'Urgent Need For Residents To Wear Masks': Swampscott BOH Chair

SWAMPSCOTT, MA —Anyone entering an indoor public space — including businesses — in Swampscott will once again be required to wear a face mask as of Thursday.

The new mask mandate takes effect at 6 p.m. that day and includes all town buildings, grocery stores, places of worship, restaurants, retail businesses, hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, fitness centers and social clubs.

The Swampscott Board of Health voted to re-enact the order following 170 news cases of the virus reported over the past three weeks — despite having more than 95 percent of residents with at least one vaccination dose and 86 percent of residents with at least two doses.

"While Swampscott has a commendable vaccination rate, vaccinated individuals can still catch and transmit COVID, so masks continue to be one of the number one ways we can keep one another safe," town officials said in announcing the new order.

This order will remain in place indefinitely until the Board of Health cancels it.

"There is an urgent need for residents to wear masks in indoor spaces in order to curb the rapid spread of COVID – particularly during this winter and holiday season with indoor gatherings and a higher-than-normal traffic at grocery stores and retail spaces," Board of Health Chair Marianne Hartmann said.

The Board of Health also recommends staying away from crowded, poorly ventilated spaces and testing both before and after gatherings with friends and family.

Residents are advised to wear masks around unvaccinated people at all times, wear masks around vulnerable people and stay home for the holidays if they are sick or having symptoms.

"As we've all seen, cases are spiking again, even among those who have been vaccinated," Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said. "While vaccinations can lower the chances that individuals will become seriously ill or hospitalized, vaccinated individuals can still catch and transmit COVID.

"Masks are one of the best ways we can prevent this transmission."

The order applies to all those 2 years old or older, with the exception of those for whom a face covering would cause an impairment due to an existing health condition.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)