Mask mandates in western Massachusetts . 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. I seriously cant believe were about to mark two years of the pandemic. Use this button to show and access all levels. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. Under Worcester's new policy, masks will still be required on public transportation, in the airport and at some other public spaces. Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022: Please do not include personal or contact information. Updated: Aug. 13, 2021, 8:56 a.m. | Many Massachusetts Schools Return From February Break With No Mask Mandate Mask up:Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky announces indoor mask mandate. Masks Down? Massachusetts Cities And Towns Consider Dropping Mask Mandates BOSTON MA. Billerica: Masks required in indoor public spaces or private spaces open to the public. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Thank you! What is wrong with waiting for that important marker? Masks no longer mandated in these 42 Massachusetts schools 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Im not ready to throw my mask away yet. Several cities and towns around Massachusetts are beginning to lift their respective indoor mask mandates. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. Boston may not be requiring masks anymore, but many say they'll keep In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. 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enter a week-long vacation on Feb. 21, most classes will resume on Feb. 28 the same day the school mask mandate will be rescinded. They are still required in city buildings. 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. 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. Framingham was among several communities torecently issuemask mandates, with Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and the Board of Health issuing a joint order last Friday. She also said it is tough having different rules in different places. And. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. (Masks are still mandated in some settings, including schools,hospitalsand public transit. An iHeartRadio station. Dozens of Massachusetts schools are already mask-free. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a mask mandate that runs through the end of February. Massachusetts doctors are now are recommending that everyone wear masks in all public indoor spaces, but Gov. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. 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.. 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. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. 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. But overall, I think it will mean a little bump in sales.". Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. will have to continue wearing masks at school, Mass. Mandates Masks required in public spaces, including private businesses. moves to relax mask rules, students say COVID is still taking a toll. Want to know the face covering rules and restrictions in your community? 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. At least 18. oncology, rheumatology, immunology). 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. The rules are changing daily, depending upon where you live. Gov. Baker has 'no plans' to bring back mandate - WCVB 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. Were moving too quickly. "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. Mask mandates return to college campuses as COVID-19 flares Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022: Please do not include personal or contact information. WORCESTER, MA This was a big week for masks in Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald) Students . Just over 75% of the population has gotten a booster shot. oncology, rheumatology, immunology). reporter: plymouth rescinded the indoor mask mandate except for town offices. 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. Were hearing conflicting messages from city, state, and federal officials, not to mention from health experts weve been told to heed all along. As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. Even if mandates are ending, masks are still a good way to protect yourself from inhaling respiratory droplets that carry coronavirus. Boston also requires proof of vaccination to enter indoor restaurants, as well as fitness and entertainment venues. The deadline has previously been pushed back, after the mandate was issued in August. Dozens of schools across the state are already mask-free. The mask mandate remains in place in public places like buses and city buildings. With Cantons vaccination rate hovering around 80%, the town will be voting on lifting their mask mandate Monday night. "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. Until we get down to low levels of transmission, I think mask use is one of the last measures to be removed," Hamer said. Support GBH. In Salem, which is right next door to Beverly, the mask mandate is in placeuntil March 8. 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 . For the first time since early August, the Commonwealth reported fewer than 1,000 average daily confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last week. "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. The State House, closed to the public for nearly two years, is finally reopening on February 22. The keys to staying connected to your kids this pandemic school year. Another Mass. town brings back indoor mask mandate in effort to - WHDH I know the restauranteurs said the vax proof mandate drove away customers, but the restaurants I visited were full. community health centers and clinics or other licensed medical/clinical settings that care for patients with acute illness and/or immunocompromised patients (e.g. And some cities and towns have no requirements at all. Bostons K-12 students are returning to the classrooms today after school vacation week, officially Mid Winter Break. 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. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. August 31, 2021 / 10:06 AM Plenty more have followed since. Data from the Department of Public Health on Friday revealed that 5,218,681 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. They say three quarters of Americans are immune; by March they expect the immune numbers will be higher. The city of Lowell and the town of Beverly are dropping their mask mandates for businesses after seeing a drop in COVID-19 infections. Plenty more have followed since. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. Masks in schools: Massachusetts residents both upset and - masslive 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. Finally, mask mandates remain in force on public transportation including MBTA buses, trains and ferries as well in state health care facilities. All key COVID-19 metrics, including deaths, cases, and . 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 spike has gone and now we're back to the lower numbers we like toee s repoerrt: so far the cdc is continuing to . Learn about mask recommendations and requirements in Massachusetts. "I like not having to remind people, so that's nice," she said. - FEBRUARY 8: People wear masks ahead of discussions of lifting the mask mandate on February 8, 2022 in Boston, MA. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. 