HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-10 Board of Health MinutesVNM �rNr<p RECEIVED
Town of Reading TOWN CLERK
Meeting Minutes REQ;,:'!^J C. MA.
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2022 MAR -7 PM 4: 51
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2022-02-10 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Session - Remote Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Richard Lopez, Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren; Associate
Members: Geri Cramer, Kevin Sexton
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Public Health Director Ade Solarin, Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen, Public
Health Nurse Kristine Harris
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Chair Richard Lopez called the meeting to order at 7:33 pm.
Review/Approval of Minutes February 3. 2022:
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of February 3, 2022.
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren -Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
Review Town Mask Mandate:
At their regular meeting last week, the Board of Health discussed the Town Mask Mandate,
and decided to reassess on February 17th. Since then, COVID case numbers have continued
to decline dramatically, and there has been a lot of feedback from the community. So, the
Board decided not to wait another week, and have a discussion this evening.
Dr. Lopez clarified the scope of the Board's authority. The Board is not responsible for
reversing the mask mandate in schools, as that is decided upon by the state and
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESS), and the School Committee will
decide what to do when that mandate expires. The Library Trustees passed their own
mandate for the Library, for which they are responsible. The Board does not have authority
over daycare facilities licensed by the state Department of Early Childhood Education (EEC).
And lastly, the Board does not have authority over certain mandates from the Department
of Public Health and federal government including: transportation, buses, trains, planes,
health care staff, and congregate care living. The Board does, however, have authority over
the Pleasant Street Center (the mandate for which will be reassessed at the next BOH
meeting in March), and non -licensed daycare facilities. The discussion tonight will focus on
the mask mandate that the Board approved on January 6th that required masks to be worn
In all indoor public spaces.
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Public Health Director Ade Solarin noted that the COVID levels are back down to where they
were before the omicron surge. Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris provided the latest
COVID data, as obtained through MAVEN reporting from the state DPH:
• Total Cases: 4,486
• Active Cases: 42
• Deaths: 53 - there were two recent deaths. Both individuals were vaccinated, over
80 years of age, and had co -morbidities.
• Transferred Cases: 16
• Recovered: 4,375
There are currently no known clusters of COVID. The current numbers do not reflect the
home/non-medically monitored tests. Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen added that
Reading's vaccination rate is high, and boosted rate is about 50%.
Dr. Lopez presented his own research and noted that communitles with mask mandates had
lower case counts that those without mandates. Regardless of what is decided this evening,
masks should not be put aside, as they are effective at reducing transmission. But the
Public Health intervention needs to be proportionate to the public health threat. Mandates
do have Issues such as how to enforce, economic Impacts, and mental health impacts that
need to be weighed against the risk of infection, however there is no formula for that.
Factors for rescinding the mask mandate include: the current state active case counts are
lower than they were on November 4'h, the positivity rate has dropped from 19% to 7.8%
today, and wastewater RNA content has continued to decline. Dr. Lopez stated that he
thinks that it makes sense to rescind the mask mandate, but would not hesitate to advocate
to reinstate it if high COVID activity recurs. However, the Board should retain a strong
mask advisory for indoor public places. He recommended advocating for vaccines and
boosters, retaining the mandate at the Pleasant Street Center for now, as the seniors are
the most vulnerable population, and mandating that day care facilities follow the mask
guidelines promulgated by the EEC.
Each Board member explained their reasoning and all agreed that the mask mandate could
be rescinded based on the data, public feedback, and concern for mental health impacts.
The Board reviewed the draft emergency order, which conveyed the Board's
recommendations, then voted to rescind the mask mandate effective immediately.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to approve the emergency order as written [see addendum].
Rall call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren -Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
Dr. Lopez stated that the Board will continue to monitor the data to guide decisions in the
future.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to adjourn at 8:26 pm.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
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ADDENDUM: Emergency Order — Rescind TOWN OF READING Mask Mandate/ Face
Coverings Strongly Recommended
COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Order of the Reading Board of Health
Notice is hereby given that on February 10, 2022, the Reading Board of Health adopted the
following emergency order under the provisions of M.G.L. c. 111, §§ 31, 104, 122 and all other
authorizing statutes:
Based upon review of current COVID-19 caseload and testing positivity rates in the Town of
Reading and Middlesex County, the Board of Health held a meeting on February 10, 2022, and the
Board of Health voted to rescind the public health mask mandate previously authorized on January
6, 2022. The following provisions to this new rescinding order apply:
1. Effective immediately, face coverings are no longer required but are strongly recommended
for all individuals older than two years of age in all indoor public spaces, houses of worship, public
meetings, or private spaces open to the public. The Board highly recommends the use of N95,
KN95, or surgical masks. Due to the transmissibility of the Omicron variant, cloth masks alone are
strongly discouraged.
2. The Board of Health strongly recommends all eligible residents have both an initial
vaccination series for COVID as well as a booster at the appropriate time interval according to
CDC/FDA guidelines.
3. Public meetings are strongly recommended to be held remotely except where in-person
meetings are deemed essential by the chair. This is subject to change according to state emergency
guidelines expected to expire April 20, 2022.
4. The mask mandate at the Pleasant Street center remains in place as previously voted on
December 27, 2021.
5. Masks remain mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems
(including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, and buses), in healthcare facilities, and in other settings
hosting vulnerable populations, such as congregate care settings, as directed by the Governor and
the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Federal mandates.
6. This Order excludes entities licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC),
which are required to follow EEC guidance; however, entities operating as a daycare that are not
licensed by EEC are mandated to follow the EEC mask guidelines promulgated 9/7/21 until
otherwise rescinded or revised. This Order excludes Reading Public Schools, which are required to
follow guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This Order
excludes the Reading Public Library which is required to follow the mandates of the Board of
Library Trustees.
7. To the extent required, this Order shall be enforced by the Reading Board of Health and its
authorized agents. Violations of this Order may be punished by a civil fine, if atter a verbal
education coupled with a written warning, of $300 per violation in the manner provided for non-
criminal disposition of violations by MGL Chapter 40, § 21D.
This Order shall be reviewed by the Board of Health at each subsequent regular meeting and such
other meetings as are posted by the Board and shall remain in effect until rescinded. Order
approved by a 3-0 vote of the Board of Health on February 10, 2022.
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