Published in the April 30, 2020 edition.

By MARK SARDELLA

WAKEFIELD – The Health Department that serves Wakefield and Melrose has acquired another 50,000 masks for Wakefield and 60,000 for Melrose. The plan is to deliver five masks to every household in both communities next week, Health Director Ruth Clay announced at last night’s joint meeting of the Wakefield and Melrose Boards of Health.

Multi-unit apartment buildings will receive one delivery based on the number of units. Senior housing complexes will also be included, even though they received masks last week.

Clay said that as of yesterday the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 for Wakefield was 212. For Melrose, it was 161. She said that both communities had municipal employees who had been infected.

Much of last night’s joint meeting of the Wakefield and Melrose Boards of Health was spent discussing reaction to the recent order that face coverings must be worn in certain places and circumstances. The meeting was held via Zoom teleconferencing.

Last Friday, both health boards issues similar orders requiring masks or other face covering when inside any building open to the public, on public transportation, when pumping gas or using any outdoor self-service facilities and when engaging in any activity within a confined or enclosed facility where other members of the public have access.

The Health Department received several pieces of correspondence, most of it supportive of the order but some were critical that it was not even more strict or enacted sooner. The Melrose mayor’s office did receive one letter from a person who disagreed with the mask requirement.

One email suggested that the order should be expanded to require that masks be worn during any time spent outside. It was noted that the only communities in the state that currently require face covering while outside are Somerville, Cambridge and Lawrence.

There was still concern that unmasked people continue to walk around the Lake. Health Director Ruth Clay said that there were signs that could be purchased and affixed to the sidewalks around the Lake.

“It’s ultimately unenforceable,” Clay admitted. “There’s only so much we can do.”

Clay brought up several questions that the Health Department has been fielding, some related to exceptions to the mask order. One question wondered if masks were required in office buildings that are not open to the public. The boards said that the order requires them in any office settings.

Another question related to those with medical conditions that preclude wearing a mask or in the case of mentally disabled individuals who may not understand or respond well to wearing a mask. Clay dismissed a suggestion that those who fit into those categories should be required to carry a doctor’s note.

“Sometimes you have to take people at their word,” she said.

Wakefield Board of Health Chair Laurel Gourville wondered if the signs required to be posted in places of business should include the phrase, “per order of the Board of Health.”

Wakefield Communications Director Jennifer McDonald was in the meeting and showed a sample of such a sign. The boards liked the design and Clay said that she would send it out to all food establishments in Wakefield and Melrose today.

There was some discussion of compliance issues, all of which were apparently in Wakefield.

Clay said that there were three local businesses that “were not particularly cooperative” with the mask requirement.

Cumberland Farms corporate was not eager to force staff in its local stores to tell customers to wear masks. She said that she communicated with a district manager and showed him the order requiring that the store not admit the unmasked.

She also said that the night manager at Walgreen’s seemed to have an issue with making customers wear masks

Clay said that she also visited Sonny Noto’s restaurant on Water Street after receiving a complaint. She said that the person handing out the takeout orders was wearing a mask, but that the two cooks in the back were not. She said that when she informed the manager of the complaint, he said that it was uncomfortable to wear masks in the kitchen due to the heat.

Clay said that she told the manager that they can be uncomfortable and remain open, or they can close and be comfortable at home. She said that she would return to the establishment today to check on compliance.

Gourville reported that there was a vigorous debate on the issue of masks versus civil liberties on social media. Clay insisted that the mask order was no different than the seatbelt law for drivers or the helmet law for cyclists.

Clay said that the Health Department has received 300 face shields that will be delivered to nursing homes in Wakefield and Melrose.

She reported that the state still has not issued guidance as to whether summer camps will be able to open. Pools will not be allowed to open while the emergency order is in place.

The Boards of Health plan to meet again on Wednesday, May 6.