Residents Weigh In As Waltham Considers Indoor Mask Mandate

WALTHAM, MA — The Waltham Board of Health held a public meeting Wednesday to give residents an opportunity to weigh in on a potential indoor mask mandate.

The meeting began with remarks from several residents who spoke in favor of the mandate, arguing in the name of science and protecting fellow residents, especially those who are immunocompromised, the elderly, and children.

"Even if you've been vaccinated, you can contract COVID and spread it at the same rate, even to your family members, as the unvaccinated," said Stephen Remillard. "And if you're unlucky enough to contract it having been vaccinated, you have about a one in 25 chance of being hospitalized and according to the states figures released today, you have almost a one percent chance of dying from the infection."

“It should be noted that when people choose to not wear a mask, they are taking away the choice of other people to try to remain safe indoors,” said Stan Yen. “And out of consideration for our fellow community members, it seems to be in the best interest for all of us to try to take care of one another.”

“We need to follow the best scientific practices that we have at our disposal,” said City Councilor Jonathan Paz. “And that means that we actually pass this mask mandate, not because it’s fun, not because it’s this comfortable thing I want to have on my face, but because it’s how we protect people, how we protect each other, and it's just one of the best line of defenses we have besides the vaccine.”

The tone quickly changed as the city's anti-maskers began interrupting and booing what pro-maskers had to say, and many who went up to the podium to speak accused the Board of Health of trying to take away their freedom.

“In the end, it is wrong to force somebody to do something against their will,” said Carly Downs. “It is wrong to say you have the authority when you know you don’t."

“I can only imagine the damage that these masks are doing to children,” said James Murphy, who said at the meeting that he is against the use of all vaccines. “Children naturally smile. Now, they’re looking at all these people, even their parents, and they have this thing on their face. They are going to be damaged.”

Waltham residents have not taken the mask debate lightly, with many speaking out against the Waltham School Committee's decision to require masks for all public school students this fall. Although Waltham's COVID-19 numbers are not increasing as rapidly as other Massachusetts communities, the city's vaccination rates have stagnated under 70%.

Despite pressure from residents to make a decision, the Board of Health decided to table their vote on a mask mandate for until Sept. 29.