COVID-19 MASK MANDATE 1/6/2022

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
CITY OF HOLYOKE

BOARD OF HEALTH COVID-19 MANDATORY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
FOR WEARING OF MASKS OR OTHER FACE COVERINGS IN
THE CITY OF HOLYOKE 

WHEREAS, the City of Holyoke continues to see an alarming increase in positive

COVID-19 cases, especially in the younger population; and

WHEREAS, the Delta and Omicron variants are now accounting for approximately 99% of positive cases in Massachusetts (source https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/) and cases have appeared in Holyoke and

WHEREAS, these variants are almost twice as contagious as previous variants; and

WHEREAS, we know that masks slow or prevent transmission of all COVID-19 variants so far; and

WHEREAS, as we see cases rise in surrounding counties and communities, with travel and gatherings, we are committed to preventing transmission, keeping our numbers as low as possible, and preventing our most vulnerable from severe illness with a new mask mandate; and

WHEREAS, according to the CDC, vaccine effectiveness, and current vaccine coverage, layered prevention strategies, such as wearing masks, are needed to reduce the transmission of this variant.”

NOW, THEREFORE, commencing immediately, mask or face coverings shall be worn in City Hall and all municipal buildings in the City of Holyoke and effective January 6, 2022 at 12:01 A.M., at all Specified Indoor Spaces in the in the City of Holyoke, and the following Policies and Procedures MUST be implemented at all times at all specified spaces in the in the City of Holyoke.

Section 1 Authority:

This order is promulgated under the authority granted to the Board of Health under Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 111, and Section 31.

Section 2 Definitions:

Performers – Those singing and/or playing woodwind or brass instruments, performing artists and those speaking or presenting at events

Specified Indoor Spaces – The term “specified indoor spaces” shall include all places in the City of Holyoke into which members of the public are invited or otherwise allowed to enter a building or structure to interact with any persons in order to or transact any public or private business, including all public indoor spaces, and shall include but not be limited to;

Restaurants, bars, indoor performance and event venues, hotels and motels, gyms, fitness clubs, salons, places of Worship, as well as indoor workplaces, common areas of multi-unit buildings, retail stores and shopping malls

Team Sport – Includes any sport, which involves players working together towards a shared objective. A team sport is an activity in which a group of individuals, on the same team, work together to accomplish an ultimate goal.

Moderate Risk sports and recreational activities are characterized by intermittent close proximity or limited, incidental physical contact between or among participants

High Risk sports and recreational activities are characterized by a requirement or a substantial likelihood of routine close and/or sustained proximity or deliberate physical contact between or among participants and a high probability that respiratory particles will be transmitted between or among participants

Section 3 Policies and Procedures: 

Except as specified in Section 4, masks shall be required, regardless of vaccination status, for those over the age of two years old, as follows.

1. 1. Masks or face coverings shall be worn in all Specified Indoor Spaces in the City of

Holyoke.

2. Food service establishment employees shall wear a mask or face covering when

serving customers, both indoors and outdoors.

3. 3. Masks or face coverings will also be required in outdoor public events, where

physical distancing of six (6) feet cannot be maintained. This includes but is not limited to; events held at fairgrounds, and outdoor performance and event venues.

4. 4. Masks or face coverings must be worn in the dugouts, benches, and other common

seating areas for outdoor moderate and high-risk contact team sports including but not limited to:

Baseball, softball, track and field, volleyball, soccer, team swimming, dance class, fencing, field hockey, soccer., football, wrestling, rugby, basketball, lacrosse, ice-hockey, competitive cheer, martial arts, ultimate frisbee, boxing, pair figure skating

5. 5. All mask or face coverings worn in accordance with this Order shall conform to the

following:

1. a. Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face; and
2. b. Be secured with ties or ear loops; and
3. c. Include multiple layers of fabric; and
4. d. Allow for breathing without restriction; and
5. e. May be removed for eating, drinking where allowed
6. f. Disposable surgical/procedural masks, N-95s, elastomeric masks, cloth masks are permitted
7. Masks with exhale valves are not permitted

Section 4 Exemptions:

Nothing in this order is intended to encourage residents to act as an enforcement authority for the City of Holyoke. Residents should not take it upon themselves to approach people in violation of this order. Residents are urged to focus solely on their personal compliance with this order.

1. 1. Nothing in this order shall be construed to require a mask to be worn by children

under age two (2) or children who frequently compromise mask integrity with frequent manipulations or removals, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without

assistance or anyone who cannot wear a mask for other underlying health and safety reasons.

2. 2. Employees in shared office spaces are not required to mask if social distancing of

six feet or more can be maintained.

3. 3. Performers who are singing and/or playing brass or wind instruments, who are

performance artists or who are presenting or speaking at an event, are not required to wear face coverings but must adhere to social distancing of at least 10 feet from any member of the public when performing indoors and outdoors

4. Face coverings are not required and shall not be worn when actively participating in

water-based activities and when swimming. Wearing a mask in these circumstances increases drowning risk. Face coverings shall be worn at all times when not in water, including but not limited to indoor pool decks, locker rooms, changing rooms, and restrooms.

Section 5 Enforcement:

The person or entity in control of a public indoor space shall have the obligation to enforce the requirements of the mask mandate set forth in these policies and procedures. The person or entity in control of a public indoor space, himself or by his servant or agent, or as the servant or agent of any other person or any firm or corporation, who violates any reasonable health regulation, made under authority of this section, for which no penalty by way of fine or imprisonment, or both, is provided by law, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three hundred ($300.00) dollars per day.

Section 6 Effective:

This order is in effect at 12:01 a.m. January 6, 2022. This order, and its status, will be reviewed each month at Board of Health meetings.

Holyoke Board of Health 

Sean Gonsalves
Director of Health
Holyoke Board of Health

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