City of Springfield to Implement Citywide Mask-mandate Policy
SPRINGFIELD — By order of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Board of Health, the city of Springfield will implement a citywide mask-mandate policy, regardless of vaccination status, effective Monday, Sept. 13, which will remain in effect until Nov. 1, unless otherwise amended or rescinded.
Mayor Domenic Sarno and Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris joined with Baystate Health President and CEO Dr. Mark Keroack, Mercy Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Roose, and City Council President Marcus Williams on Thursday for a press conference to announce the mask-mandate policy.
The mask mandate is for all public places, including municipal buildings, private businesses, and public gatherings and events to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Before the press conference and prior meetings with Sarno and Caulton-Harris, Keroack and Roose met with members of the business community and the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council to discuss the mandate.
Also, Sarno and Caulton-Harris met with the Springfield Thunderbirds hockey ownership group. Sarno appreciates their cooperation and understanding, and he looks forward to attending the upcoming season opener as a season-ticket holder. “At this time, we are only mandating that people wear a mask or face covering. We are not imposing any capacity limitations,” he noted.
The city of Springfield continues to see a significant increase in positive COVID-19 cases, especially in its younger population, and an increase in the Delta variant. For the week of Aug. 29, the city reported 547 cases, with 55%, or 300, of the 547 cases being under age 30.
