Town Of Shrewsbury: COVID-19: Updated Recommendations From CDC And MDPH For Masks And Vaccinations

Press release from the Town of Shrewsbury:

August 4, 2021

Date of Record: August 4, 2021

Worcester County is now orange (substantial transmission) which calls for indoor masking. 

Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations on masking:

Federal Government:  Are requiring public employees get vaccinated as have some hospitals and universities.  

MA Department of Public Health (MDPH) recommendations: Endorsed CDC recommendations.

The MDPH released updated guidance regarding the use of face coverings and cloth masks by individuals who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This week, the federal CDC released updated guidance that continues to state that individuals who are fully vaccinated may, as a general matter, resume many of the activities that they engaged in prior to the pandemic without wearing a mask or staying six (6) feet apart, except where otherwise required by federal, state, or local laws, rules or regulations.  In response to the recent spread of the Delta variant, however, the CDC’s updated guidance does recommend that even fully vaccinated persons wear masks or face coverings when indoors if other risk factors are present. In light of the information provided by the CDC, and in order to maximize protection of vulnerable individuals from the Delta variant, the Department of Public Health released updated guidance today that recommends that a fully vaccinated person wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home) if you have a weakened immune system, or if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is an unvaccinated adult. All people in Massachusetts (regardless of vaccination status) are required to continue wearing face coverings in certain settings, including transportation and health care facilities. 

Please visit www.mass.gov/maskrules for a complete list of venues where face coverings remain mandatory as of May 29, 2021.

Local mandates:

TESTING: The Stop the Spread testing sites around the Commonwealth will be extended until the end of October 2021.  

COVID-19  VACCINATIONS: Encouraging eligible individuals to get vaccinated.  

Public Service Announcements (PSA) - Available in English and Spanish. 

This press release was produced by the Town of Shrewsbury. The views expressed here are the author’s own.