Will North Shore Follow Salem On Masks, Vaccine?: Patch Weekender

Salem MA

15 August, 2021

2:20 PM

Description

SALEM, MA — As cities, towns and school districts across the North Shore decide what, if any, mask and vaccine measures they will enact ahead of the start of the new school year within the next few weeks, Salem is pressing forward with some of the strongest coronavirus measures in the state. This past week, the Salem School Committee unanimously approved an indoor mask mandate for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status, the Salem Board of Health reinstated the city's indoor mask mandate for businesses starting Aug. 23 through at least Nov. 13 and the city has proposed a strict, vaccine-or-test policy that would require all municipal employees — including teachers — to submit proof of a coronavirus vaccination or be subject to twice-weekly virus tests. On Monday night, the Salem School Committee will address a proposal to require vaccinations for all students 12 or older taking part in "high-respiration" extracurricular activities, such as band, chorus, drama and sports, or require students to wear a mask while participating in those activities and outdoors, while also providing written documentation those students have consulted with a health care professional about the vaccine. Thus far, surrounding North Shore communities have not adopted most of those measures. Danvers has brought back in the indoor mask mandate for municipal buildings starting Monday, while saying indoor masking in all businesses is "strongly encourages." Swampscott is entering its second week of a reinstated indoor mask requirement for town buildings, including the police station, fire stations and town library. Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey said all 18,000 city employees in the state capital must be vaccinated by Oct. 18 or be subject to weekly testing. Salem State also said on Friday that all non-unionized will need to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1, while the school is working with its three staff unions to make the vaccinate requirement universal. All students are already required to provide proof of vaccination to participate in campus activities this fall. Peabody Superintendent of Schools Josh Vadala told Patch earlier this month he supports following state guidance that only recommends masking for students in grades K-6, as well as unvaccinated students in grades 7-12 and school staff, but makes masks optional for vaccinated teachers and vaccinated students 12 or older. While that policy has not been finalized, Vadala said he supported leaving those decisions up to families as much as possible. The state is largely leaving each community on its own to make town-by-town and district-by-district decisions with Gov. Charlie Baker saying again on Thursday that with high vaccination rates and relatively low hospitalizations, no statewide mask mandates for schools or businesses is forthcoming. Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)