SWAMPSCOTT — The Board of Health voted to implement a mask mandate for indoor public spaces, which will go into effect on Dec. 23, in an emergency public meeting on Tuesday.
“There is an urgent need for residents to wear masks in indoor spaces in order to curb the rapid spread of COVID — particularly during this winter and holiday season, with indoor gatherings and a higher-than-normal traffic at grocery stores and retail spaces,” said Marianne Hartmann, R.N., MPH, chair of the board.
The Swampscott Board of Health held two special meetings on Monday and Tuesday to discuss and iron out the mandate, which will require town residents to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose in indoor public spaces, due to “continued high positive-test rates in town and in surrounding communities.”
The mandate applies to all individuals 2 years of age and older, regardless of vaccination status. It will go into effect on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Board of Health will also hold a public meeting on Thursday at 5 p.m.
As of Dec. 20, there were 1,728 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Swampscott, according to the town’s website. In the last three weeks, the town has seen 170 new reported cases of the virus. Although Swampscott has achieved a high vaccination rate — 95 percent of residents have received one dose and 86 percent are fully vaccinated — masks are still instrumental in reducing the spread of COVID-19, said a press release from the town administration.
The members of the board felt that an advisory on masks and face coverings issued by Gov. Charlie Baker on Dec. 21 was not enough to protect the public.
“An advisory won’t make people do anything different,” said Hartmann.
The mandate defines public spaces as any indoor spaces open to the public, including, but not limited to, town buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, retail businesses, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, fitness centers and social clubs. It puts responsibility on businesses to make sure that any patrons who enter their establishment wear a face covering, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Exemptions apply to people who would experience impairment due to an existing condition if they wore a face covering, or people who qualify for a reasonable accommodation/modification due to a disability, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Such persons are not required to provide proof of a medical condition.
Also exempt from the mandate are musicians who need to be unmasked to perform in indoor public spaces, and restaurant patrons who have already been seated. However, people waiting for a table will be required to wear a face covering.
“As we’ve all seen, cases are spiking again, even among those who have been vaccinated,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. “While vaccinations can lower the chances that an individual will become seriously ill or hospitalized, vaccinated individuals can still catch and transmit COVID. Masks are one of the best ways we can prevent this transmission.”
Violators of the mandate may be fined $300 per violation.
The mandate will stay in effect until further notice from the Board of Health.
