2022-03-08-BOH-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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- Status of Lexington Public Schools The chair Dr. Heiger-Bernays gave an overview of Covid-19, the situation in Lexington and Middlesex County in order to review mask mandate order in Lexington: • The tracking of the Covid virus is still being monitored by studying the presence of virus in wastewater. • Covid-19 cases are going down and significantly decreased in Lexington and Middlesex County. • Covid-19 positive test results in Lexington (PCR tests) by age from 2.15.2022 to 3.4.2022 shows cases are much lower and decreasing. • Covid-19 percent positivity rates are higher in neighboring towns. • Lexington public school students' numbers of positive data (PCR tests) from 1.6.2022 to 3.3.2022 shows cases increased after all vacations when children and staff returned. • Tools available to protect public health are vaccination, ventilation of indoor spaces, decrease time with infectious people, and use of well-fitting masks. • Covid-19 Booster rates in Lexington are not as high as primary series vaccination rates. • Masks remain important, even if mask mandate rescinded. • Rationale for mask order is that the Covid-19 positivity rates spiked after children and others returned from winter break. • Covid-19 hospitalization rates are significantly lower than three weeks ago. • All people in Massachusetts regardless of vaccination status are required to continue wearing masks, in certain settings including some transportation systems at least until the federal mandate is lifted on 3.18.2022, and in health care and medical facilities. • Persons who test positive on either a rapid antigen in-home tests or PCR tests, are still required to stay home, whether vaccinated or not. Regardless of vaccination status, all individuals who test positive should avoid people who are at high risk of severe disease for 10 days. Individuals who test positive need to wear a mask around others for 10 days. Deliberation and Vote: to Retain or Rescind Mask Order of August 12, 2021 (as amended October 27, 2021, Jan 11, 2022) Mr. Flynn stated the situation has changed since the emergency order was issued in August IP, 2021. He agrees that masks remain important to prevention. He suggested to share Infogram with community regarding efficiency of masks. Dr. Perlmutter commented that: 1. The Covid-19 cases were not significantly increased after school vacation week. This result will go into make decision. 2. Assuming the mask mandate will be rescinded, he urged that people who choose to continue to wear a mask, because of their own health issues or their own concerns, should not be belittled. Dr. Geller stated he agreed with everything has been said. He stated he was comfortable moving forward with rescinding the mask mandate. Ms. Wolf-Fordham stated she would like residents in Lexington to know how seriously the Board of Health takes responsibility for protecting their health. She stated she agreed with what Mr. Flynn said about sharing the mask information. She also stated she agreed with what Dr. Perlmutter said about belittling people who will continue to wear masks. She suggested to revisit this mask mandate if the situation changes in the future. 2