NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Residents entering public building will have to wear face coverings beginning Friday, Aug. 6.

 

The city had eased most masking requirements when the state lifted its emergency order on June 15, although masking and occupancy limits were still in force in the city clerk's office. 

 

The new order is in response to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in North Adams and other communities, including among vaccinated residents. This, according to the announcement, "reminds us that the continuing need for caution in the face of the COVID-19 virus, especially in light of new and prevalent COVID variants."

 

Berkshire County has reported almost 200 new cases since the beginning of July compared to less than 40 in June. The largest recent spike comes from a breakthrough infection at North Adams Commons that's affected about 50 residents and staff; four residents have been hospitalized. Berkshire Medical Center has had 10 hospitalizations in the last week and eight current patients.

 

All city employees must wear a face covering when interacting with the public, and when employees are not in their department area or in hallways or otherwise moving through buildings. Fully vaccinated employees may remove masks at their desks or in their work areas, however, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated employees must remain masked at all times while at work.

 

This action applies to all public buildings including City Hall, the North Adams Public Library, the Mary Spitzer Senior Center, the public safety building, and other city facilities. North Adams Public Schools buildings will follow the joint Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidance regarding masks in school issued on July 30, 2021.

 

That school guidance recommends continued sanitation and ventilation methods, and "strongly recommends" all children in kindergarten through Grade 6 wear face coverings indoors and all staff in all grades and unvaccinated students in Grade 7 and up wear masks indoors. Masks may be removed for eating and when being outdoors but all students must mask on buses.

 

Vaccinated students are not required to wear masks in the classroom although any with higher risk for COVID-19 are encouraged to use face coverings.

 

Public health officials are urging everyone to get vaccinated as vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illness and death, and that the overwhelming majority of hospitalizations and serious COVID-19 infections remain among unvaccinated individuals. However vaccinated individuals may experience COVID infections and symptoms and can spread COVID to others, including and especially to the unvaccinated and those with underlying health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to COVID.

 

There are certain exemptions to the mask requirement including children under five years of age and those with a disability or diagnosis that prevents them from wearing a mask safely. 

 

Free vaccinations are available through the Berkshire Mobile Health Unit, which will be in downtown North Adams during the Motorama event on Friday evening, and the BHS Testing Center at 98 Church St.