Mask mandates return to college campuses as COVID-19 flares. WBZ-TV reports Worcesters leaders are going to ask the Board of Health to rescind the policy on Monday. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Some local communities missing from this list may not have provided explicit mask guidance. >> 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 . With Cantons vaccination rate hovering around 80%, the town will be voting on lifting their mask mandate Monday night. Why are so many communities dropping their restrictions now? Worcester earlier this month voted to rescind its indoor mask mandate, which takes effect on February 18. For the first time since early August, the Commonwealth reported fewer than 1,000 average daily confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last week. 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. "When I heard the news that the mandate was lifted, I just thought it is progress. We couldn't do it without you. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Follow Abby onTwitter@AMPatkin. Mandates Masks required in public spaces, including private businesses. The requirement for K-12 public schools will now last until at least Jan. 15, 2022. The Board of Health in Worcester, the state's second-largest city, voted 3-2 to begin phasing out the city's mandate. Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings PDF, Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings, Consejos para Cubrirse la Cara y para el Uso de Mascarillas de Tela, Boletim sobre coberturas para o rosto e mscaras de pano, Avi Konsnan Atik pou Kouvri Figi ak Mask an Twal yo, Kshilla pr mbulimin e fytyrs dhe maskat prej lecke, , Konsedju sobri maskras di panu y tapa kara, , . Whether youre required to wear a face mask depends on where you are. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. (Interestingly, Brooklines vax mandate applies to restaurants outdoor patios, while Bostons does not). At least 18. Finally, mask mandates remain in force on public transportation including MBTA buses, trains and ferries as well in state health care facilities. 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. Use this button to show and access all levels. All rights reserved. As you certainly know by now, Boston opted to make vaccine checks mandatory at indoor venues like restaurants and gyms in January. (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. She also said it is tough having different rules in different places. Masks are optional for residents as further described in DPH Guidance: Caring for Long-Term Care Residents During the COVID-19 Response. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Public Health. Editor's Note: We have stopped updating this list as of Nov. 23. You skipped the table of contents section. Please check with your local government for the mask rules in your community. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. The State House, closed to the public for nearly two years, is finally reopening on February 22. The latest numbers are good news. The city of Lowell and the town of Beverly are dropping their mask mandates for businesses after seeing a drop in COVID-19 infections. 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. State education officials, meanwhile, announced the end of in-school mask mandates . Boston requires all city workers get vaccinated, which has prompted push-back and legal fights from some public employee unions. Were hearing conflicting messages from city, state, and federal officials, not to mention from health experts weve been told to heed all along. 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? 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. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Boston's source for local news. 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.. They are still required in city buildings. No Yes. 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. 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. 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. Everett and Waltham, meanwhile, do not have indoor mask mandates at all. Breaking news when it happens. WORCESTER, MA This was a big week for masks in Massachusetts. BOSTON (SHNS) - As COVID-19 case counts continue to rise across Massachusetts, including its schools, a decision about whether to extend the mask mandate in . On Monday, Worcester health officials narrowly voted to rescind their city's. And some cities and towns have no requirements at all. 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. 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. 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 . Material from the State House News Service was used in this report. "I like not having to remind people, so that's nice," she said. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! Plenty more have followed since. Less than a month after the peak of the omicron surge, here's a rundown on the status of mask policies across the region. Cities and towns across Massachusetts are beginning to reimplement mask mandates for vaccinated and unvaccinated people, after rising cases led the CDC to issue new guidance recommending masks indoors in most parts of the state. Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings PDF, Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings, Consejos para Cubrirse la Cara y para el Uso de Mascarillas de Tela, Boletim sobre coberturas para o rosto e mscaras de pano, Avi Konsnan Atik pou Kouvri Figi ak Mask an Twal yo, Kshilla pr mbulimin e fytyrs dhe maskat prej lecke, , Konsedju sobri maskras di panu y tapa kara, , . Meanwhile, lots of other cities and towns still require masks, though policies are changing almost daily. 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. 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. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. 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. But while the state mandate will end soon, some school districts may continue to require masks for now. You can try, CHARTS: Mass. With infection and hospitalization numberscoming down, are we finally turning a corner in the pandemic? Meanwhile the neighboring town of Canton appears closer to lifting their mask mandate. The moves come after COVID-19 infections have seen a sharp drop. Feb 11, 2022 at 1:10 pm ET. Others only require masks in public buildings. Other communities have pushed further and declared a mask mandate in all indoor spaces. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Others only require masks in public buildings. But this could all change: according to Mayor Michelle Wu, based on the latest data, the vaccine requirements could be lifted very soon. community health centers and clinics or other licensed medical/clinical settings that care for patients with acute illness and/or immunocompromised patients (e.g. So many public health officials across the state believe it's safe to ease up restrictions. