But keep in mind that we've had three big spikes since this pandemic began two years ago and we could have another one. The city of Lowell and the town of Beverly are dropping their mask mandates for businesses after seeing a drop in COVID-19 infections. 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. Dont expect those rules to go anywhere anytime soonyou may not want to relax your policy of stuffing spare masks into coat pockets. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Here's our running. Masks Down? Massachusetts Cities And Towns Consider Dropping Mask Mandates Massachusetts schools and cities are dropping mask mandates. Why are we And the details are changing quickly. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. An appellate court justice has temporarily blocked the city from enforcing the mandate for police and fire departments. COVID doesnt stop at every town line," Driscoll said. Thank you for your website feedback! But this could all change: according to Mayor Michelle Wu, based on the latest data, the vaccine requirements could be lifted very soon. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022:Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings PDF| DOC. Mass. Public School Mask Mandate Extended Into 2022 - NBC Boston "I like not having to remind people, so that's nice," she said. As cities and towns drop their mask mandates, could schools be next? Plenty more have followed since. The loosening of restrictions comes as COVID-19 cases linked to omicron have begun to recede. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. "When I heard the news that the mandate was lifted, I just thought it is progress. Im prepared to be an outlier. 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. 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. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Public Health. And. February 28, 2022. 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, the. 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. 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. 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? Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. In Massachusetts, the mask mandate was imposed in August and was extended three times. So, if you are unsure of what the requirement is where you live, you should check your local health department's website. 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. My stance is that I think we should move towards a mask advisory rather than a mandate, said Board of Health Chair Anjali Schutt. As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. Town of Essex, MA Essex Town Hall 30 Martin Street Essex, MA 01929. Mandates have come and gone, and in some cases never arrived at all. 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. BOSTON MA. The City of Lowell and the town of Beverly both dropped their indoor mask mandates this week. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. In many cases, the requirement is limited to municipal buildings. Here's what to know about the new mask guidance in Mass. In skilled nursing facilities and residential care facilities licensed or operated by the Commonwealth: masks are required for staff and visitors. . >> 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 . 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. Plenty more have followed since. Under Worcester's new policy, masks will still be required on public transportation, in the airport and at some other public spaces. Chan School of Public Health. In Salem, which is right next door to Beverly, the mask mandate is in placeuntil March 8. Support GBH. by: Melissa Torres. Finally, mask mandates remain in force on public transportation including MBTA buses, trains and ferries as well in state health care facilities. Massachusetts doctors are now are recommending that everyone wear masks in all public indoor spaces, but Gov. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. 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. You skipped the table of contents section. In fact, some measures are back to where they were last fall before a surge in infections related to delta and omicron variants. The City of Lowell and the town of Beverly both dropped their indoor mask mandates this week. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! Two years of the emotional and physical ups and downs of living with the nagging anxiety about contracting the disease. Other cities in recent days have been weighing whether to join them. Massachusetts revises its sweeping mask mandates for schools Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. 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. 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. oncology, rheumatology, immunology). In MetroWest, some cities and towns have mask mandates, some have advisories and some have no local policy at all. Check storefronts and online before heading out without a mask. (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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. All key COVID-19 metrics, including deaths, cases, and . Gov. Baker has 'no plans' to bring back mandate - WCVB 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, , . 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. It helps me relax" Anne Pofcher of Beverly said. Masks are optional for residents as further described in DPH Guidance: Caring for Long-Term Care Residents During the COVID-19 Response. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Some page levels are currently hidden. I do. 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 Commonwealth of Massachusetts An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Mask Recommendations and Requirements, is. WBZ-TV reports Worcesters leaders are going to ask the Board of Health to rescind the policy on Monday. She also said it is tough having different rules in different places. Material from the State House News Service was used in this report. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft both require that drivers and riders wear masks. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. And hospitals are still full of people struggling to recover from COVID-19 infection. 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. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald) Students . 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. So again, you need to check out what your community or favorite restaurant or gym require. Keep in mind, these advisories and mandates only come from local governments. The mask mandate for most Massachusetts public schools has been extended into January, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Tuesday. LIST: These Massachusetts Cities And Towns Have Issued Face Mask Others only require masks in public buildings. For example, many restaurants in Cambridge require proof of vaccination. Masks are optional for staff, patients, vendors, and visitors in these settings. 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. 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