FRAMINGHAM – The Framingham Board of Health will hold an emergency meeting tonight, April 15, at 7 p.m., remotely, which would have the public wear a face covering when in public places and to change supermarket and grocery store aisles to one way.
The 3-member Board of Health will vote on a “Joint Order of the Framingham Board of Health and Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer Relative to the Operations of Essential Services” submitted on April 15, 2020.
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If approved, the order would require:
“All members of the public aged two years and older entering any essential businesses as defined by Governor Baker’s COVID-19 Order No. 13, including but not limited to grocery stores, pharmacies, laundromats, home improvement stores, restaurants (including exterior pickup sites), shall wear a clean face covering, such as a fabric face mask, scarf, or bandana, over their mouth and nose, and exercise social distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines.”
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office advised cities & town that they could not force residents to wear a cloth face masks.
The Attorney General’s office said “a municipality can encourage people to wear face coverings in public on an advisory basis.”
“Operators of essential services shall ensure their customers are in
compliance of this requirement. All employees of all essential services shall wear a clean face covering, such as a fabric face mask, scarf, or bandana, over their mouth and nose, and exercise social distancing in
accordance with CDC guidelines. Operators of essential services shall ensure their employees are in compliance with this requirement.”
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“All members of the public aged two years and older entering, exiting, or occupying common areas of any multi-unit residential or commercial building shall wear a clean face covering, such as a fabric face mask, scarf, or bandana, over their mouth and nose, and exercise social distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines.
“All nonessential service departments (such as floral, jewelry, furniture, etc.) within a grocery store or box store shall be closed.”
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The order also requires market to have “public announcements every 30 minutes to remind shoppers to wear cloth face covering, keep physical distance, avoid crowding, keep distance at check-out, and not load items onto conveyor belt until the customer in front has finished their transaction.”
The order asks markets to “consider relocating high demand items to limit the amount of time customers are in the store” and to “establish one-way only flow for aisle shopping.”
The emergency meeting will be held remotely.
The public is encouraged to participate by calling in to the meeting.
Call in number: 415-655-0001
Access Code: 471487087
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Courtesy photo
MetroWest Medical Center