Northampton Community Arts Trust / 33 Hawley Street COVID-19 Policies

June 2, 2022

City of Northampton Board of Health Issues Public Health Mask Advisory

High Risk of COVID-19 Transmission

The World Health Organization and the CDC have advised all individuals to take measures to reduce their risk of COVID-19, especially the Omicron variants, including proven public health and social measures such as wearing well-fitting masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, improving ventilation of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces, and getting vaccinated.

THEREFORE, the Northampton Board of Health is publishing the following recommendations:

1. It is highly recommended that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status or past COVID-19 infection, wear a mask at all times when indoors and in a public setting.

2. All masks should cover the nose and the mouth and rest snugly above the nose, below the mouth, and on the sides of the face.

3. Those who have underlying conditions that increase risk for severe illness, are over 65 years old, or are unvaccinated including children under the age of five who are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine should take additional precautions.

4. The mask advisory does not apply in cases where an individual is actively performing an activity that cannot be done while wearing a face mask such as actively eating or drinking; is practicing or playing a competitive sport in the Northampton schools or on a professional level; or is performing, including but not limited to playing music, delivering a speech to an audience seated at least six feet away, and acting in a theater. Individuals who are engaging in these activities are advised to apply their mask once the activity is completed.

This advisory is for public education only and should not be construed as regulation of any kind. For more information visit northamptonma.gov/health or call 413-587-1214.