By Rick Sobey, Erin Tiernan on Apr 20, 2021 07:26 pm
The push is on to relax the outdoor mask mandate.
But Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday wouldn’t commit to any time frame as more and more people get the coronavirus vaccine.
When people are not crowded outside, there is “barely any risk at all” to contracting COVID-19, epidemiologists say. But under the Bay State mask mandate, people are supposed to wear a mask at all times in public.
“I really question whether people have to wear them outside while they’re walking, while they’re running and biking,” said Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of the division of infectious disease at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “That’s a different risk. There’s barely any risk at all.”
When a family of five goes to the park, they’re supposed to wear masks while gathering together at the park after being maskless inside all day.
“That doesn’t make any sense, and there are a lot of situations like that,” Sax said.
It’s still important to wear masks outside in crowded settings, when there are face-to-face encounters with people in close range, he said. Sax also still strongly supports a mask mandate for indoor activities.
The governor on Tuesday said he’s not ready to make any commitments either way even as public health experts signal it could soon be time to ditch masks outdoors.
“This is obviously something we’re not just talking to local folks about we’ve also been talking to the feds, as well,” Baker said during a press conference.
Some Republican governors have already decided to rescind mask mandates in their state, including in New Hampshire, but Baker said he’d “rather just wait and work through the conversations folks” before committing to any timeframe.
Paul Diego Craney, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, said it’s time for Baker to lift the outdoor mask order.
“Those in our most vulnerable populations who want a vaccine now have that protection and with vaccines available to everyone as of Monday, it’s time to start taking steps back to normal,” Craney added.
But epidemiologists say the outdoor mask order shouldn’t be completely lifted because there are close encounters in which masks are still necessary.
“There could be a loosening of mask use outdoors where social distance can be maintained,” said Boston University infectious diseases specialist Davidson Hamer. “But full removal of the order should not happen until we’re in a better place with the number of new cases.”
Boston residents have worn face masks in public for nearly a year to stop the spread of coronavirus, and despite some medical opinions that outdoor transmission is rare, they say they don’t plan on going out uncovered anytime soon.
“I personally feel that it’s really important to continue wearing masks, at least until we know that everyone has been vaccinated,” said 19-year-old Aja Webber.
Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, said he expects outdoor mask mandates like the one in Massachusetts to lift in the coming weeks. But even on Tuesday’s 70-degree, sunny day in the Public Garden, locals told the Herald they’re not ready to be barefaced again.
“I’m in a somewhat unique situation in the fact that I have a preexisting condition,” said Alan Rothman, 77. “Of course, I’ve gotten my two shots, but still — there’s always a concern.”
For some Bay Staters, their comfort with the mask mandate is situational.
“I still think it’s a good idea if you’re around a lot of people — if you’re going to an event and there’s a concert, or something. But if you’re by yourself, walking with your family, you can put your mask down,” said Chicopee resident Lisa Martial.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu ended the state’s mask mandate last week, but a move that widespread sounded jarring people in the more populated Boston area.
“I don’t think we’re ready for that. I don’t think anyone should be doing that,” Martial said.
“I can see the younger generation wanting to get rid of their masks, but most of my peers would frown on that,” said Rothman.
But even younger people said at this point, the masks don’t feel like that big of a deal.
“I’ve gotten more accustomed to it at this point, I suppose,” said 25-year-old Daniel Schwartz, who lives in densely packed Beacon Hill. “I have no problem with it.”
So when will Bostonians be ready to pack away their masks? A handful of joggers and walkers around Boston Common went completely mask-free Tuesday afternoon, which is in step with recent recommendations from doctors like Jha. Others told the Herald they want widespread vaccination, and they’ll wait until the experts agree it’s safe for everyone.
Do you think Gov. Charlie Baker should lift the mask mandate? Take our poll online at bostonherald.com today.
Massachusetts health officials reported that nearly 2.1 million people in the state are now fully vaccinated as more than 79,000 coronavirus vaccine doses were given during the most recent day of vax data on Tuesday.
It comes as the state also reported 968 new virus cases and three deaths from the virus.
Overall, 2,095,808 people in Massachusetts have now been fully vaccinated.
The state Department of Public Health’s daily vaccination report showed 5,209,620 total doses have been administered — 3,113,812 people who have received at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, 1,892,492 people who have received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna, and 203,316 people who have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
That’s a daily increase of 79,162 doses. The previous daily vaccinations were 50,856 shots, 69,990 shots, 88,032 shots, 86,934 shots and 95,048 shots.
More than 5.9 million doses have been shipped to the state after a recent shipment of 37,820 doses. More than 87% of doses shipped here have been administered.
Tuesday’s 968 new cases follow a recent spike in cases as the more contagious variants spread across the state. The Bay State’s count of estimated active cases is now 33,060 cases, up from 25,397 a few weeks ago.
Tuesday’s three new virus deaths bring the state’s total recorded death toll to 17,484. The seven-day average of daily deaths is now seven, down from 77 daily deaths in late January. Daily deaths are now at the lowest point of the pandemic amid the vax rollout.
Statewide hospitalizations have dropped during the vax rollout but started fluctuating in recent weeks. Hospitalizations on Tuesday ticked up by three patients, bringing the total to 708 patients.
The seven-day average of the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 has declined from 2,347 patients at the start of January to an average of 705 patients now.
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