The Town of Ipswich and the Ipswich Board of Health wish to urge the community to continue wearing protective masks and to follow state guidelines designed to deter the spread of COVID-19.
On Monday, Dec. 10, the Board reviewed health data for both Ipswich and Essex County. Ipswich has a much lower COVID-19 positivity rate than Essex County and the state. Further, 83 percent of all Ipswich residents are fully vaccinated, higher than the rate in Essex County. Based on that information, Board members decided to not mandate mask wearing at this time.
The Board strongly recommends that residents wear a well-fitting mask when indoors and not in one’s own home, in agreement with the Governor’s Winter Advisory Regarding Face Coverings.
The board also strongly recommends that residents wear surgical masks, N95 masks, or KN95 masks. These masks have been shown to provide greater protection against the Omicron variant than cloth face coverings.
The Board of Health and Health Department offer the following tips:
- When choosing a mask, check to be sure the mask fits snugly over the nose and mouth and under the chin, and that there are no gaps around the sides.
- Choose a mask that has a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask.
- Pick a mask with layers. A mask with layers will stop more respiratory droplets getting inside your mask or escaping from your mask if you are sick.
- Use a mask fitter or brace over a disposable mask or a cloth mask to prevent air from leaking around the edges of the mask.
- For cloth masks, choose ones that have multiple layers of tightly woven, breathable fabric and a nose wire. Make sure the mask blocks light when held up to a bright light source.
- For better protection, wear a disposable mask underneath a cloth mask. The cloth mask should push the edges of the disposable mask against your face.
Some masks are designed and tested to ensure they perform at a consistent level. These masks are labeled to tell you what standard they meet. Lists of masks that meet these standards and more information on their availability can be found on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Personal Protective Equipment Info (PPE-INFO) webpage.
“The Omicron variant has provided one more challenge to the community in overcoming COVID-19,” Health Director Colleen Fermon said. “Masks are an extremely important tool in limiting the spread of the virus. We ask everyone to consider those they love, and to layer protections whenever they are around non-household members.”
The Board of Health reminds residents that the state requires face coverings in many public settings — regardless of vaccination status — including transportation and health-care facilities. Please see www.mass.gov/maskrules for a complete list of venues where face coverings have remained mandatory since May 29, 2021.
The Town and Board of Health also remind the community that vaccinations are the single most effective way to limit the spread of the virus. The Town has scheduled COVID-19 clinics for vaccinations on Monday, Jan. 24, and Monday, Jan. 31, from 1-6 p.m. at Our Lady of Hope rectory, lower level, 1 Pine Swamp Road. Register for the Pfizer vaccine here.
For the latest updates regarding COVID-19 in Ipswich, visit https://ipswichcovid19.com/.