Masking remains mandatory for all in health care settings such as hospitals, doctors' offices and urgent care centers; long-term care facilities; and shelters. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday that at the end of the month he will lift the requirement for face coverings to be worn in most indoor spaces to slow the spread of COVID-19, but the mandate will stay in place for K-12 schools where students, teachers and staff are clustered together. Published February 25, 2022 1:01pm EST. MGM Springfield announced itd be reinstating the mask mandate after Sarnos announcement. By, The National Guard is easing school bus struggles, districts say. Employee Resources. Masks will also continue to be required in healthcare facilities including school nurses offices and while riding on school buses. Springfield eyeing an end to city's mask mandate Feb. 16, 2022 | Matt Conway mconway@thereminder.com Mayor Domenic Sarno and Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris issued the city-wide mask mandate during a Jan. 3 press conference. Oregon is again accelerating the date to end mask requirements in K-12 schools and indoor public spaces, moving the new timeline to March 12, a week ahead of the previous schedule. Good Government. Cancel to content. I mean, at some point, it was gonna happen, but its not gonna stop me from wearing mine, said Tiana Flores of Springfield. Caulton-Harris told Western Mass News that they are still working on getting kids vaccinated. Some businesses on South, West sides see drop in customers since city's vaccination mandate One Little Village restaurant saw business drop by 50% in the first days of Chicago's vaccination . West Springfield Vaccine Information (as of 10/21/2022) 68% of West Springfield residents are fully vaccinated . (WGGB/WSHM) - The indoor mask mandate is set to lift Monday, February 28th, but that does not include Springfield Public Schools for now. Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) Quarantine due to COVID-19. If COVID-19 cases significantly decrease before the 60-day timeframe we will review the policy. However, Sangamon County has not always followed state guidance. Last week, the city had 279 COVID-19 cases, low enough for the city to lift the indoor mask mandate starting next week, but the 30 and under population is still a concern. With masks now optional, each student or family will be able to make its own decision on whether to wear one. All rights reserved, Report: Bruins Goalie Linus Ullmark Had Painful Injury' in First Round, Man Convicted in Deadly 2021 Belmont Road Rage Attack Involving Hate Crime, Ex-Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief Charged With Child Rape, New Video Shows Moment Floor Buckled on Green Line Train on Marathon Monday, Aerosmith Announces Farewell Tour, Including New Year's Eve Show in Boston, 2 Arrested as Investigation Into Deadly Shooting at Lawrence House Party Continues, Pupdate on the Adorable Dog That Fell Asleep on Our Broadcast. The news is part of the Biden Administration's plan to halt the spread of COVID-19. The state of Vermont has come up with a way to make the Big E virtual this year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Springfield, Massachusetts, lifted its indoor mask mandate today, following in the footsteps of Longmeadow, Sunderland and West Springfield. Coronavirus; Springfield mask mandate begins as COVID cases . "We actually had started preparing for this a couple of weeks ago," he said. After such time, we will review the data and make the recommendations on how to proceed next. Updated: Feb 28, 2022 / 06:55 PM EST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. I mean three years for a pandemic to at least get through three years. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Please check with the individual cultural and recreational venues. Masks will be optional in West Springfield schools, but they will be required for at least another month in Amherst regional schools. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option. Sarno announced the change last week as a surge of COVID-19 cases were expected to continue after the holidays. We vaccinated 80 individuals and 66 of those were Springfield residents, which is great, she told us. [] You can reach our tourist telephone hotline Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 05:00 pm at+49 (0) 69/24 74 55 - 400, Questions and answers about the Corona virus, Tourismus+Congress GmbH Eugene Cassidy, president of the Big E, says the proposed mandate doesn't come as a surprise to them at all. She expressed her concern that the mask mandate would be lifting the same week that students and staff return from February vacation. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Hirsh said people spending more time indoors because of colder weather could also increase the spread of COVID. Jay . COVID-19 cases in West Springfield have risen since the board suspended the mask mandate. . currentlythe following regulations of the Verordnung zum Basisschutz der Bevlkerung vor Infektionen mit dem SARS-CoV-2-Virus (Coronavirus-Basisschutzmanahmenverordnung - CoBaSchuV -) apply in Hesse. I cannot stress enough the importance of getting vaccinated to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues, and your neighbors., HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris stated, As we continue to see a troubling and alarming trend of increasing cases, the City of Springfield is updating our mask policy. However, Caulton-Harris does suggest you wear your mask in certain situations. