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. As cities and towns drop their mask mandates, could schools be next? Brookline did the same thing. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. March 9, 2022, 12:54 p.m. . / CBS Boston. Dozens of Massachusetts schools are already mask-free. Masks Down? Massachusetts Cities And Towns Consider Dropping Mask Mandates COVID doesnt stop at every town line," Driscoll said. Masks are still mandatory statewide in certain other locations like hospitals and nursing homes, and in most forms of transportation you share with strangers, including airplanes and airports, and on all MBTA trains, buses, and platforms. 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. 2 more Massachusetts communities drop their mask mandate Mass. Public School Mask Mandate Extended Into 2022 - NBC Boston Wearing a mask provides protection against COVID and other viruses, especially when indoors or in crowded spaces. All rights reserved. On transportation provided by the Commonwealths Human Service Transportation (HST) Brokerage system. 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. Each town has its own specifics around these requirements, so visit the community's website for more information. The Board of Health in Worcester, the state's second-largest city, voted 3-2 to begin phasing out the city's mandate. So I feel safer, like, when I go to the grocery store, just wearing one.". Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. Drivers and other staff on transportation provided by the HST Brokerage system must wear masks. The majority of Massachusetts public schools will enter a week-long vacation on Feb. 21, most classes will resume on Feb. 28 the same day the school mask mandate will be rescinded. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts But while the state mandate will end soon, some school districts may continue to require masks for now. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. On transportation provided by the Commonwealths Human Service Transportation (HST) Brokerage system. 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. Massachusetts doctors are now are recommending that everyone wear masks in all public indoor spaces, but Gov. Im prepared to be an outlier. 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. And hoping for stronger evidence that we have definitively turned the pandemic corner. Roberto Scalese Twitter Senior Editor, DigitalRoberto Scalese is a senior editor for digital. "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. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. Other communities have pushed further and declared a mask mandate in all indoor spaces. The moves come after COVID-19 infections have seen a sharp drop. Breaking news when it happens. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Beverly is not alone in its decision. Thank you! ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. And what about vaccine requirements elsewhere? Beverlys mask mandate expiredat 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Everett and Waltham, meanwhile, do not have indoor mask mandates at all. Some local communities missing from this list may not have provided explicit mask guidance. Im not ready to throw my mask away yet. Mandates Masks required in public spaces, including private businesses. As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. Staff, patients, vendors, and visitors must all wear masks at the following sites: hospitals, emergency medical services, primary care and urgent care settings. community health centers and clinics or other licensed medical/clinical settings that care for patients with acute illness and/or immunocompromised patients (e.g. Data from the Department of Public Health on Friday revealed that 5,218,681 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. 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. The latest numbers are good news. Other cities in recent days have been weighing whether to join them. Unless there is solid evidence that TikTok is a political and military threat, all of this Sturm und Drang has no actual point. Not everyone is breathing a sigh of relief that the mandates are being lifted. Anthony Brooks Twitter Senior Political ReporterAnthony Brooks is WBUR's senior political reporter. 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. Use this button to show and access all levels. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Drivers and other staff on transportation provided by the HST Brokerage system must wear masks. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. WORCESTER, MA This was a big week for masks in Massachusetts. The owner of City Eats on Cabot Street was ecstatic to openThursday morningwith the mandate no longer in place. "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. 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, , . Charlie Bakers recent decision to lift the mask mandate. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a mask mandate that runs through the end of February. With Cantons vaccination rate hovering around 80%, the town will be voting on lifting their mask mandate Monday night. Marcus said it's understandable that we want to leave mask requirements behind. Join us. 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. All people in Massachusetts (regardless of vaccination status) are required to continue wearing face coverings in certain settings, including health care facilities . Meanwhile, lots of other cities and towns still require masks, though policies are changing almost daily. I think I will be wearing it for a while," Arlene Dacey of Beverly said. As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. Mask Recommendations and Requirements | Mass.gov The rules are changing daily, depending upon where you live. 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. It's complicated. Mayor Wu, for one, is keeping BPS mask mandate for now. Material from the State House News Service was used in this report. