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Time to mask up indoors again, Boston: City issues mask mandate, except for houses of worship
By adamg on Fri, 08/20/2021 - 10:24am
CORRECTION: The mandate goes into effect next Friday, not today.
The Boston Public Health Commission today issued a mask mandate for all public indoor spaces, including "retail establishments, restaurants, bars, performance venues, social clubs, event spaces and municipal buildings."
The mandate goes into effect on Aug. 27.
Children under 2 are exempted, as are houses of worship.
Masks must be worn for all other indoor activities, including ordering at a bar or dancing. Masks are also required in gyms. The order does not apply to gatherings in private residences when no compensation is paid, private buildings that are inaccessible to the public, places of worship, private work spaces inaccessible to the public, or performers who maintain six feet of distance from their audience.
The city says the mandate was aimed at trying to curb the spread just as college and local BPS students return to school:
The City is implementing this proactive public health plan to mitigate community transmission of the Delta variant, ahead of the arrival of more than 50,000 college students from across the country and a return to school for more than 50,000 Boston Public Schools students. Most of the 100,000 children who live in the City of Boston are too young to be eligible for vaccination.
Rita Nieves, interim head of the Boston Public Health Commission, added:
Wearing a mask indoors along with getting more people vaccinated will offer more protection to all our residents, including children under 12 and those who are not able to get vaccinated.
However, while even people dancing at clubs will have to wear a mask, the order excludes houses of worship:
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Comments
How the hell are places of
How the hell are places of worship excluded?! They are the most likely place to spread the virus because of singing, shouting etc and everyone is there for an hour plus. Stop treating people differently just because they like to read fairy tales and not pay taxes.
They don’t want lawsuits from
They don’t want lawsuits from the ACLU.
You mean they don't want lawsuits from religious organizations
The suits that have been brought about masking in churches have not been brought by the ACLU.
At least the Episcopal churches in this diocese have good sense
Kinopio,
As a church-goer, I understand and sympathize.
Our diocese will be requiring masks and taking other precautions: https://www.diomass.org/news/diocesan-news/aug-16-pastoral-message-covid... (Skip past the pastoral letter from The Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris to the updated requirements).
Our rules are stricter than what the state requires so that everyone can be protected as much as possible. Let's hope that churches in other denominations will follow suit.
I didn't see anything in there about an end point.
Is this supposed to just be a permanent thing now?
There is no end point
Ever. Covid is never going away.
Thanks to the crybabies who
Thanks to the crybabies who have done less than the bare minimum to make that happen. Fighting masks, refusing vaccinations - these assholes gave up without even trying, and we are all paying for it.
"refusing vaccinations"
You don't know much about "vaccines" huh? Yikes.....https://www.healthline.com/health-news/leaky-vaccines-can-produce-strong...
I know enough to know this
1. Vaccines work. That's why we don't have polio or small pox pandemics anymore
2. Masks and vaccines hinder the spread of the virus. More about your "leaky vaccines":
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-020-0358-3
3. Whenever the virus spreads it has opportunities to mutate and evade vaccines or get more lethal. So stopping the spread before it mutates too much is critical.
4. The VAST majority of people opposing these things aren't really doing so on any scientific grounds, or legitimate religious grounds, or legitimate health grounds. They're doing it to be obstinate, oppositional children.
You already know these things, too. You're just being one of those people.
Nah...
1: These vaccines don't work the way you think. The CDC website says there is "some" evidence that you "may" reduce your own symptoms and that's it. It does not provide immunity nor does it prevent transmission - it functions as a flu shot.
2: Masks don't work unless you're talking about an N95 or masks you wear for painting, etc.
3: Fauci said the viral load of the vaxxed vs the unvaxxed was equal and called the vaxxed "super spreaders"...these vaccines do nothing to control the spread. My article about leaky vaccines (which these are) talks about how this vaccine causes mutations - your comment about stopping the spread makes no sense since the types of masks people wear don't help and vaccines don't control the spread.
4: The VAST majority of people who are in love with this vaccine think that it provides the recipient immunity and prevents transmission...it does neither. It functions as a flu shot...we never made anyone show their flu shot cards to go to a bar.
I'm not being one of those people - don't compare this particular vaccine to the ones you did - they do not function the same at all.
Yeah
Read the comments from the guy who conducted the leaky study you're basing all this on.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andreamorris/2021/08/08/joe-rogan-is-gettin...
What are you saying?