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. '"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. . Massachusetts Mask and Vax Mandates: A (Temporarily Accurate) Guide The omicron variant is coming to an end, well wait to see whats on the horizon," Lowells Health Director Lisa Golden said. "It's a lot easier to breathe, said owner Alaina Bracket. As cities and towns drop their mask mandates, could schools be next? And although she sees the benefit in masks, she will no longer be asking for them at the door. Check storefronts and online before heading out without a mask. WESTBORO, MASS. March 9, 2022, 12:54 p.m. . He described the latest case surge as a health emergency in our city.. The mask mandate for most Massachusetts public schools has been extended into January, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Tuesday. community health centers and clinics or other licensed medical/clinical settings that care for patients with acute illness and/or immunocompromised patients (e.g. The mandate includes all indoor businesses and facilities open to the public. Some towns and cities have community-wide mask requirements. The latest numbers are good news. The . 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. Mass. Public School Mask Mandate Extended Into 2022 - NBC Boston You can try, CHARTS: Mass. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Two years of the emotional and physical ups and downs of living with the nagging anxiety about contracting the disease. On transportation provided by the Commonwealths Human Service Transportation (HST) Brokerage system. BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) With COVID-19 rates in Massachusetts on the decline, some cities and towns are looking to adjust their safety protocols. Related:Natick implements a public mask mandate. Im prepared to be an outlier. How Mask Policies Have Changed In MA Towns, Cities How kids are navigating schools where masks are optional | CNN 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. 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. Material from the State House News Service was used in this report. Private parochial schools in Boston have said they will not keep mask mandates in place past that date. Why N95, KN95 masks are so much more effective than cloth, Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky announces indoor mask mandate, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. These are all the Massachusetts towns that have indoor mask mandates 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. How Mask Policies Have Changed In MA Towns, Cities - Worcester, MA - With COVID-19 cases declining in many areas, mask mandates are ending. Everett and Waltham, meanwhile, do not have indoor mask mandates at all. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Public Health. The U.S. States That Are Ending Mask Mandates (Published 2022) Less than a month after the peak of the omicron surge, here's a rundown on the status of mask policies across the region. Keep in mind, these advisories and mandates only come from local governments. For example, many restaurants in Cambridge require proof of vaccination. 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. Masks continue to be required in the settings defined below, except for when eating, drinking, sleeping, or as provided for in applicable guidance, and for an individual in a group that is exempt from the Order. The requirement for K-12 public schools will now last until at least Jan. 15, 2022. Mask Recommendations and Requirements | Mass.gov Chan School of Public Health. Updated: Feb 3, 2022 / 11:55 PM EST. 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. Researchers at the University of Washington have been monitoring the levels of immunity in countries around the world. Unless there is solid evidence that TikTok is a political and military threat, all of this Sturm und Drang has no actual point. Whether youre required to wear a face mask depends on where you are. Here's our running tally of which of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts have brought back masking rules. Masked up with proof of vaccination and rapid tests at the ready, even as everybody else leaves all that behind. Home of Traffic and Weather Together on the 3s. 2 min read. 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. 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. And worrying about the increased risk of COVID-19 spread from the stubbornly unvaccinated who pose a public health threat. I do. Data from the Department of Public Health on Friday revealed that 5,218,681 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. We will use this information to improve this page. Were here to help. Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Massachusetts schools and cities are dropping mask mandates. Why are we Drivers and other staff on transportation provided by the HST Brokerage system must wear masks. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. The owner of City Eats on Cabot Street was ecstatic to openThursday morningwith the mandate no longer in place. 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 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.. Beverly's mask mandate expired at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. February 28, 2022. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. Replies (10 . It had quite a run with its strict no-people policy, and was closed for longer than any other states capital. Thank you for your website feedback! 2023 www.metrowestdailynews.com. 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. This map shows the COVID-19 level in each Massachusetts community, according to the CDC's new system. 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. 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. 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. 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. Struggling to keep up with the state of play? Schutt said that while the pandemic is ending, the war against the virus has no end in sight. I think I will be wearing it for a while," Arlene Dacey of Beverly said. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Boston requires all city workers get vaccinated, which has prompted push-back and legal fights from some public employee unions. 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. Mayor Wu, for one, is keeping BPS mask mandate for now. Here's what to know about the new mask guidance in Mass. Boston still requires them for all public indoor spaces, as do neighbors Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, and Brookline. 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. 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. Earlier this month, the governor announced the statewide school mask mandate would expire on Feb. 28. Wearing a mask provides protection against COVID and other viruses, especially when indoors or in crowded spaces. 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. The same release said 41% of eligible city residents have received a booster shot, which was up two percent from the week prior. CDC Updates COVID Mask Guidelines: What It Means In Massachusetts 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. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. In Boston, the B Together plan calls for the mandate to end when the following criteria are met: At the rate things are going, that might be right around the corner. 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. And the details are changing quickly. She can be reached atapatkin@wickedlocal.com.
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