Wayland Selectmen: Cover Your Face In Public

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland officials are strongly urging town residents to cover their face while in public as Massachusetts heads into the possible peak of the coronavirus outbreak.

On Friday, the Board of Selectmen voted to support a previous Board of Health recommendation to wear face coverings. Residents should cover their nose and mouth whenever leaving home, but especially if heading into an enclosed space like a grocery store or pharmacy, officials say.

"The Board of Selectmen joins the Board of Health in strongly recommending that residents wear facial coverings (e.g., mask, scarf, or bandana) when it is necessary to leave home and enter into areas where you may encounter other individuals, especially indoors (e.g., shopping areas and restaurants offering take-out service)," the town said in a statement Monday.

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The Centers for Disease Control began recommending face coverings two weeks ago. Local health officials are advising people to use homemade masks due to a larger shortage of medical-grade masks.

Many local towns and cities, including Framingham, Brookline, and Worcester, have ordered residents to wear face coverings in public. The Worcester city manager has likened the requirement to signs at restaurants that warn "no shirt, no shoes, no service."

As of April 17, 33 Wayland residents had either tested positive for coronavirus or been diagnosed by a doctor. One town resident has died of coronavirus since the outbreak began.

Close to 40,000 people in Massachusetts have tested positive so far — the third-highest of any state behind New York and New Jersey.