IPSWICH — Town Manager Tony Marino and Director of Public Health Colleen Fermon wish to provide residents with information on Gov. Charlie Baker’s ‘Mask Up MA!’ campaign and to remind them of the importance of wearing masks.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, COVID-19 is spread mainly by person to person contact and the best means of slowing the spread of the virus is by practicing social distancing and by minimizing personal contact.
Residents are also reminded that not everyone who has COVID-19 is symptomatic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Wearing a face covering reduces the chance of transmitting the virus to another person and vice versa. Masks are recommended as a barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the mask coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice.
“Wearing a mask is an important step in protecting residents health and safety,” said Fermon. “There is some evidence of protection for the wearer, but the stronger evidence is that masks protect others from catching an infection from the person wearing the mask.”
Face masks or cloth face coverings are currently required in the State of Massachusetts in public when social distancing is not feasible in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Anyone in public unable to distance themselves at least six feet away from others must wear a face covering. The Governor’s statewide order requiring face masks or cloth face coverings to be worn applies to both indoor and outdoor public spaces.
Those under the age of 2 or with certain health conditions identified by the DPH are exempt from the statewide order.
Masks should not be worn by young children under the age of 2, persons with difficulty breathing, or those who are unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Face coverings should:
- cover the nose and mouth
- fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- be secured with ties or ear loops
- include multiple layers of fabric
- allow for breathing without restriction
- be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
Instructions for how to fashion a homemade face covering with no sewing required can be found here.
This order remains in effect until further notice. Further guidance from the DPH is available at mass.gov/coveryourface.