By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — At their meeting tonight, the Wakefield Board of Health will consider a mask mandate for all public and private indoor spaces in town (excluding homes).
Other than public comment, the agenda for the 6 p.m. Zoom meeting, lists just two items: “Discussion regarding indoor mask mandate for Wakefield,” and “Context for mask mandate and explanation regarding COVID-19 situation in Wakefield and surrounding communities.”
Speaking of surrounding communities, last week the Melrose Board of Health enacted a city-wide mask mandate. Melrose and Wakefield share a Health Director, Anthony Chui, who has advocated for masks as “an important layer of protection.”
According to the city of Melrose website, “Masks will have to be worn indoors in the city once again as local health officials scramble to help slow the unrelenting spread of COVID-19 fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.”
Under the Melrose mandate, people will be subject to $50 fines for first offenses, $100 for second offenses and $150 for third and subsequent offenses.
Melrose requires face coverings for everyone ages 5 and older in all public and private indoor spaces, including businesses, fitness centers, restaurants, houses of worship, congregate care settings and more. Private homes are excluded.
“The Health Department recommends wearing K95 or N95 masks, if possible, in crowded spaces,” Chui said. “The next best option is to wear masks with two more layers of washable breathable fabric, or a blue surgical mask with a cloth mask over that. The most effective way to wear a mask is to have it completely cover your nose and mouth; fit snugly against the sides of your face with no gaps; and wear masks that have nose wire to prevent air from leaking out of the top of mask.
“Whether you are vaccinated, boosted, or none of the above, wearing a mask can help keep you and our community safer and healthier,” Chui added. “Scientific evidence continues to point out that the best way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading is continuing the strategies we know work: regular testing, masking, social distancing, hand washing, and complying with contact tracers. Getting vaccinated and boosted also remains the most powerful tool we have to keep people healthy.”
The Wakefield Board of Health will take public comment at tonight’s meeting prior to deliberating and voting on whether to impose a similar mask mandate in Wakefield.
Anyone wishing to watch the meeting or offer public comment may join the Zoom meeting at https://zoom.us/j/97079036158?pwd=azlBS3IrcVJ2MmV0eHRsVHBtYXdIZz09.
A direct link to the Zoom meeting can also be found on the Board of Health meeting agenda posted on the town’s web site: wakefield.ma.us/.
If you do not have a camera or microphone on your computer you may use the following dial in phone number to listen and participate in the meeting: 1-312-626-6799. Meeting ID 970 7903 6158. Passcode 644828. Please only use dial in or computer and not both as feedback will distort the meeting. This meeting will be audio and video recorded.