Are you suggesting that the vaccine prevents the spread and gives the recipient immunity?
How does it not function as a flu shot?
The only thing I have left to say
is read the damn article, see what the researcher himself has to say about the nonsense you're spewing.
?
Weird that you won’t answer whether the shots provide the recipient immunity or whether it prevents transmission.
Spoiler: they do neither... the CDC website says there is “some” evidence the shots “may” reduce your own symptoms.
I’m sorry you were duped. Strange that companies that have been fined billions for bribing scientists and hiding adverse events would lie to the masses.
Not everything's a conspiracy
Sometimes things just aren't perfect, and you just aren't very clever for noticing that.
You said conspiracy...
Your precious shots don’t give the recipient immunity, do not stop transmission, and by the CDC’s own commentary: there is “some” evidence that you “may” reduce your own symptoms....
Everyone in awe of these shots and demanding vax passports should be apologizing. Nobody needs passports for a flu shot.
Have a good day.
Credentials Needed
Please tell the class what degree(s) you hold and what you do for a living that makes you an expert in anything but "internet research".
And if you lack the credentials, education, or experience to comment on these things, you might look into shutting up. Practicing medicine without a license can land you in serious trouble.
Swirl!!!
I’ve missed the queen of snark... I haven’t logged in for a while. Hope you’ve been well.
I have finance degrees but I did learn to read and write and comprehend information as it’s read out loud. Get this:
Walensky just said the shots do nothing to stop transmission...
Fauci said a week or so ago that the vaxxed and unvaxxed carry the same viral load and called the vaxxed “super spreaders”.... weird huh?
This also came out recently... I wish everybody nothing but the best and always have <3
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-21/science-can-t-keep-up...
I think the only think leaking here is ...
Your skull.
Learn science, quit linking to things that are rare/anecdotal/stupid and don't quit your day job - you are not an epidemiologist, it shows.
And be quiet while the grownups talk.
The Delta variant
Was initially detected in India right around when the vaccines received government approval. Vaccine refusal didn't prevent the emergence of this variant and its greater infectiousness meant it was likely to become the dominant strain. Further, it is spreading even in places with high vaccination rates like Mass. and Israel.
Masks never made Covid go away (although the incidence was reduced) and they're not going to make it go away now.
So get used to the mask mandates because they are here FOREVER.
True, Delta did come out that
True, Delta did come out that way. Vaccines still make the spread of Delta less likely, masks even more so. And it keeps our ERs from being overrun. And reduces likelyhood of long Covid symptoms. And reduces likelihood of erectile dysfunction, if that helps motivate you. That is why EVERYONE needs to get vaccinated and wear masks to stop the spread AT THE SAME TIME. Otherwise, we are playing whack-a-mole. And the people who refuse to do this are helping to create and spread new moles.
We all want to get out of this, but people who oppose these things are pulling us all down, like drowning victims dragging us all down with them.
It is not at all clear
That the vaccines are making the spread of Delta less likely. The large outbreak in Provincetown demonstrates that -- the vast majority of those who contracted Covid were fully-vaccinated. The vaccines do reduce the likelihood of hospitalization or death (and probably symptomatic Covid as well). There is some speculation that Delta gets enough of a foothold in the nasal tract to become quite contagious, but the vaccinated immune system manages to knock the infection down before it becomes a serious problem in the lungs.
Either way, the fact remains. We are NEVER getting out of this, with or without vaccine/mask refusers. Delta is going to spread to pretty much everyone who doesn't live in an isolated shack like the Unabomber. And we are going to see a continuous parade of new variants which will likely evade the current vaccines.
Vaccine refusers are going to get worse cases and will be more likely to die. Fortunately the death rate for persons under 50 years of age who tested positive for Covid (based on California's case numbers) is under 0.16%. Masks will help keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with the unvaccinated and an unlucky few of the vaccinated, but they're not going to make Covid go away. It is never going away.
Ptown in the high season might be an outlier
At least according to the Atlantic. I certainly find stock in their argument.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/08/delta-variant-pandemi...
Base rate fallacy
This is known as the base rate fallacy.
Suppose you have a vaccine that reduces infections by 75% and a population that's 90% vaccinated.
In this population what percentage of infections occur in vaccinated people? About 70%.
What percentage of infections were prevented? About 67%.
Thank you for getting a degrees in virology and evolutionary biology.
