Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration has updated the mask advisory for Massachusetts, recommending that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, wear a face covering in indoor public spaces.
The state’s Department of Public Health announced the update this morning, as the omicron variant becomes the dominant strain of COVID-19. It specifically urges individuals with a weakened immune system to wear a mask, as they face increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19 because of their age or an underlying medical condition.
On top of that, Baker will be activating up to 500 members of the Massachusetts National Guard to provide non-clinical support to hospitals, such as driving ambulances, monitoring patients, or delivering meal trays. Those Guard members, up to 300 of them, will begin training this week and be deployed Monday to 55 acute care hospitals and 12 ambulance service providers in Massachusetts to help with the surge this holiday season.
Read a full explanation of the new mask advisory here.
Gov. Charlie Baker announces new mask advisory, support for health care system during COVID-19 surge | Watch LIVE https://t.co/vn4Ng63oyd
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) December 21, 2021
BREAKING: Gov. Charlie Baker activating up to 500 members of the National Guard to assist hospitals with the COVID-19 surge. https://t.co/js2C4HsaJf
— NBC10 Boston (@NBC10Boston) December 21, 2021
Today, our Administration announced additional measures to address a recent rise in #COVID19MA cases and to ensure acute care hospitals have sufficient capacity to care for both COVID and non-COVID patients: https://t.co/KDLK5T9TRR
— MA Exec. Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) (@MassHHS) December 21, 2021