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Mask Recommendations and Requirements, is. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A lack of competition invites a focus on internal politics over the public good. In Salem, which is right next door to Beverly, the mask mandate is in placeuntil March 8. 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. 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. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Mask Recommendations and Requirements, is. I seriously cant believe were about to mark two years of the pandemic. BOSTON MA. In many cases, the requirement is limited to municipal buildings. That includes Boston, Chelsea and Northampton schools. 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. What is wrong with waiting for that important marker? But keep in mind that we've had three big spikes since this pandemic began two years ago and we could have another one. 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. Kids ages 5-11 will need to have at least one dose by March 1, and two doses by May 1. Bostons K-12 students are returning to the classrooms today after school vacation week, officially Mid Winter Break. And. . '"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. 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. For example, Worcester voted to end its indoor mask requirement starting Friday. Salem had a short-lived indoor vaccine mandate, which it rescinded on February 8. Struggling to keep up with the state of play? 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. How Mask Policies Have Changed In MA Towns, Cities - Worcester, MA - With COVID-19 cases declining in many areas, mask mandates are ending. will stop requiring masks in public schools. So, while the numbers are trending in the right direction, Marcus counsels patience. Mandates have come and gone, and in some cases never arrived at all. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a mask mandate that runs through the end of February. Beverly is not alone in its decision. I am vaccinated and boosted, and the number of vaccinated Massachusetts residents is high, though people are still getting breakthrough infections. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. The . Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 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. But overall, I think it will mean a little bump in sales.". Youll also need either proof of vaccination or a negative test taken no more than a day in advance. Keeping to small circles in which I can feel safer. 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 would be a lot easier if we were able to move as a region, but right now the system isnt set up that way. 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. March 9, 2022, 12:54 p.m. . The BOH had declined to officially recommend a mandate just a few days prior, though both sitting members had said they would be in favor of one. 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. 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? reporter: plymouth rescinded the indoor mask mandate except for town offices. And hoping for stronger evidence that we have definitively turned the pandemic corner. Its been a dizzying few months in Massachusetts when it comes to rules on masks and vaccines in this stage of the pandemic. As is Mayor Michelle Wus recent decision to lift the mandate requiring proof of vaccination for restaurants, bars and gyms. Worcester Library's Mini-Golf Fundraiser Returns For Adults, Families, Mothers Day 2023 Brunch: Reserve Now In Worcester, Students Maced, Big Tree Debt, New Gun Zoning: Patch Top Stories, Worcester Area: 5 Freshest Properties For Sale, 2023 Food Truck Season Starts In MA With 'Showdown' In Spencer. Below is a list of cities and towns where masks are required in all indoor public places: Belmont Starting Aug. 9, masks or face But he is worried some communities might be rolling back these protections too soon. "It's time to give our kids a sense of normalcy and lift the mask mandate on a state-wide basis for schools," Baker said. 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. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. Administrator Reports; Beach Water Quality Information; Coronavirus (COVID-19) & Pandemic Information; Emergency Preparedness. Under Worcester's new policy, masks will still be required on public transportation, in the airport and at some other public spaces. 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. 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. 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. We will use this information to improve this page. "It's a little too soon to say, 'OK, let's get rid of the masks.' The feedback will only be used for improving the website. February 28, 2022. Charlie Baker's recent decision to lift the mask . It helps me relax" Anne Pofcher of Beverly said. Beverlys mask mandate expiredat 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Mask mandates in western Massachusetts . In skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities licensed or operated by the Commonwealth: masks are required for staff and visitors. Virginia. Updated: Jan 7, 2022 / 06:13 PM EST. The keys to staying connected to your kids this pandemic school year. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. Some towns and cities have community-wide mask requirements. I had just enjoyed eating out in restaurants Id avoided before the mandate. Earlier this month, the governor announced the statewide school mask mandate would expire on Feb. 28. Anthony Brooks Twitter Senior Political ReporterAnthony Brooks is WBUR's senior political reporter. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Dozens of Massachusetts schools are already mask-free. While their seven-day average positivity rate has continued to decline to 278 cases, the city said that rate is still above last years peak of just under 200. Below is a list of cities and towns that have made face mask announcements: Arlington: Masks are required in indoor spaces that are open to the public, Bedford: Masks required in indoor public spaces or private spaces open to the public, Belmont: Masks are required in any indoor spaces open to the public including restaurants, bars, salons, places of worship, fitness centers and other businesses. Keep in mind, these advisories and mandates only come from local governments. 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.
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