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! 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? 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. 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? BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) With COVID-19 rates in Massachusetts on the decline, some cities and towns are looking to adjust their safety protocols. 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. You skipped the table of contents section. Dozens of Massachusetts schools are already mask-free. The decision is aimed at relaxing restrictions and boosting business at places such as Purple Carrot Bread Co. in downtown Lowell. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. Virginia. Boston, the. Thank you! Not every school is ready for that just . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Massachusetts schools and cities are dropping mask mandates. Why are we Baker said that's possible largely because of the state has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country and testing is widely available. This article was originally published on August 30, 2021. But this could all change: according to Mayor Michelle Wu, based on the latest data, the vaccine requirements could be lifted very soon. The City of Lowell and the town of Beverly both dropped their indoor mask mandates this week. In fact, some measures are back to where they were last fall before a surge in infections related to delta and omicron variants. 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. Dropping the mask mandate on the day they return from a week off seems especially risky. Residents and visitors are still required to wear masks on public transit, in healthcare and congregate care facilities, among others. We will use this information to improve this page. 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. Wearing a mask provides protection against COVID and other viruses, especially when indoors or in crowded spaces. The requirement for K-12 public schools will now last until at least Jan. 15, 2022. Dont expect those rules to go anywhere anytime soonyou may not want to relax your policy of stuffing spare masks into coat pockets. Until we get down to low levels of transmission, I think mask use is one of the last measures to be removed," Hamer said. She also said it is tough having different rules in different places. 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. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In MetroWest, some cities and towns have mask mandates, some have advisories and some have no local policy at all. 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. Boston still requires them for all public indoor spaces, as do neighbors Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, and Brookline. August 31, 2021 / 10:06 AM 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. Updated: Jan 7, 2022 / 06:13 PM EST. 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. You skipped the table of contents section. All rights reserved, With cases and hospitalizations both down in Massachusetts, New COVID Cases in Mass. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. As the African proverb warns, Do not throw away the oars until the boat reaches the shore.. Lowell also let its mask mandate expire. It had quite a run with its strict no-people policy, and was closed for longer than any other states capital. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) "If youre going to get your coffee or going to the gym to work out, you dont need your mask. The city of Lowell and the town of Beverly are dropping their mask mandates for businesses after seeing a drop in COVID-19 infections. 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. Massachusetts mask mandate decision to be made next week Here are Mass. cities and towns with mask mandates - WBUR Everyday Wealth with Soledad OBrian and Jean Chatzky, Health News: Powered by Tufts Medical Center, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. WESTBORO, MASS. 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.. Boston also requires proof of vaccination to enter indoor restaurants, as well as fitness and entertainment venues. COVID-19 Mask Requirements | Mass.gov 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. Keeping to small circles in which I can feel safer. 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. Town Mask Mandate Announcement, effective February 11, 2022 It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. Mask mandates in Massachusetts: With COVID delta variant - masslive She can be reached [email protected]. Things could be changing pretty soon, though, as officials are outlining the metrics theyd like to see before phasing out mandates. Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022: Please do not include personal or contact information. A lock icon ( On Monday, Worcester health officials narrowly voted to rescind their city's. So has Salem, where the Board of Health voted unanimously to end both its mask and vaccine mandates. 2 min read. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Public Health. Bostons K-12 students are returning to the classrooms today after school vacation week, officially Mid Winter Break. Others only require masks in public buildings. . (Interestingly, Brooklines vax mandate applies to restaurants outdoor patios, while Bostons does not). 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. Heres a town-by-town breakdown of local mask policies: Note: The following towns also require masks in all municipal buildings. These experts aren't quite ready, Boston municipal unions bring vaccine mandate opposition to City Council. 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. Staff, patients, vendors, and visitors must all wear masks at the following sites: hospitals, emergency medical services, primary care and urgent care settings. 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. 