Medford will demand masking, vaccine proof with new cases and positivity

Medford residents are urged to re-mask in all public buildings from December 22, as the city’s positivity rate has surpassed 4% and the number of cases since the start of the month has surpassed 650 infections reported.

“Cases are on the rise,” said MaryAnn O’Connor, director of the city’s health department. “We are seeing many cases of rupture and it is spreading in households. “

The rise in the number of infections among the very young is of concern to health officials.

“The patients are aged in daycare,” O’Connor said, adding that parents cannot isolate themselves from their children and infections are spreading. “It’s a very contagious variant.”

O’Connor said the best defense against the Omicron variant remains vaccination, second wearing a mask. While the school holidays from Thursday could slow the spread somewhat, health officials expect a similar increase in holidays to last year.

“It is absolutely time to do it,” said O’Connor. Health officials suggest testing before and after the rally. The city is also seeking venues for the wholesale purchase of COVID-19 test kits for use by residents.

Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said the rapid rise of the Omicron variant in Massachusetts and Medford has prompted the city to reinstate the indoor mask mandate for all people aged five and over when they are found. inside a building accessible to the public.

Additionally, patrons of large-scale entertainment venues, like the Chevalier Theater, will be asked to show proof of vaccination to enter. They should remain masked at all times, except when actively eating or drinking. Fully immunized people in restaurants are not required to mask themselves.

Vaccination and post-holiday booster clinics for adults begin Friday, Jan. 7 at the Council on Aging between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., while clinics for children ages five to 18 begin at Medford High School on Jan. 5. . Registration for children’s clinics will be required.

“With the holidays approaching and people looking to spend some well-deserved time with their loved ones, we are doing all we can to keep people healthy and safe while celebrating this happy time of year,” said Lungo-Koehn. “I know it’s been tough, but we’re going to go through this together. “

City officials will discuss these and other measures on Wednesday.