Cape Cod Town Issuing Mask Mandate Amid COVID-19 Resurgance

WELLFLEET, MA — Town officials in Wellfleet are re-instituting a mask mandate at all businesses, municipal buildings, places of worship and other public indoor spaces. Masks will also be required outside whenever 6 feet of social distancing cannot be achieved.

The Wellfleet Board of Health said the new rules will go into effect Friday, Aug. 13 and will remain in place indefinitely. Officials said the mask mandate will be enforced for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.

Town officials also recommended that people who do not reside in the same house maintain a physical distance of 6 feet when possible and when out in public. Officials also urged people to get vaccinated, if they haven't already.

"Full vaccination against COVID-19 remains important to reduce hospitalization and morbidity from the virus," the Wellfleet Board of Health said in a statement. "We encourage all eligible persons who are not fully vaccinated to get immunized."

The only places where the mandate doesn't apply are informal gatherings at private homes where there is no compensation and unorganized gatherings at outdoor spaces like parks, athletic fields and parking lots.

Those that don't wear masks face potential fines, depending on the number of offenses. Fines include:

• A written warning for a first offense.
• A $100 fine for a second offense.
• A $200 fine for a third offense
• A $300 fine for all future offenses.

Wellfleet is the second town on Cape Cod to issue a mask mandate. Provincetown enacted indoor mask requirements last month in response to a massive cluster of breakthrough coronavirus cases, stemming from the 4th of July weekend. Breakthrough cases happen when people who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 contract the virus anyway.

Also read: Vaccinated Cape Tourist Felt 'Invincible' Before Getting COVID-19

As of Thursday afternoon, three other Massachusetts towns have enacted indoor mask mandates. They include Salem, Belmont and Nantucket.