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. Callie Crossley hosts Under the Radar with Callie Crossley and shares radio essays each Monday on GBHs Morning Edition. Here's what to know about the new mask guidance in Mass. This requirement only applies to the worker providing care. Mask mandates in western Massachusetts . Others only require masks in public buildings. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. COVID is still here but we are trending more towards an endemic, which means its always going to be here sort of like the flu., Read More: South Yarmouth Man Reported Missing During Blizzard Found Dead, This comes as news broke Friday that the City of Worcester is considering lifting their indoor mask mandate, which was put in place in September 2021. Town Mask Mandate Announcement, effective February 11, 2022. Meanwhile the neighboring town of Canton appears closer to lifting their mask mandate. I am vaccinated and boosted, and the number of vaccinated Massachusetts residents is high, though people are still getting breakthrough infections. 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. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. Kids ages 5-11 will need to have at least one dose by March 1, and two doses by May 1. Please check with your local government for the mask rules in your community. For the first time since early August, the Commonwealth reported fewer than 1,000 average daily confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last week. Chan School of Public Health. And hospitals are still full of people struggling to recover from COVID-19 infection. The Centers For Disease Control has recommended that even fully vaccinated Americans in areas with substantial or high COVID transmission mask up indoors. The U.S. States That Are Ending Mask Mandates (Published 2022) Masks will still be required on buses statewide, even if theyre not mandatory in classrooms. How Mask Policies Have Changed In MA Towns, Cities - Yahoo News "Things are looking good, but we're clearly not out of the woods," noted Wildes. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. And some cities and towns have no requirements at all. State education officials, meanwhile, announced the end of in-school mask mandates . Were hearing conflicting messages from city, state, and federal officials, not to mention from health experts weve been told to heed all along. 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. What about masking rules for cities and towns? A lack of competition invites a focus on internal politics over the public good. Where should you wear a mask indoors? This map shows the COVID-19 level Data from the Department of Public Health on Friday revealed that 5,218,681 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. This requirement only applies to the worker providing care. 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. Many of his customers said they prefer the masks to be optional. So again, you need to check out what your community or favorite restaurant or gym require. Upload file: february_11_2022.pdf. Masks are optional for residents as further described in DPH Guidance: Caring for Long-Term Care Residents During the COVID-19 Response. 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. 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. Youll also need either proof of vaccination or a negative test taken no more than a day in advance. Boston's source for local news. 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. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Worcester earlier this month voted to rescind its indoor mask mandate, which takes effect on February 18. 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. Just over 75% of the population has gotten a booster shot. WBZ-TV also reports that Worcester has fined more than 100 places for noncompliance. Kanton Mathis' 12-year-old son Eric wants to wear his mask at his Decatur, Georgia, school, where masks are now optional . 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. The town is holding that meeting on February 16. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. That includes Boston, Chelsea and Northampton schools. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Struggling to keep up with the state of play? Please limit your input to 500 characters. But here areanswers to some common questions about the shifting landscape. Replies (10 . See Where You Need to Mask Up in Massachusetts So Far And. Thank you for your website feedback! I may be swimming upstream against a strong public current, but Im OK with that. 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. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Public Health. The City of Lowell and the town of Beverly both dropped their indoor mask mandates this week. "It doesnt make sense to me because they were so emphatic about it before and now theyre saying you dont have to do anything? If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Public Health. Salems Board of Health voted unanimously to end its mask and vaccine mandates on February 7, a change that took effect immediately. BOSTON (CBS) With the new Omicron variant driving COVID-19 cases to record levels in Massachusetts, many cities and towns have brought back or extended face mask mandates to slow the spread. Home of Traffic and Weather Together on the 3s. BOSTON MA. 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. So many public health officials across the state believe it's safe to ease up restrictions. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Mask Recommendations and Requirements, is. Use this button to show and access all levels. Framingham was among several communities torecently issuemask mandates, with Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and the Board of Health issuing a joint order last Friday. I had just enjoyed eating out in restaurants Id avoided before the mandate. Local communities mask mandates - WWLP But he is worried some communities might be rolling back these protections too soon. When is the Right Time to Drop Mask Mandates? - NBC Boston
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