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois Gov. Mayor Sarno stated, We have had our first reoccurrence of positive Covid-19 cases in City Hall, therefore masks will be required in City Hall and all municipal buildings, effective immediately. We will continue to work with all of our community partners to make sure that this life saving vaccine is readily available for everyone. Below is the weekly breakdown of cases over the past five weeks. Website Design by Granicus . When theyre positive for five days and return, and have to mask for five days whos going to monitor that or keep track of all that?, Each of these shifts, Connor said, comes with a time of adjustment., He continued, Its going to be difficult, especially at the larger schools, to maintain that. There are no longer any access restrictions or masking requirements for lodging services. All rights reserved (About Us). Distracted Driving Awareness Month promotion: Retrieve 25% bad the Smart Truck online study. In the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, children older than 2 years old are . Springfield Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris said its not time to wave your mask in the air just yet. Again, I ask all of our residents, young and old, get your vaccine., Mayor Sarno and HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris stated, We do not make these decisions lightly and take these measures out of an abundance of caution, to be proactive so that we can continue to balance public health and safety, while keeping our economy moving forward. West Springfield School Committee approves ending mask mandate Feb. 28 - 2/23/2022 Seniors enjoy drop-in mall walks run by Council on Aging - 2/16/2022 CPA will fund repair of 14 tombstones at Park St. The mask mandate will remain in place for 60 days, to be reassessed on March 1, 2022. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). The mask mandate will remain in place for 60 days. However, he said, Its working with the students to make sure they understand what those obligations are.. The Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Health Department has issued a statement saying there is a COVID-19 cluster at the city's post office, but the postal, An indoor mask requirement for Massachusetts public schools will remain in effect through the start of 2022, education officials announced Tuesday.The, New England Public Media | Data released on Thursday showed Springfield a higher average daily rate of 118 and a higher percent positivity of 12% compared to Worcester and Boston. in doctors' offices, clinics and hospitals (not for inpatients), in buses and trains (local and long-distance public transport), in collective accommodations such as shelters for the homeless and refugees, For information about the easing of restrictions for people who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19 visit. This is not a sprint; this is a marathon and unless we get vaccinated we are at risk. The West Springfield Board of Health voted Wednesday night to end a mask mandate established in the city in advance of The Big E. The indoor mandate began on Sept. 17, the day The Big E. California's indoor mask mandate is set to expire Feb. 15, Gov. Even people who are ready to be done with the masks now understand that coming back from a vacation may not be the best timing, said Thompson. All rights reserved (About Us). WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Majestic Theater, West Springfield MA MAJESTIC THEATER Pandemic Guidelines Updated 8/1/2022 (Subject to Change) If any patron is feeling any symptoms that may be related to COVID, please do not attend your scheduled performance. City officials. The Big E, which features agricultural exhibitions, a midway, concerts, food vendors and more, has both indoor and outdoor spaces. An indoor mask mandate is no longer in effect in the city of Springfield, but everyone is still urged to keep their guard up. When state officials announced earlier this month that the statewide school mask mandate would end Feb. 28, they noted that those who test positive for COVID-19 will still be subject to a five-day quarantine, and will be required to wear masks for the first five days after their quarantine ends. On Monday, Aug. 2, the Sangamon County Department of Public Health (SCDPH) announced it also "supports" the CDC mask requirements. The mask mandate, which impacts all public transportation including buses, trains and airplanes, as well as their indoor terminals and airports, was previously extended to January 18, 2022. It's not mandatory to wear them in the airport but most people still do. I implore our residents to please, get vaccinated. time, please contact the PHN at 413-263-2307. From December through January, Coyne said, the omicron variant infected about 1,000 people in the schools alone mostly students, but staff, as well. Spring 2022 FAQs. Board Chair Dr. Heather Sankey stressed that the fair was not being targeted, but that the masking rules apply to all businesses and events. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Some cultural institutions still require masks. After that, it has been a steady decline with cases getting down to 279 last week. If you have any questions, please contact the Water Department at (413) 263-3233. Cassidy says the annual fair has already produced signs notifying visitors of the mask requirement in case it passes, and that staff will work to remind people of the rule. Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. J.B. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois Gov. lblakeley@tows.org If you looked over the time period of when weve been in school every period of a break, youve seen an uptick, said Coyne. That is the reaction some have had after hearing that the indoor mask mandate in Springfield is lifting on Monday. Connor replied that even now with masking, there is only one driver, making it difficult to monitor all riders. ( WWLP) - Springfield's mask mandate for business and other public spaces within the city is set to expire Monday. Vaccines work! Were hoping it goes well all week long.. Looking closer, more than 50 percent of the cases are among the 30 and under age group, over 150 cases. