Town Of Dedham: Mask Requirement In Town Buildings To End February 28th

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

02/18/2022 7:00 AM

Town Manager Leon Goodwin announced at the February 17, 2022 Select Board meeting that masks/face coverings will no longer be required inside Town buildings as of February 28, 2022.

“Our COVID-19 Task Force has met regularly throughout the pandemic to review data and guidelines from the State to ensure we consistently follow practices that protect residents, visitors, and employees of the Town,” said Goodwin. “With preventative and protective measures in place, the decline of new cases reported in Dedham, and the increased availability of vaccinations, tests, and personal protective equipment (commonly referred to as “PPE”), the Town will no longer require masks or face coverings when inside Town buildings.”

Through an interactive dashboard, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) publishes data for cities and towns across the state to track COVID-19. According to the DPH, as of February 1, 2022, more than 20,000 Dedham residents have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, and weekly data shows a drastic reduction in confirmed new cases in town (only 46 new cases in Dedham since February 3, 2022).

The following measures will remain in place in Town buildings to safeguard both employees and the public:

• Improved air filtration systems
• Enhanced cleaning in Town buildings
• Hand sanitization stations

Dedham Public Schools

Superintendent Michael Welch sent an email to parents and families on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 following the School Committee meeting that included discussion regarding the mask requirement in schools. As stated in his email, “the Dedham School Committee voted 6-0 to transition to masks being “highly recommended” (but not mandatory) for all students and faculty/staff whenever indoors in any Dedham Public School beginning on Monday, February 28, 2022.  Until that date, mask wearing is still required for all faculty, staff, and students.” The vote by the School Committee follows the recommendation of the Board of Health, as voted 3-0 at their February 15, 2022 public meeting, to lift mask requirements in schools as of February 28, 2022.

For more information about the Dedham Public Schools, please visit their website at www.dedham.k12.ma.us/dps.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

The DPH released an updated mask advisory on February 15, 2022. The DPH now recommends masking when indoors (and not at your own home) if you fall within the following categories:

• Not fully vaccinated
• Fully vaccinated with a weakened immune system
• Fully vaccinated but at increased risk for severe illness due to age or underlying medical condition
• Someone in your household has a weakened immune system or is at increased risk for severe illness

Masks must continue to be worn in certain settings include transportation and health care facilities, and in compliance with isolation and quarantine guidelines.

The Dedham Board of Health continues to encourage those who are eligible for the COVID-19 to get vaccinated. Currently, residents ages 5 years and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and residents 12 years and older are eligible to get a COVID-19 booster. To schedule a vaccine appointment near you, please visit vaxfinder.mass.gov.

To sign up for future Town Manager updates and notifications and to receive weekly email updates from the Board of Health, subscribe on our website at www.dedham-ma.gov/subscribe.

This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.