As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. "It doesnt make sense to me because they were so emphatic about it before and now theyre saying you dont have to do anything? "Things are looking good, but we're clearly not out of the woods," noted Wildes. The latest numbers are good news. moves to relax mask rules, students say COVID is still taking a toll. It helps me relax" Anne Pofcher of Beverly said. 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. Please check with your local government for the mask rules in your community. Drivers and other staff on transportation provided by the HST Brokerage system must wear masks. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Private parochial schools in Boston have said they will not keep mask mandates in place past that date. 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. You can try, Too close to home? 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. It's complicated. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. So has Salem, where the Board of Health voted unanimously to end both its mask and vaccine mandates. Masks are optional for residents as further described in DPH Guidance: Caring for Long-Term Care Residents During the COVID-19 Response. will have to continue wearing masks at school, Mass. Researchers at the University of Washington have been monitoring the levels of immunity in countries around the world. The City of Lowell and the town of Beverly both dropped their indoor mask mandates this week. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. 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. The decision is aimed at relaxing restrictions and boosting business at places such as Purple Carrot Bread Co. in downtown Lowell. Until we get down to low levels of transmission, I think mask use is one of the last measures to be removed," Hamer said. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a mask mandate that runs through the end of February. Mask mandates in Massachusetts: With COVID delta variant rising, these towns and cities have enacted face-covering guidelines. Some page levels are currently hidden. We dont blame you. (Interestingly, Brooklines vax mandate applies to restaurants outdoor patios, while Bostons does not). 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. Its been a dizzying few months in Massachusetts when it comes to rules on masks and vaccines in this stage of the pandemic. Less than a month after the peak of the omicron surge, here's a rundown on the status of mask policies across the region. A lock icon ( So many public health officials across the state believe it's safe to ease up restrictions. 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 . Thank you for your website feedback! 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. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Brookline did the same thing. This requirement only applies to the worker providing care. Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022:Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings PDF| DOC. Anthony Brooks Twitter Senior Political ReporterAnthony Brooks is WBUR's senior political reporter. In skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities licensed or operated by the Commonwealth: masks are required for staff and visitors. In Salem, which is right next door to Beverly, the mask mandate is in placeuntil March 8. The loosening of restrictions comes as COVID-19 cases linked to omicron have begun to recede. Why are so many communities dropping their restrictions now? The same release said 41% of eligible city residents have received a booster shot, which was up two percent from the week prior. In many cases, the requirement is limited to municipal buildings. 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. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. I had just enjoyed eating out in restaurants Id avoided before the mandate. Dont expect those rules to go anywhere anytime soonyou may not want to relax your policy of stuffing spare masks into coat pockets. Here are Mass. cities and towns with mask mandates - WBUR All rights reserved, With cases and hospitalizations both down in Massachusetts, New COVID Cases in Mass. Youll also need either proof of vaccination or a negative test taken no more than a day in advance. Dozens of Massachusetts schools are already mask-free. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. He described the latest case surge as a health emergency in our city.. WESTBORO, MASS. Boston requires all city workers get vaccinated, which has prompted push-back and legal fights from some public employee unions. 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. Some places, like Medford, Malden, and Melrose, require masks only in municipal buildings. Masks are optional for staff, patients, vendors, and visitors in these settings. Meanwhile the neighboring town of Canton appears closer to lifting their mask mandate. 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. 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. Plenty more have followed since. Masks Down? Massachusetts Cities And Towns Consider Dropping Mask Mandates Local communities mask mandates - WWLP As the African proverb warns, Do not throw away the oars until the boat reaches the shore.. 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. "It's a little too soon to say, 'OK, let's get rid of the masks.' Thank you! (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. 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. Join us. 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. Boston also requires proof of vaccination to enter indoor restaurants, as well as fitness and entertainment venues. 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. Thank 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. 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. On transportation provided by the Commonwealths Human Service Transportation (HST) Brokerage system. 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. "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. The moves come after COVID-19 infections have seen a sharp drop. "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. "It's a lot easier to breathe, said owner Alaina Bracket. But overall, I think it will mean a little bump in sales.". Mayor Wu, for one, is keeping BPS mask mandate for now. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. 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. 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. 