Natick implements a public mask mandate as Framingham continues to consider

Health officials in Natick and Framingham met separately Tuesday night to discuss potential face-covering policies, with differing results: While Natick approved a public indoor mask mandate, Framingham continued to weigh its options.

Natick’s Board of Health voted unanimously to require masks in public indoor spaces, effective Monday. The policy will run at least through the end of February.

The town already had a mask advisory, strongly recommending that residents mask up indoors in public. Likewise, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health advises the use of masks indoors, but does not require it in most circumstances.

Natick Director of Public Health Michael Boudreau said his department had gotten about 15 calls and emails over the holidays from community members requesting a mandate.

“It would be good if there were more of a state mandate on this, but given the numbers and where we’re at, I think we have to take action,” he said Tuesday.

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Board of Health Chair Don Breda pointed to higher hospitalization rates as a cause for concern.

“If we could do something, even relatively small — going from a strong recommendation to a mandate — that might help alleviate the situation even a little bit,” he said.

The mandate will include restaurants, though patrons will be allowed to remove their masks to eat, Boudreau clarified. He said the Health Department will make up signage for public facilities and reach out to frequently visited businesses, such as grocery stores and pharmacies.

Related: Natick residents pool resources, share COVID-19 tips in mutual aid group

According to Boudreau, the town will implement degrees of enforcement, starting with required signage and leading up to verbal and written warnings and, ultimately, fines. The town’s COVID-19 prevalence rate will help determine when a mask mandate is no longer necessary, he explained.

Will Framingham get a mandate?

In Framingham, Mayor Charlie Sisitsky sat in on the city’s Board of Health meeting Tuesday to hear health officials and members of the public weigh in on masking.

“I'm not prepared to announce (a mask mandate) at this point in time, but I’m seeking advice from a wide range of people,” he said.

The city’s two sitting Board of Health members, Chair Dr. David Moore and Alexandra Rubin, said they were in favor of a mandate but declined to vote on one without seeing specific language. Moore said the board could meet again on an emergency basis to weigh in further, if needed.

“I think at this point, we need immediate protection,” he said. “We need to do something right now, within the next few days, that would potentially diminish the transmission rate that is occurring.”

Some community members who spoke during the meeting echoed the need for immediate action, including Michelle Peck, a mother of two and ICU nurse.

Previously: Framingham Mayor-elect Sisitsky says he will consider an indoor mask mandate

“I have been taking care of COVID patients since March of 2020,” she said. “I have seen the worst of the worst. I have seen that vaccines work magic. I have watched our health care system crumble beyond what it already was, and I believe that we should have had a mask mandate weeks ago.”

Enforcement issues

But not everyone agreed that Framingham needs a mask mandate; at least three people on the call spoke out against it. One of them, Rich Shapiro, raised concerns about enforcement.

“I think making a mask mandate will actually put burdens on businesses to basically act as the police when people come in, creating potentially some hostile situations between customers and the stores,” he said, suggesting a citywide mask advisory instead.

From August: Masks are required inside all Framingham municipal buildings

Michael Hugo, director of policy and government affairs for the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards and a former Framingham Board of Health member, said the science supports mask mandates.

Yet Hugo, who wrote the language now being used in local mask mandates statewide, said he is also concerned about enforcement.

“We already have a health department that's overtaxed. We have a police department that's overtaxed,” he said. “And enforcement is really an issue right across the state when it comes to the mask mandates.”

Is lack of mandate bad for business?

Several community members said they don’t patronize Framingham businesses due to the lack of a mask mandate, instead shopping in nearby Sudbury, which does require masks indoors.

“We are both over 80 years old and we are specifically avoiding Framingham businesses because of the lack of a mandate,” said Herb Chasan, who appeared onscreen with his wife, Joan.

“I am a longtime resident of Framingham,” added Maureen Dunn. “I live here, I work here and, unfortunately, I do not shop here.”

Hope Casey, who has two children in high school, pointed to the sacrifices Framingham’s younger residents have made as cases surge again. Last week, school and city officials paused all group activities and extracurriculars for two weeks, citing rising cases (that call has since been reversed on Wednesday).

On hold: Amid COVID-19 surge, Framingham halts all group activities for two weeks

“These kids, while they have been asked to pay a price for the rising numbers, to suspend their after-school and extracurricular activities, they can't bear this burden alone,” Casey said, adding, “These kids have given so much of themselves during the pandemic. They’ve graciously done what’s been asked of them, and they need help.”

According to District 2 City Councilor Cesar Stewart-Morales, a mask mandate is in the public’s best interest.

“​​One of the reasons I serve is to try to help people,” he said, speaking as an individual. “I think the way that we can help people right now is by instituting a mask mandate here in Framingham.”

Abby Patkin is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. Follow Abby on Twitter @AMPatkin. She can be reached at apatkin@wickedlocal.com.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: COVID surge: Natick passes a mask mandate; Framingham yet to decide