 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. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. 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. Staff, patients, vendors, and visitors must all wear masks at the following sites: hospitals, emergency medical services, primary care and urgent care settings. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. "It's a little too soon to say, 'OK, let's get rid of the masks.' Mayor Wu said this week that its possible we could get into the sweet spot in the next few days or so. Wu has cautioned, however, that if those numbers tick up again, the mandates could return all over again. Others only require masks in public buildings. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Youll have to wear a mask to drop by. Town Mask Mandate Announcement, effective February 11, 2022. What about masking rules for cities and towns? Mask mandates return to college campuses as COVID-19 flares. Town of Essex, MA Essex Town Hall 30 Martin Street Essex, MA 01929. Listen Live: Classic and Contemporary Celtic, Listen Live: Cape, Coast and Islands NPR Station, 'A lot of bang for your buck' with jail-based arts programs, From slams to sidewalks, poetry is alive in Greater Boston, How American English has borrowed, stolen, and evolved into an imperial language, Worcester school counselor Sean Magwire is a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse says Supreme Court needs an enforceable code of conduct. Towns with indoor mask mandates These are the Massachusetts cities and towns that have indoor mask mandates in either all public places, or in municipal buildings only. We dont blame you. Per a release from January 28, the city said they plan on keeping their current COVID safety measures in place until Sunday. No doubt full of cautious customers like me drawn by the extra precaution. 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. A lock icon ( 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. Drivers and other staff on transportation provided by the HST Brokerage system must wear masks. On transportation provided by the Commonwealths Human Service Transportation (HST) Brokerage system. 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. Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. Thank you! Follow Abby onTwitter@AMPatkin. Some page levels are currently hidden. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. Virginia. The lack of state mandate has left individual communities to decide the issue of masking for themselves, resulting in a patchwork of policies across the state. Boston also requires proof of vaccination to enter indoor restaurants, as well as fitness and entertainment venues. Whether youre required to wear a face mask depends on where you are. Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft both require that drivers and riders wear masks. I wish I felt as confident as he does. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Callie Crossley hosts Under the Radar with Callie Crossley and shares radio essays each Monday on GBHs Morning Edition. Bracket said business at Purple Carrot is still down about 50% from pre-COVID days. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. Use this button to show and access all levels. Wearing a mask provides protection against COVID and other viruses, especially when indoors or in crowded spaces. 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.. Board Chair Dr. David Moore said a dramatic increase in the citys COVID-19 cases last week prompted action. So, while the numbers are trending in the right direction, Marcus counsels patience. Related:Natick implements a public mask mandate. How many of them are still unvaccinated? We will use this information to improve this page. The requirement for K-12 public schools will now last until at least Jan. 15, 2022. Boston: Masks mandatory in all indoor public places, Brookline: Face masks required in all indoor spaces, including businesses, restaurants, clubs, places of assembly, municipal buildings and other locations open to the general public, Cambridge:Masks required in all indoor public spaces for everyone over 2 years old, Canton: Masks required in indoor public spaces when community transmission level is substantial or high, Carlisle: Face masks must be worn indoors in public spaces, Lexington: Masks required for people ages two and older at indoor businesses, houses of worship, and private spaces. But this could all change: according to Mayor Michelle Wu, based on the latest data, the vaccine requirements could be lifted very soon. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. Marcus said it's understandable that we want to leave mask requirements behind. Data from the Department of Public Health on Friday revealed that 5,218,681 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. Beverly's mask mandate expired at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. WORCESTER, MA This was a big week for masks in Massachusetts. BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) With COVID-19 rates in Massachusetts on the decline, some cities and towns are looking to adjust their safety protocols. The mask mandate for most Massachusetts public schools has been extended into January, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Tuesday. The loosening of restrictions comes as COVID-19 cases linked to omicron have begun to recede. 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. Protests outside Boston mayor's house spark debate, Mass. 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. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. 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 . Beverlys mask mandate expiredat 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. "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. You skipped the table of contents section. "Probably at least until the spring," she said. In each of the settings listed below, Persons in Massachusetts over the age of 5 years old are required to wear a mask over their mouth and nose as outlined below: Non-residential healthcare facilities and programs licensed or operated by the Commonwealth, Healthcare practice settings of any provider licensed by a professional board which sits within the Department of Public Health or the Division of Occupational Licensure. 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. Mandates Masks required in public spaces, including private businesses. The state Department of Public Health has relaxed its masking guidance, saying this week that people who are unvaccinated, or who have certain health conditions or compromised immune systems, or live with people who are at higher risk, should wear masks while sharing indoor spaces with other people outside their homes. I do. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. The owner of City Eats on Cabot Street was ecstatic to openThursday morningwith the mandate no longer in place. This requirement only applies to the worker providing care. Mask mandates in western Massachusetts . Its not as though I dont have COVID fatigue, like millions of other Americans. Advisories Local governments are only advising people to wear masks in public. 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. Mayor Michelle Wu has decided they will have to continue wearing masks at school, even though other school districts are doing away with them, per Gov. But he is worried some communities might be rolling back these protections too soon. All people in Massachusetts (regardless of vaccination status) are required to continue wearing face coverings in certain settings, including health care facilities . Quincys home to the latest apparently racism-fueled violent incident, where an Asian man was allegedly run over repeatedly. As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. "It's a little awkward, and I worry that I'll lose customers when I say, 'Hey, we have a mask mandate.' "Things are looking good, but we're clearly not out of the woods," noted Wildes. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Join us. Thank you for your website feedback! (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald) Students . You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. NATICK The Board of Health voted on Tuesday to let the town's indoor mask mandate expire Feb. 28, with public health officials citing Natick's falling COVID-19 cases and steady vaccination. Private parochial schools in Boston have said they will not keep mask mandates in place past that date. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Public Health. You skipped the table of contents section. Keeping to small circles in which I can feel safer. An appellate court justice has temporarily blocked the city from enforcing the mandate for police and fire departments. Were hearing conflicting messages from city, state, and federal officials, not to mention from health experts weve been told to heed all along. Administrator Reports; Beach Water Quality Information; Coronavirus (COVID-19) & Pandemic Information; Emergency Preparedness. Some towns and cities have community-wide mask requirements. Struggling to keep up with the state of play? school mask mandate drops Monday, but in some districts the masks stay up for now, It's safe to unmask in many places, says the CDC. In MetroWest, some cities and towns have mask mandates, some have advisories and some have no local policy at all. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. As the African proverb warns, Do not throw away the oars until the boat reaches the shore.. WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) spoke with health officials from two towns south of Boston: Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App. Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. "If youre going to get your coffee or going to the gym to work out, you dont need your mask. But keep in mind that we've had three big spikes since this pandemic began two years ago and we could have another one.

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