Framingham To Distribute Donated Face Coverings

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham is now ready to start distributing face coverings that have been donated over the last several weeks.

The face coverings will be given to seniors through the Callahan Center, and students through Framingham Public Schools' food distribution program. City residents who need face covering can also call the emergency operations center at 508-532-5800 to request one.

The Framingham Board of Health passed an order on April 15 requiring most city residents to wear a mask while out in public, especially in closed spaces like grocery stores. Gov. Charlie Baker put a statewide face covering order into effect on May 6 with similar guidelines.

Face coverings — be it a bandanna or a homemade surgical mask — do not prevent people from breathing in virus particles. However, health officials believe they can cut down on how far droplets spread when an infected person coughs, talks, or breathes heavily.

Coronavirus cases in Framingham continued to climb on Thursday. The city reported 27 new cases, but no new deaths. There have been a total of 1,350 cases since the outbreak began, and 490 people have recovered. There were 794 active cases on Thursday, nine less than Wednesday.