Dozens of schools across the state are already mask-free. Were hearing conflicting messages from city, state, and federal officials, not to mention from health experts weve been told to heed all along. Some local communities missing from this list may not have provided explicit mask guidance. The Centers For Disease Control has recommended that even fully vaccinated Americans in areas with substantial or high COVID transmission mask up indoors. An iHeartRadio station. (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. It's complicated. All people in Massachusetts (regardless of vaccination status) are required to continue wearing face coverings in certain settings, including health care facilities . Earlier this month, the governor announced the statewide school mask mandate would expire on Feb. 28. . Replies (10 . I wish I felt as confident as he does. So, while the numbers are trending in the right direction, Marcus counsels patience. Charlie Bakers administration is "not considering a universal mask mandate at this time.". "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. Home of Traffic and Weather Together on the 3s. 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. 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. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. 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. GBH News brings you the stories, local voices, and big ideas that shape our world. moves to relax mask rules, students say COVID is still taking a toll. The city of Lowell and the town of Beverly are dropping their mask mandates for businesses after seeing a drop in COVID-19 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. 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. Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022:Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings PDF| DOC. As of Thursday, businesses in those communities are no longer required to enforce face covering regulations. (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. Related:Natick implements a public mask mandate. Dont expect those rules to go anywhere anytime soonyou may not want to relax your policy of stuffing spare masks into coat pockets. Charlie Bakers recent decision to lift the mask mandate. Thank you for your website feedback! Download the latest advisory, updated June 10, 2022:Updated Advisory Regarding Masks and Face Coverings PDF| DOC. This requirement only applies to the worker providing care. Its not that I believe kids, or for that matter adults, should be mandated to wear masks forever, but the school mask policy is premature. You can try, CHARTS: Mass. 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. But keep in mind that we've had three big spikes since this pandemic began two years ago and we could have another one. We will use this information to improve this page. In MetroWest, some cities and towns have mask mandates, some have advisories and some have no local policy at all. A growing number of cities and towns across Massachusetts are rolling back their mask and vaccine mandates as COVID-19 cases decline. Freestanding, outpatient behavioral health settings are not subject to the requirements of this Order. Boston also requires proof of vaccination to enter indoor restaurants, as well as fitness and entertainment venues. WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) spoke with health officials from two towns south of Boston: Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App. And the details are changing quickly. 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. And some cities and towns have no requirements at all. Just over 75% of the population has gotten a booster shot. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. The moves come after COVID-19 infections have seen a sharp drop. My stance is that I think we should move towards a mask advisory rather than a mandate, said Board of Health Chair Anjali Schutt. The City of Lowell and the town of Beverly both dropped their indoor mask mandates this week. We couldn't do it without you. Marcus said it's understandable that we want to leave mask requirements behind. Masks will still be required on buses statewide, even if theyre not mandatory in classrooms. In Massachusetts, the mask mandate was imposed in August and was extended three times. Check storefronts and online before heading out without a mask. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. "If you havent yet received your COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask can also help prevent germs that come from another persons respiratory droplets from getting into your nose and mouth.". Individual businesses and other facilities may still have mask mandates in place. 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 . Feb 11, 2022 at 1:10 pm ET. The mandate applies to all businesses, retail stores, restaurants, bars, clubs, fitness centers and other places of assembly.. will have to continue wearing masks at school, 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.. (Masks are still mandated in some settings, including schools,hospitalsand public transit. 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. 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. 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. Billerica: Masks required in indoor public spaces or private spaces open to the public. Use this button to show and access all levels. I think, in general, we want to see a significant decrease in cases that is maintained over time.". 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. 22News has compiled a list of towns that have mask mandates here. So I feel safer, like, when I go to the grocery store, just wearing one.". Mayor Wu, for one, is keeping BPS mask mandate for now. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Drivers and other staff on transportation provided by the HST Brokerage system must wear masks. . Not everyone is breathing a sigh of relief that the mandates are being lifted. 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. ), COVID mask guide:Why N95, KN95 masks are so much more effective than cloth, Last Tuesday, Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders told state legislators that Gov. Two years of the emotional and physical ups and downs of living with the nagging anxiety about contracting the disease. Meanwhile, lots of other cities and towns still require masks, though policies are changing almost daily. We dont blame you. Its been a dizzying few months in Massachusetts when it comes to rules on masks and vaccines in this stage of the pandemic. At least 18. This requirement only applies to the worker providing care. 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. >> 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 . 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? "Things are looking good, but we're clearly not out of the woods," noted Wildes. The rules are changing daily, depending upon where you live. Mandates have come and gone, and in some cases never arrived at all. "Probably at least until the spring," she said. Beverly is not alone in its decision. "It doesnt make sense to me because they were so emphatic about it before and now theyre saying you dont have to do anything? Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. "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. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! So has Salem, where the Board of Health voted unanimously to end both its mask and vaccine mandates. 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. Data from the Department of Public Health on Friday revealed that 5,218,681 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus. 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. New metrics for rolling back the rules are here, or theyre on the way. 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. And hospitals are still full of people struggling to recover from COVID-19 infection. 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. Support GBH. 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. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. WBZ-TV also reports that Worcester has fined more than 100 places for noncompliance. 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. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. Mask mandates return to college campuses as COVID-19 flares. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Schutt said that while the pandemic is ending, the war against the virus has no end in sight. Its not as though I dont have COVID fatigue, like millions of other Americans. Were moving too quickly. 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 . 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. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. How Mask Policies Have Changed In MA Towns, Cities - Worcester, MA - With COVID-19 cases declining in many areas, mask mandates are ending. For example, Worcester voted to end its indoor mask requirement starting Friday. April 22, 2022 / 5:45 PM / AP. So again, you need to check out what your community or favorite restaurant or gym require. 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. March 9, 2022, 12:54 p.m. . community health centers and clinics or other licensed medical/clinical settings that care for patients with acute illness and/or immunocompromised patients (e.g. WBZ-TV reports Worcesters leaders are going to ask the Board of Health to rescind the policy on Monday. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald) Students . The mask mandate for most Massachusetts public schools has been extended into January, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Tuesday. On transportation provided by the Commonwealths Human Service Transportation (HST) Brokerage system. 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. I seriously cant believe were about to mark two years of the pandemic. Charlie Baker's recent decision to lift the mask . Drivers and other staff on transportation provided by the HST Brokerage system must wear masks. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. I may be swimming upstream against a strong public current, but Im OK with that. Dozens of Massachusetts schools are already mask-free. / CBS Boston. Wearing a mask provides protection against COVID and other viruses, especially when indoors or in crowded spaces. He described the latest case surge as a health emergency in our city.. Meanwhile the neighboring town of Canton appears closer to lifting their mask mandate. As you certainly know by now, Boston opted to make vaccine checks mandatory at indoor venues like restaurants and gyms in January. Plenty more have followed since. But this could all change: according to Mayor Michelle Wu, based on the latest data, the vaccine requirements could be lifted very soon. You can try, Too close to home? If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Public Health. And what about vaccine requirements elsewhere? Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Residents and visitors are still required to wear masks on public transit, in healthcare and congregate care facilities, among others. 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. Effective July 1, 2022, the Department of Public Health advises that individuals should wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home) if you have a weakened immune system, or 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 The mask mandate remains in place in public places like buses and city buildings. Struggling to keep up with the state of play? Billerica: Employees of the town will be required to wear masks while moving throughout the building. 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.