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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-08-BOH-min RECEIVED zz 25 Mar, : 7 am LEXINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING MINUTES TOWN CLERK Tuesday, March 8, 2022 6:30 pm LEXINGTON MA Conducted by Remote Participation Approved March-15-2022 Board of Health Members in Attendance: Wendy Heiger-Bernays Chair, PhD, Burt Perlmutter, M.D., John "Jay" Flynn, J.D., Susan Wolf- Fordham, J.D. MPA, David Geller, M.D Board of Health Member Absent: Select Board (Liaison): Doug Lucente Other Attendees: Julie Hackett,Ed.D, Superintendent of Schools, Karen Rufo, Lexington School Nurse Office of Public Health Attendees: Joanne Belanger, RN, Public Health Director Alicia McCartin, Assistant Health Director Siqing Pan, Department Assistant Documents: Lexington Covid-19 data March-07-2022 Covid data for March 15'h, 2022 BOH meeting Letter from Lexington Education Association Information for Lexington Board ofHealth March 2022 Advisory Regarding Face Covering Recommendation letter regarding mask mandate order f om Julie Hackett, Superintendent of Schools Meeting Called to Order: Board of Health meeting of March 8, 2022 was called to order by Chair Wendy Heiger-Bernays at 6:33pm. Public Comment • Larry Thurston, 171 Woburn street, suggested the mask mandate should be lifted. • Vishal Kapadia, 39 Woodcliffe Rd, stated he also supports to lift the mask mandate. • Anthony Martyniak, 18 Augustus Rd, stated he also supports to rescind the mask mandate. • Eileen Rahill, 6 Dickson Avenue, Arlington, stated her son works in Lexington and she supports to rescind the mask mandate. • Jerold Michelson, from Michelson's Shoe shop (1780 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington), stated the mask mandate did help the business community. He also suggested the mask mandate should be rescinded. All public comments were taken under advisement. Review of Mask Mandate—Board Discussion - Rationale for Public Health mask mandate 1 - 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 Dr.Heiger-Bernays suggested to have a statement with regard to showing kindness and inclusivity. She stated the Board of Health needs to recognize that individual businesses, places of worship, or other venues, have the right to require patrons to wear a mask in their facilities, if they so choose. She suggested that the we are not done with masks forever. Masks are still an available tool for another airborne infectious pathogen or the return of another Covid variant. She stated she would strongly suggest to use the wastewater data as a leading indicator to make decisions. She reiterated that masks are useful for protecting people's health. Dr. Hackett reviewed her written statement to the Board. She gave three recommendations: 1. The Board of Health lift the mask mandate for all, including Pre-K students, effective immediately. (This recommendation is consistent with CDC and MA DPH guidance, and it ultimately gives students/families and school staff a choice about whether to wear mask or not). 2. The Board of Health discontinue the practice of requiring masks on school buses or vans, which is consistent with CDC and MA DPH guidance (and DESE). 3. The Board of Health continue to follow the CDC guidance as it relates to mask, and Lexington Public Schools reserve the right to reinstate masks in schools at any time when CDC says it is needed. Dr. Heiger-Bernays expressed her appreciation to Dr. Hackett's clear and detailed description of both rationale for rescinding the mask order and also for the contingencies and the situations that are going to be faced in the schools. She reiterated individuals' preferences on masks. Mr. Flynn asked if the mask mandate is rescinded, does the public schools have authority to institute a mask mandate in special circumstances? Dr. Hackett responded yes. Ms. Wolf-Fordham inquired if the school data include data related to the LABB classrooms in the Lexington school system. Ms. Rufo stated the data are separated. Ms. Wolf-Fordham questioned do they share data. Ms. Rufo stated they could share with each other but they have not. Ms. Wolf- Fordham suggested to combine them together, because the LABB students share the same space and are particularly vulnerable. Ms. Wolf-Fordham also suggested that resources should be available to the preschool kids, to the LABB students if needed, and also to other elementary schools. The LABB students at the high school for example were breathing the same air as the non-LABB students. Ms. Wolf-Fordham inquired will masks be available for school students if they need them,because the nurse's office and some other places will still require masks be worn. Dr. Hackett stated they have enough supply of masks on hand for any student who needs one. Ms. Rufo expressed her appreciation for all the support from Board of Health. Ms. Wolf-Fordham made a motion to rescind the Covid-19 Public Health Mask Mandate originally adopted on August 12, 2021, (effective August 18, 2021 and amended on October 27,2021 and January 11,2022)to be effective at 12:01 AM on March 9,2022. Dr. Perlmutter seconded. Roll call vote: Mr. Flynn —Yes, Dr. Perlmutter — Yes, Ms. Wolf-Fordham — Yes, Dr. Geller—Yes, Dr. Heiger -Bernays- Yes. Motion carried 5 to 0. All in favor. 3 The Board had a unanimous vote that rescind the mask order to be effective at 12:01 AM on March 9, 2022. Adiournment Dr. Heiger-Bernays made a motion to adjourn at 7:32pm. Motion carried. All in favor. 4