Shrewsbury Health Board Keeping Mask Advisory In Place

SHREWSBURY, MA — The Shrewsbury Board of Health will keep the town's mask advisory in place for the time being following a meeting Friday to discuss the issue.

The advisory first went into effect in late May when the ba.2 subvariant of omicron was circulating at very high levels in Massachusetts. At the time, Shrewsbury was adding about 19 cases per week on average.

That rate is now down to 7.57 per week as of June 24 — although that's slightly higher than the 5.7 per week measured on June 12. Shrewsbury added 53 new COVID-19 cases over the week ending June 24.

Under the mask advisory, the Shrewsbury Board of Health recommends that residents wear masks in public, and especially indoors.

"The advisory is to remind residents to remain vigilant when attending large events, when indoors, and for those who are immunocompromised," the town said on Friday. "It is still strongly recommended that residents wear masks and that eligible residents be up-to-date on vaccines and boosters. Businesses can institute their own mandate if they so choose and enforce it for both customers and employees."