Town officials report upbeat news on COVID front
By Mike BergerBesides Tuesday’s news on the loosening of outdoor mask requirements and the release of final state reopening plans, Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall reported more optimistic news for the town at Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting.
Aspinwall said there have been only 19 new COVID cases over the last seven days, a much lower volume compared to two weeks ago when 48 cases were reported.
Aspinwall also reported that were no COVID-related deaths in the past two weeks and the positivity rate, which had exceeded 5 percent a few weeks ago, has dropped to 1.72 percent.
With those numbers as a backdrop, Aspinwall congratulated the School Committee and School Department for opening Canton High School to all-in learning this week, much earlier than the mid-May deadline set by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Aspinwall said town buildings are also set to open on May 4.
Statewide, Governor Charlie Baker announced Tuesday that amusement parks and outdoor water parks could open May 10 at 50 percent capacity and stadiums could increase to 25 percent capacity. Also on May 10, road races will be permitted with staggered starts, and youth and adult amateur sports tournaments can resume for moderate- and high-risk sports.
On May 29, the state will further loosen restrictions on gatherings, allowing parties of up to 200 indoors and 250 outdoors, and breweries and bars will be permitted to serve patrons who do not order food. Finally, on August 1, all other businesses may fully reopen with all capacity and gathering limits set to end.
Regarding mask wearing, the governor announced on Tuesday that effective Friday, April 30, Massachusetts residents will no longer be required to wear masks outdoors when it is possible to socially distance. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also loosened its guidance for wearing masks outdoors on Tuesday …
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Posted by Mike Berger
on Apr 30 2021. Filed under News, Town Government.
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