MONTAGUE — Following a Dec. 6 meeting where the Selectboard declined to mandate masks until April 4, the board has decided to re-implement a mask mandate for all indoor public spaces and businesses after a spike of 47 new positive COVID-19 cases was recorded in Montague last week.
The last mandate Montague had in place for all indoor public spaces and businesses was issued on Sept. 27 and rescinded Nov. 1. A mandate specifically for town-owned buildings went into effect on Dec. 13.
This latest mandate, which goes into effect Wednesday, Dec. 22, and lasts until March 1, was approved unanimously at Monday evening’s Selectboard meeting following a recommendation from Emergency Management Director John Zellmann and his emergency management team.
The decision was a reconsideration of the notion that Montague shouldn’t be sending mixed messages by repeatedly implementing and rescinding the mandate. Between the Selectboard and members of the public in attendance, there was a collective frustration regarding the lack of state-level guidance.
Zellmann said his team decided it was “prudent” to recommend a mask mandate to the Selectboard.
“We have seen a huge uptick and we are getting into holiday season where everybody is going to get together,” Zellmann explained. “I think right now, as we know, when masks are either mandated or we strongly urge people to wear them, we see numbers come down.”
All parties in attendance at the meeting, including Board of Health member Michael Nelson, admitted feeling somewhat lost for direction.
“Masks work, that’s a fact,” commented Selectboard Chair Rich Kuklewicz, who was initially reluctant to issue a town-wide mandate on Dec. 6. “I wish we were getting more sway from the state.”
“Without that guidance, we’re kind of just treading water,” Nelson said.
Zellmann argued that regardless of how much guidance Montague receives from the state level, it has a duty to its residents to ensure public safety to the best of its ability.
“Right now, it’s out of control and we need help,” he said. “If somebody sees a sign up on a door, most people are going to go back to their car, grab a mask and go back. … If we can even send one person back to their car to get a mask, it helps.”
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.