The base rate fallacy might be applicable
If the Provincetown outbreak hadn't been so damn large. There were 934 cases as of 7/30 -- and 85% of those were reported to be symptomatic. It is extremely likely the actual number of Covid infections associated with the P-town cluster is several times that figure given our history with the disease and the fact that most people without symptoms are unlikely to go get themselves tested.
In any event, neither the CDC nor the vaccine makers are going to claim that the vaccines actually reduce the likelihood spreading Covid, particularly the Delta variant. The CDC says that might be true based on past experience with other vaccines, but their testing only hints in that direction and the relevant study was undertaken before Delta became the dominant variant in the U.S.
And you can choose to believe that Covid won't evolve to make itself more fit but you'd be wrong.
Why
Boston’s positivity rate is still below 2% on a 7 day average?
You need to look up more recent stats
The rate for non-college students is currently at 3.3%, per the latest BPHC report. It hasn't been below 2% since mid-July (similarly, the hospitalization numbers have risen from 30 to 82 in that period).
And that's the citywide average. In some neighborhoods, it's higher (scroll down the page), like above 4% in Dorchester, Roxbury and South Boston (the highest is 5.2% in 02121 and 02125).
Still below the 4% target
Which allowed us to open businesses and schools.
All I’m saying is people aren’t going to put up with these mandates forever, particularly when the goal continues to shift.
what does this mean?
??
I think...
I think this is the kind of line that wannabe tough guys use as a threat -- not backed up with their own muscle, of course, but by "people" - when they want you to believe that an army of people support their views.
fine, i guess
but does he think that the acting mayor is doing a mask mandate for shits and giggles?
This is how pandemics work
You can whine about mask mandates and wimper about I WANT IT OVER but you know what? VIRUSES DO NOT CARE.
Mandates help keep you alive. Period. If you are too childish to put a comfy cloth over your face, you don't belong in public.
But, hey: Fuck around and find out is just natural selection.
This is how pandemics work
You can whine about mask mandates and wimper about I WANT IT OVER but you know what? VIRUSES DO NOT CARE.
Mandates help keep you alive. Period. If you are too childish to put a comfy cloth over your face, you don't belong in public.
But, hey: Fuck around and find out is just natural selection.
Huh
I didn't know viruses stopped at pews.
Typical Democrat trash.
You are either an idiot or
You are either an idiot or substance abuser.
The latter
I ingest massive amounts of oxygen and hydrogen.
huh?
i had no idea that Democrats were suddenly the party of unfettered religious freedom?
What party is Janey
And what establishments got exempted from the mandate?
You have posted a wholly correct sentence.
she made a decision we don’t agree with
and you are assuming that i believe in the democrat-republican binary. you’re wrong about this and it’s okay.
shouldn’t you be in favor of allowing churches to make their own decisions anyway? or does the doctrine of personal responsibility not stretch that far?
I wouldn't blame her personally
I assume her legal team realizes there is unfortunately a ton of precedent that religious organizations are exempt from many types of government mandates.
Really?
It's Democrats who sued to force states to allow "houses of worship" to have live services during a pandemic? News to me.
Typical Libertarian unembarrassed, unapologetic, shameless, bone-headed idiocy.
No
But that doesn't make Democrats not trash.
Sounds like you've once again fallen for the trap of believing that either Democrats or Republicans are any good and that they're the only two choices who deserve 20th chances.
no
you’ve shoehorned this completely unrelated discussion in here, devoid of any context
Bosh
Sounds like you're once again attempting to turn a discussion about literally anything else into a vehicle where you tell us all that yes, Will LaTulippe IS A LIBERTARIAN.
Your story just isn't that compelling, Will.
Wrong
Will LaTulippe is unenrolled, and has been his entire life.
And why are private
And why are private gatherings and performers more than 6 feet from their audience excluded?
The rule should be: Mask up if you're indoors with someone outside your household, period.
Correction to the correction
Aug. 27 is the date the mandate goes into effect. That's next Friday, not next Thursday.
My early drinking goes into effect today, however.
enjoy! you deserve it
besides, it’s never not 5 pm somewhere
or this
You can't drink ALL day if you don't start in the morning...
Just in time for Eagles
The Eagles Hotel California tour reaches TD Garden on the first and second day of the mask mandate. All those masked-up fans should look for themselves on the 11 o’clock news.
Is there a mechanism for enforcement
Or are we just going to put the city's waitstaff and grocery store clerks at the mercy of whatever screaming maniac may have drifted in with the high tide