PLAINVILLE — Town Administrator Brian Noble and Health Director Deborah Revelle would like to inform community members of the newly reinstated mask mandate in municipal buildings as the town continues to urge vigilance amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
As of Wednesday, Dec. 8, the Town of Plainville has 68 active, recorded cases of COVID-19 within the community. The average daily incidence rate for the Town is 49.6 per 100,000 residents.
Due to the recent rise in cases and in an effort to ensure the continuity of municipal government operations in town, the Plainville Board of Health voted to re-institute a mask mandate for all municipal buildings in town, effective today, Tuesday, Dec. 14, until further notice.
As part of the mandate, all community members and employees visiting or working within a municipal building must wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status. Masks will be available for anyone who arrives without one.
The Plainville Board of Health would also like to remind community members that vaccinations are widely available and encouraged, and residents are still reminded that they must continue to take the necessary precautions in order to prevent further spread of the disease in the community, especially during the holiday season.
“As we continue to see COVID-19 cases rise within our town and throughout the state, we would like to reiterate that we are not yet out of this pandemic and, as such, everyone should continue to practice preventative measures,” Town Administrator Noble said. “We also ask those community members who choose to gather with their family and friends this holiday season to be mindful of the ongoing pandemic and the new Omicron variant.”
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health provides the following general recommendations regarding health and safety protocols:
- Wear a face covering. All unvaccinated residents, and others at higher risk from COVID-19, are recommended to continue to wear face coverings in indoor settings and when they can’t socially distance. Masks will continue to be required for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals at all times in certain locations, including public transportation and medical facilities.
- Additional guidance regarding face coverings can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands.
- Keep your distance. For unvaccinated individuals, and others at higher risk from COVID-19, 6 feet or more is best.
- Avoid large gatherings. Keep gatherings outdoors, if possible. If indoors, have good airflow by opening a window or door.
- Stay away from people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
Vaccination Information
Residents are also encouraged to get vaccinated if they have not already done so. Vaccinations significantly reduce the risk of significant illness due to COVID-19. To find a location where you can be vaccinated against COVID-19, visit: vaxfinder.mass.gov.
Residents should also seek booster shots if they are eligible, either six months after their second dose of Moderna or Pfizer BioNTech, or two months after their dose of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). To check if you are eligible for a booster shot, click here.
With flu season at its peak during the fall and winter months, residents are also encouraged to get vaccinated against the flu. To find a location where you can be vaccinated against the flu, visit: https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.
Residents with questions are encouraged to call the Plainville Board of Health at 508- 695-3010 ext. 5.
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