Pittsfield Health Board Votes to Require Indoor Face Coverings
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Anyone in Pittsfield will now have to mask up indoors in public places next week.
The Board of Health on Wednesday voted to implement a mask directive effective Monday, Nov. 8.
The directive suggests that if not abided by, a stricter directive with fines and license and permit suspensions could follow. The board avoided using the term "mandate" but the language makes clear the directive is not advisory although venue operators are "respectfully" asked to comply.
It states that masks should be worn in all publicly accessible indoor spaces in the city unless seated at a table eating food or drink. Foodservice employees are to mask when serving customers indoors and outdoors.
The rules do not apply to children under the age of 2, employees in shared office spaces if 6 feet of distance can be maintained, and performers as long as they are at least 10 feet from others.
It was approved with two amendments: adding a section stating that the directive will be reviewed and evaluated by the Board monthly and a push back of the effective date from Nov. 5 to November 8.
Board member Kimberly Loring stressed the importance of giving business owners some buffer time to acclimate to the change.
"I think we need to give businesses the time to do the right thing," she said.
Interim Director of Public Health Andy Cambi modeled the document after the Tri-Town Health Department and the Town of Adams' directives, both of which were issued in September.
He updated an advisory for the board as an alternative but members found it to be too similar to the city's current stance on masking.
"I guess the reason why I like the directive is that it eliminates the question, it's clear to me when you go in you see a note on the door that says you need to wear your mask," board member Bobbie Orsi said. "Otherwise it's kind of left to the discretion of how they interpret or read the advisory."
The full document is set to be released to the media and business owners on Thursday to allow for the time for the public to adjust. Similar to the former mandate, businesses will be required to have either city-provided or homemade signage directing patrons to mask.
During a COVID-19 update, Cambi reported that there has been a jump in cases from last month but hospitalizations remain low with about 10 people admitted to Berkshire Medical Center. The city did see a death around the middle of September.
"One thing to note is that the hospitalization rates are low or staying low," Cambi said. "Which can speak to the effectiveness of the vaccines."
As of Nov. 2, the percent positivity rate is 4.3 percent with an average case rate of 38.7 per 100,000 people in Pittsfield and there are 109 estimated actively contagious cases.
The mask directive was influenced by a rise in cases, the Delta variant, and the lack of elementary children who are vaccinated.
After the recent news that children ages 5 to 11 were given the OK to get vaccinated, Cambi said the Health Department will be working with the Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative to offer vaccines to children starting the week of Nov. 15. They will be visiting three schools that have not been announced yet to offer the shot.
Lee resident Joshua Bloom attended the meeting to voice support for a mask mandate, especially in youth activities, and offered the well-received recommendation that new regulations are visited on a month-to-month basis.
In other news, Orsi was nominated as the chairman and Loring was as the vice chair. Orsi has previously served in this position on the board.
Former Chairman Dr. Alan Kulberg resigned from the panel in September alongside Director of Public Health Gina Armstrong, who resigned from her position with the city.
Pittsfield Board of Health Masking Directive by iBerkshires.com on Scribd
Tags: COVID-19, masks,
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