DEERFIELD — Citing a sharp downturn of cases in the town and region, the Board of Health has voted to rescind Deerfield’s mask mandate and return to an advisory on Feb. 18.
The advisory will go into effect exactly one month after the board voted to institute a mask-wearing policy across town on Jan. 18.
“The really, really good news is that our numbers are coming down,” said Board of Health member Carolyn Shores Ness. “I’m proposing that we lift our mask mandate and go back to a mask advisory sometime next week.”
In the two-week period from Jan. 23 to Feb. 5, Deerfield saw 39 people test positive for the virus, which is down from 88 cases two weeks prior, according to Department of Public Health data.
The board opted to wait until the end of the week to drop the mandate to ensure any post-Super Bowl infections are identified before masks become optional in town.
“The only reason I’m continuing it is that the next big event people participate in is the Super Bowl,” Shores Ness explained. “We need to emphasize to people that there still is a pandemic.”
Shores Ness added that Deerfield Academy, which accounted for many of Deerfield’s positive cases over the past month, had zero cases in its latest round of tests on the student body.
“We’re doing very well,” she said.
Between the vaccination rate and the number of people infected over the past few months, Health Agent Alex White said the town should be significantly protected against the virus.
“We have really good vaccination rates,” White said, “and vaccine-induced and maybe some infection-induced herd immunity going on as well.”
Presenting data from the Department of Public Health, White said 51% of Deerfield children ages 5 to 11 have been fully vaccinated and other age groups are well above 70% inoculated.
The Board of Health also voted to reopen Town Hall and other municipal buildings to the public on Feb 22. The change will allow meetings to be held in person or in hybrid formats.
“It’s up to the chairs how they want to hold meetings,” said Board of Health member Trevor McDaniel. “Meetings that are already scheduled, leave those the way they are. Anything after the 21st, you can schedule how you wish.”
Town Hall will be open for business Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed Fridays.