The Cohasset Board of Health is considering a town-wide COVID-19 mask mandate, and will take public comment during tonight’s meeting.
Chairman Michael Pollastri spoke during last night’s School Committee meeting.
“What we’re looking to do is to get ahead of what could be potentially a very serious outbreak in the coming months,” said Pollastri. “What we’re looking to do is to reduce the likelihood of outbreaks. If we have outbreaks, we end up with more extreme public health measures.”
The board voted to develop a mask mandate for unvaccinated individuals in town buildings.
Tuesday’s meeting will consider masks for vaccinated individuals in indoor buildings – including private businesses. Children under two, and those with medical conditions would be exempt.
The board is “strongly recommending” that action, but has not set a formal policy. This meeting will include a presentation, public comment, and an adoption of a formal resolution for the town.
Pollastri says this follows CDC recommendations for indoor settings in communities with substantial or high COVID-19 transmission. Norfolk County is in the “Substantial” level. Plymouth County is included in the “high” level of transmission.
“The Delta strain is changing the game. We don’t frankly know enough about the strain that’s emerging to be able to predict how things are going to unfold,” said Pollastri. “It’s different enough from the strains that we experienced over the last year, year and a half, that we’re concerned that we don’t know how these are going to act.”
He says 88 percent of residents will be fully-vaccinated by the end of the month. 860 residents are under 12, and are not currently eligible for the vaccine.
The Cohasset Board of Health meeting will be held tonight at 6:30, on Zoom.