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Vaccine Tracking And COVID Case Counts. & Tues. 2-4: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/westspringfield? calendar=35d7afff-9d34-433f-99d8- d5bb3d11cb84&site=west-springfield-town-hall. After the 60-day period, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Board of Health will review the situation and make the recommendation on lifting or keeping the mask mandate based on the COVID-19 trends over that time period. The latest data shows 149 cases last week. The additional time was to allow businesses to prepare for the mandate, he said. Mask mandate ends at 5 p.m. at Enfield Town Hall ENFIELD Although the town has a mandate that requires people to wear masks while inside town-operated buildings from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Schools are continuing to offer pool testing and symptomatic testing on-site. Leisure Activities: Some cultural institutions still require masks. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). He's also counting on the goodwill of attendees. +49 (0) 69/21 23 88 00 Also, 32 of those were boosters, which is also amazing for us, so it went well. Working together is the only way to defeat this COVID-19 pandemic., The City of Springfield will continue to monitor the COVID-19 Coronavirus situation and is committed to keeping our residents and business community informed about the latest developments. In Pennsylvania, the universal mask mandate was lifted on June 28, 2021. Springfield, IL - The IL Freedom Caucus is issuing the following statement on a Secretary of State internal policy requiring individuals taking a driving test to wear a mask. We are announcing this with time to allow businesses to prepare for this public health order.. Committee member Diana Coyne, one of the two no votes, said Gov. MASK AND BOOSTER REQUIREMENTS. The Health Department's purpose is topromotehealth and wellness,preventthe spread of disease andprotectthe welfare of West Springfield residents. Was any thought put into consideration on this, around the potential for bullying for those that do feel compelled to wear the mask as optional and as [strongly] recommended by all of the organizations noted, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, DESE, Department of Public Health, and the governor. Hirsh said he and his colleagues are also concerned about the impact of two new variants of COVID-19. The order is in place for 60 days, and on March 1, Sarno and Health and Human Services commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris will reassess it. WEST SPRINGFIELD As the coronavirus pandemic approaches its two-year mark, West Springfield students will finally be able to attend an in-person classroom without a face covering on Feb. 28. Last updated: March 7, 2022, 11:11 A.M. PublishedNovember 1, 2021 at 11:56 AM EDT. Public Health Nurse Administrator Subscribe. The mandate requires face coverings in all indoor public places, as well as private places open to the public, regardless of vaccination status, for everyone ages 2 and older. Edited: 4:24 pm, June 01, 2022. Learn more: Read Connecticut's current COVID-19 health guidance. 3:07. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has authorized the lifting of the requirement to boil water before consumption, effective immediately. Many people have also been looking to get tested. We are going to have to make some drastic moves. Caulton-Harris said that Monday was a success. States, cities furthermore counties have largely relieved requirements that people wear face masks in public to check COVID. The week of January 9th was the highest number of cases in a single week with more than 2,700. 2022 Massachusetts Hospital and Health Care Guide; Take It Personal Sheet: Self-Report Medical Conditions . Patrick Andriesen. Submit. The West Springfield Board of Health is set to hold a hearing on an indoor mask mandate this Wednesday. Cities And Towns With Mask Mandates, CHARTS: Mass. Masks will continue to be required in Springfield Public Schools at least through March 2022, the district announced last week. A mask mandate was in place in the state starting April 28, 2020, where individuals were required to wear face coverings when using public transportation, while at a business and in outdoor. But she said the mask order could be reinstated if new cases go up significantly. We continually evaluate and update our policies based on the latest information and guidance from city, state and federal health officials.. "I think it's something that is very well thought out," said Cassidy. The City of Springfield implemented the citywide mask mandate effective January 3, 2022 due to a significant increase in COVID-19 cases and low vaccination numbers. The COVID testing site at Springfields Eastfield Mall made plans to turn people away over the weekend if the long lines began causing a safety hazard. Not everyone will be happy with every decision and not everyone will be happy with tonights vote, but hopefully respectful of everyone., She continued, Were not saying that masks cant be worn in schools, were making masks optional. OR mask or protective mask of the standards FFP2, KN95, N95 or comparable without exhalation valve. WEST SPRINGFIELD Area school districts are deciding what to do about masks now that the state mandate is set to expire after vacation week. These Frequently Asked Questions and Answers are continually updated to address new and changing issues and concerns. We appreciate everyones patience and cooperation while we completed this required testing. Last year's fair was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Indoor masking remains in place at the county level in many places, including in Philadelphia. cskura@tows.org But in Worcester, city officials are leaving a mask.