City Of Portsmouth: City Health Officer Rescinds Face Coverings Directive, Urges Continued Use

Press release from the City of Portsmouth:

February 15, 2022

Portsmouth Manager Karen Conard has just issued the following statement to the City Council:

• CVS, 674 Islington St. at checkout, not pharmacy
• Rite-Aid, 800 Islington St., at checkout, not pharmacy
• Rite-Aid, 1303 Woodbury Ave., at pharmacy
• Walmart, 2460 Lafayette Rd., at doors and Service Desk

Test positivity rates on the Seacoast are still higher than they were when the first mask mandate was relaxed last June; and children under 5 are still not able to be vaccinated. Just this week, Pfizer withdrew its request for the FDA to issue Emergency Use Authorization for the vaccine they are developing for children aged 6 months to 4 years, which means that vaccine will not be available until spring. Therefore, for the continued protection of small children and high-risk adults in the community, individuals should defend against COVID-19 infection, severe disease and death with continued mask use in indoor spaces, and staying home when experiencing symptoms of Covid-19.

• Have not been fully vaccinated
• Have a weakened immune system that makes them more susceptible to COVID-19, even after vaccination
• Want to protect a household member who is medically vulnerable or unvaccinated (i.e., to prevent the person wearing the face mask from picking up COVID-19 and bringing it home).

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