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Date: 8/25/2020
EASTHAMPTON – The Board of Health approved new, stricter mask policies with a focus on heavily trafficked areas of the city.
The order now requires masks or face coverings, regardless of social distancing, in the downtown and mill areas, the Manhan Rail Trail and all city-owned parks and property.
The Board of Health included a map to illustrate the areas of enforcement as part of their announcement. The area of enforcement includes, among others, Payson Avenue, Cottage, Union and Pleasant streets, and portions of Main, Park, Maple, Liberty and Ferry streets.
Additionally, the public must keep a mask on their person when on any other public sidewalk and must wear it when passing or coming within 6 feet of others. The rule does not apply to those seated at a restaurant providing outdoor service in accordance with state regulations as well as those with medical or mental health concerns or disabilities that prevent them from wearing a mask. Those dependent on supplemental oxygen are also exempt.
The order went into effect on Aug. 21.
Health Agent Bri Eichstaedt told Reminder Publishing the order is a “proactive and reactive” measure at the same time.
“There was concern about people congregating outside of places like restaurants and other high-traffic areas, often without masks. At first, people were great about taking precautions but it seems they are getting lax,” she said.
Additionally, she pointed to the state’s Aug. 19 Weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report, which illustrated that Easthampton was one of only four Western Massachusetts municipalities with elevated risks of coronavirus transmission. Easthampton joined Springfield and Holyoke as communities coded yellow, or moderate risk, with a daily case rate of four to eight cases per 100,000 residents over the 14-day period from Aug. 2 to 16. South Hadley was the only Western Massachusetts town labeled red with more than eight cases per 100,000.
Easthampton was in a yellow status for the second week in a row, holding steady at four cases per 100,000.
"That’s obviously a cause for concern,” Eichstaedt said.
According to the state’s reporting, Easthampton’s percent positivity rate from Aug. 2 to 16 was 1.51 percent, down from 1.62 percent for the period of July 19 to Aug. 1.
The mask order affords the city the ability to fine offenders $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second offense and $300 for third and subsequent offenses. However, Eichstaedt said the city’s intention is to utilize the fines as a last resort.
“It never has been our protocol to just go out and ticket. I’m not going to be going around town with my ticket book,” she said. Instead, Eichstaedt explained the primary goal will be education and a limited number of masks will be available to give to the public if they do not have one. “Ticketing is going to be a tool for egregious offenders.”
Gov. Charlie Baker’s statewide mandatory mask order, which was put into effect in May, requires residents to wear masks only when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not possible. Recent additions to the regulations stipulate that individuals must wear a face covering at any gathering of more than 10 people from more than a single household. When asked about assertions that the state mandates overrule local ones, Eichstaedt said, “that’s simply not accurate.”
As an example, Eichstaedt pointed to the fact that many municipalities pushed the minimum age to purchase tobacco 21 before the state did so.
“We can supersede the state regulations and we do have the authority to enforce [the city order],” she said.
Signage will be posted in the designated mask areas throughout the city. These signs have a QR code that will link residents to the highlighted map and information about the order.
The city also advised residents that the public should not call the police emergency number to report non-compliance with the mask order. To make a report, residents can email covidcomplaints@easthamptonma.gov or may call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 527-1212 or the Easthampton Health Department at 529-1400, ext. 430.
The complete order and more information on COVID-19 can be found at https://easthamptonma.gov/community/news-updates/525-covid-information.html.