Board of Health issues order mandating masks in all public spaces

The Grafton Board of Health has issued an executive order mandating masks in all public spaces, including stores, churches, restaurants, and gyms.

The order, which takes effect Wednesday, January 5, comes as the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus rapidly spreads through a population numbed by nearly two years of the deadly pandemic.

“There is no doubt that this new variant is an extremely contagious variant,” Board of Health member William Mueller said.

There were 145 positive cases reported in Grafton last week and a total of 2,131 recorded in town since March 2020. November cases were double that of October, while December cases were twice that. Grafton’s current daily infection rate is 77.4 percent per 100,000 residents.

The Board of Health unanimously approved the executive order, joining more than 100 communities in the state that have tightened Covid precautions.

“Effective January 5, 2022, all individuals aged five years and older shall wear a face covering in all indoor private common spaces in the workplace and indoor private spaces open to the public, including but not limited to the premises of a business, club, place of assembly or other place that is open to members of the public, including but not limited to retail establishments, restaurants, bars, performance venues, social clubs, houses of worship, personal care and fitness establishments and event spaces, except when an individual is alone in a workspace or alone in a room at a workplace with a closed door or socially distanced from other individuals,” the order reads (the full draft document is below).

Individuals for whom a face covering creates a health risk or is not safe because of any of the following conditions or circumstances: 

The face covering affects the individual’s ability to breathe safely; 

The individual has a mental health or other medical diagnosis and produces a written note from a physician that advises against the individual wearing a face covering; 

The individual depends on supplemental oxygen to breathe.

Face coverings may only be removed indoors when a customer “is actively eating or drinking.” Performers are also not required to mask, provided they are at least six feet away from any customers.

Board members noted that some businesses are concerned that the mandate may deter their clientele. Over the summer as vaccination rates soared, many people dropped their masks entirely — but then came Omicron.

The variant is more contagious than the original virus and even people who have had the two-dose vaccines plus the booster may become infected — but the protection of the vaccine often leads to asymptomatic cases that still may lead to the infection of others.

The Board of Health is also recommending that town boards and committees return to virtual meetings on Zoom until the order is lifted. 

Further measures regarding employee testing at local businesses will be considered at a future meeting.

Something went wrong!

Help support Grafton’s only independent source of news with a donation!