Published May 27, 2021
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — It’s the beginning of the end of COVID-19 restrictions and a return to normalcy as the North Reading Board of Health (BOH) will meet on Friday, May 28 at 9 a.m. to rescind four major BOH orders that have defined the lives of everyone in town for the past 14 months.
The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom, as all BOH meetings have been held since the board issued its townwide Emergency Declaration on March 19, 2020.
The BOH agenda posted for this meeting under new business states that the orders to be rescinded are as follows:
• March 19, 2020: Town’s Emergency Declaration
• April 18, 2020: Facial Coverings to protect others from the spread of COVID
• April 25, 2020: Directing all long-term care facilities and nursing homes in the town to undertake further precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19
• June 11, 2020: Restricting the number of persons allowed in essential business establishments.
The votes slated to be taken on these Board of Health orders coincide with Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement last week that Massachusetts will rescind the current mask order effective Saturday, May 29. The state continues to advise non-vaccinated individuals to wear face masks and to continue distancing in most settings.
This meeting is open to public. For a direct Zoom link to attend the meeting go to the town’s website: www.northreadingma.gov and click on the “calendar” tab and then click on the Board of Health agenda for May 28.
For an audio only link to the meeting, dial 1-929-205-6099. The Passcode is 432248 and the Meeting ID is 812 1409 4454.
State expands Homebound Vaccine Program Those who are homebound and unable to get to a vaccination site have another option. They may call 833-983-0485 to register for an in-home vaccination. The registration phone line is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more details, visit mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-homebound-vaccination-program.
