MARBLEHEAD — The town’s Board of Health has implemented an indoor-mask mandate.
The mandate, which went into effect on Tuesday, requires those above the age of 2 to wear a face covering when entering indoor spaces — including restaurants, bars, buildings of worship, businesses, municipal buildings and on public transportation. Employees are also required to wear masks, per the order issued by the Board of Health.
Those who do not comply will face a warning for their first offense, a $100 fine for their second offense, a $200 fine for their third offense and finally, a $300 fine for their fourth offense and onward.
Board of Health Chairman Todd Belfbecker said the mandate was drafted in response to rising COVID-19 cases in Marblehead, and the town must use whatever resources it can to mitigate infection.
“It is time that we do everything we can to protect the public,” Belfbecker said.
Many participants expressed frustration and concern over the timing of the mandate but could not publicly comment due to meeting structure and rules.
Belfbecker explained that the board could not change the rules in the middle of the meeting, and voted beforehand to not include an option for public comments.
“We have a policy that we have voted on and approved about public participation and we do not have a requirement to have the public speak,” he said. “That’s not the way this meeting is run tonight.”
The Board of Health is set to meet Wednesday night to affirm the vote.
The mask mandate comes as other North Shore communities have implemented similar measures throughout December. The cities of Lynn, Peabody, and the Town of Swampscott have similar mask mandates to the one Marblehead is implementing. The towns of Saugus and Lynnfield have mask mandates for schools and municipal buildings, while the City of Salem has a vaccine requirement and a mask mandate for all indoor spaces.
The mandate in Marblehead will remain in effect until March 8, unless rescinded earlier by the Board of Health.