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. For the first time since early August, the Commonwealth reported fewer than 1,000 average daily confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last week. Abby Patkin is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. For example, many restaurants in Cambridge require proof of vaccination. A lack of competition invites a focus on internal politics over the public good. Freestanding, outpatient behavioral health settings are not subject to the requirements of this Order. The Centers For Disease Control has recommended that even fully vaccinated Americans in areas with substantial or high COVID transmission mask up indoors. The mask mandate remains in place in public places like buses and city buildings. LIST: These Massachusetts Cities And Towns Have Issued Face Mask We couldn't do it without you. Please let us know how we can improve this page. across the country lift indoor mask mandates and proof-of . Staff, patients, vendors, and visitors must all wear masks at the following sites: hospitals, emergency medical services, primary care and urgent care settings. How many of them are still unvaccinated? As you certainly know by now, Boston opted to make vaccine checks mandatory at indoor venues like restaurants and gyms in January. Dozens of Massachusetts schools are already mask-free. Per a release from January 28, the city said they plan on keeping their current COVID safety measures in place until Sunday. More Massachusetts communities dropping mask mandates Follow Abby onTwitter@AMPatkin. In MetroWest, some cities and towns have mask mandates, some have advisories and some have no local policy at all. Just over 75% of the population has gotten a booster shot. 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, , . 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Mask mandates in Massachusetts: With COVID delta variant - masslive The most recent guidance says that K95, K94 and N95 masks offer the best protection. What about masking rules for cities and towns? WORCESTER, MA This was a big week for masks in Massachusetts. 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, , . Governor Charlie Baker was asked if the state was considering dropping the mask mandate anytime soon. 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. Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. Bostons K-12 students are returning to the classrooms today after school vacation week, officially Mid Winter Break. 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. So, if you are unsure of what the requirement is where you live, you should check your local health department's website. Finally, mask mandates remain in force on public transportation including MBTA buses, trains and ferries as well in state health care facilities. 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. Map: Here's where masks are required indoors in Massachusetts Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. Bracket said business at Purple Carrot is still down about 50% from pre-COVID days. Yet while some states, including California and New York, require most people to wear masks indoors in public places, Massachusetts has held out. Kids ages 5-11 will need to have at least one dose by March 1, and two doses by May 1. Town Mask Mandate Announcement, effective February 11, 2022 Freestanding, outpatient behavioral health settings are not subject to the requirements of this Order. It will be up to each business to decide whether to require masks. 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. 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. 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. Boston's source for local news. State education officials, meanwhile, announced the end of in-school mask mandates . How Mask Policies Have Changed In MA Towns, Cities - Yahoo News "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. I seriously cant believe were about to mark two years of the pandemic. Massachusetts revises its sweeping mask mandates for schools Town Mask Mandate Announcement, effective February 11, 2022. 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. 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. 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. As is Mayor Michelle Wus recent decision to lift the mandate requiring proof of vaccination for restaurants, bars and gyms. by: Melissa Torres. CDC Updates COVID Mask Guidelines: What It Means In Massachusetts Things could be changing pretty soon, though, as officials are outlining the metrics theyd like to see before phasing out mandates. Salems Board of Health voted unanimously to end its mask and vaccine mandates on February 7, a change that took effect immediately. 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. I think, in general, we want to see a significant decrease in cases that is maintained over time.". "Probably at least until the spring," she said. 2 more Massachusetts communities drop their mask mandate Below is a list of cities and towns where masks are required in all indoor public places: Belmont Starting Aug. 9, masks or face Beverlys mask mandate expiredat 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Boston, the. Why Mass. is rolling back its mask and vaccine mandates 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. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. 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. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald) Students . We will use this information to improve this page. "I feel like in the winter, everyone is sick with something, whether it's COVID or not. Masks in schools: Massachusetts residents both upset and - masslive 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? All rights reserved. Boston still requires them for all public indoor spaces, as do neighbors Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, and Brookline. Framingham was among several communities to recently issue mask. 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. '"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. I may be swimming upstream against a strong public current, but Im OK with that. 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. And some cities and towns have no requirements at all. >> 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 . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The mandate applies to all businesses, retail stores, restaurants, bars, clubs, fitness centers and other places of assembly.. Which Massachusetts cities and towns are requiring masks? "I'm just concerned that there are places that are getting a little bit ahead of the curve, and could inadvertently create a situation where those cases go back up," he said. 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.
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