NORTHAMPTON — Seeking to clarify its order of last month, the city’s Health Department this week issued new guidance on the wearing of masks in public.
As of Wednesday, masks or other facial coverings must be worn in most public places in the city, including downtown, Florence Center, all parks and recreational areas, on any bike path or multipurpose trail, and in public places “where one cannot reasonably expect to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from all other persons at all times,” states an order from the Health Department.
Massachusetts residents already were required to wear facial coverings in public places where they can’t maintain social distance, per an order from Gov. Charlie Baker that went into effect earlier this month. And previously, the city’s Health Department put a related order in place last month requiring masks for customers at essential businesses and for employees of essential businesses when social distancing cannot be maintained.
“I can tell you there was a lot of confusion about the governor’s order,” Mayor David Narkewicz said.
“Some people interpreted it as requiring a mask whenever they were in public, while others thought, ‘I don’t need to wear a mask in public because I can socially distance wherever I go,’” he said. “It also made it challenging to enforce because there was that loophole. Really, we got lots and lots of questions.”
The new order, Health Director Merridith O’Leary said, seeks to make it clear that face coverings are required, regardless if one thinks they can stay 6 feet away from people or not, in many public places, notably downtown and in parks
Last week, the city reopened many parks and recreational areas, including Sheldon Field, Pulaski Park and Look Park, after more than a month of being closed to the public. But, because they were so popular, it wasn’t possible for everyone to maintain social distance, according to a statement from the mayor’s office issued Tuesday.
“The problem is you can walk in one of those areas and say, ‘I don’t need a face mask because I’m going to socially distance.’ But you can’t control other people who might walk past, or bike past,” Narkewicz said.
O’Leary said she got calls from people saying they saw others in the park without a mask on. Under the governor’s orders, if you can maintain social distance, a mask isn’t required. “It was very confusing to the public,” she said of the situation.
The city is working on making signs to notify residents and visitors about the new order. “We will make sure that we have the appropriate amount of signs in these areas so everybody is aware of it,” O’Leary said.
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.