COVID Restrictions to lift May 29; Free masks/supplies TOMORROW; Opioid Roundtable TOMORROW; Vaccine info; Latest COVID data and More!

MA COVID Restrictions to Lift May 29

The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced that all remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted effective May 29 and the State of Emergency will end on June 15. The Commonwealth is on track to meet the goal of vaccinating 4.1 million residents by the first week of June, and new cases, hospitalizations, and the positive test rate have all decreased substantially since the beginning of January.

COVID-19 Update: Restrictions, Mask Order Lifted Effective May 29

Effective May 18

Masks will no longer be required for outdoor activities like recess, and sharing objects in classrooms will be permitted.
Read DESE guidance
Read EEC guidance

Effective May 29

Non-vaccinated individuals are advised to continue wearing face masks and to continue distancing in most settings.
Face coverings will still be required for ALL individuals in the following locations:
On public and private transportation,
Inside K-12 public schools, collaboratives, approved special education schools,
Inside childcare programs,
In health care facilities and provider offices,
In congregate care settings,
In health care and rehabilitative day services and programs.
The gathering limit will be rescinded.
All industries will be permitted to open and can increase capacity to 100%.
All youth and amateur sports restrictions will be lifted.
Summer camps will no longer require masks for outdoor activities.

For more information, read the press release

Schedule your Vaccine Today!

Anyone 12 and older can now receive the COVID-19 Vaccine. People age 12-17 can receive the Pfizer vaccine. People age 18 and older can receive any vaccine. You don’t need an ID or insurance to get it.

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine Finder: Search for appointments at pharmacies, health care providers, and other community locations. Appointment availability is updated daily. Some local vaccination sites may only be open to residents of select town. Check listing to see if the site is restricted.
Pre-register for mass vaccination & regional collaborative sites: Preregister to be notified when it's your turn to schedule an appointment at mass vaccination sites and certain regional collaboratives. Several mass vaccination sites now accept walk-ins.
Vaccination locations and bus routes in the PVTA service area: Find a list of COVID-19 vaccination sites in the PVTA service area and which bus routes service them.
Vaccine scheduling help lines: Baystate Health has compiled information about local contacts that offer assistance with vaccine scheduling.

Dr. Khama Ennis on Why She Got the COVID-19 Vaccine: "It will open up our worlds again!"

Watch Cooley Dickinson Emergency Department Physician Dr. Khama Ennis share why she got the COVID-19 vaccine. She encourages everyone to get immunized.

The Latest COVID Data for Western MA

Visit the Western MA COVID-19 Data Dashboard for the latest COVID-19 data for the region. The Dashboard is updated every Friday, by mid-afternoon.

Upcoming Events

Opioid Epidemic Roundtable Discussion with Sen. Markey, Jessica Collins & Other Health Care Leaders, 5/22/21 at 11:00am: Opioid-related overdose deaths have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Edward J. Markey will host a livestream discussion on opioid treatment availability and obstacles, and our public health response. Participants to include Jessica Collins, Dr. Charles Anderson (President and CEO, Dimock Center), and Dr. Jessie Gaeta (CMO, Boston Health Care for the Homeless). The event will be livestreamed to Senator Markey’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Free Masks and Other Supplies, 5/22/21 from 12:00-1:30pm: The Springfield Black COVID-19 Coalition will be providing free masks and supplies at a drive-through event on Saturday at the Panache Banquet Hall’s parking lot on Eastern Avenue. Supplies include masks, sanitizer, and oximeters. Learn more.

Springfield City Council's COVID-19 Response Committee for a Virtual Town Hall, 5/25/21 at 7:00 pm: The Springfield City Council COVID-19 Response Committee is seeking input from Springfield residents and business owners. Share how you, your family, or your business have been impacted by the pandemic and what you think Springfield should be focused on as our city moves towards pandemic recovery. Register Now! If you can't make event, but still want to share your experience, e-mail City Councilor Jesse Lederman.

Black Lives/Black Lungs Screening and Discussion, 5/27/2021 from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm: Join us for a zoom presentation and discussion of the short film Black Lives/Black Lungs. Black Lives / Black Lungs is a short film investigating the tobacco industry’s successful infiltration into the black community. This presentation is co-sponsored by the Hampden County Tobacco-Free Community Partnership, Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition, Public Health Institute of Western MA, and Gandara Center. Register Now!

Join our Team!

The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts provides skills, expertise and experience to create successful public health campaigns and sustainable system changes to improve health and well-being in Western MA. Join our team as we work to ensure that all people in our region have what they need to lead healthy lives.

We are looking to fill the following positions:

Visit our website for more information.

Public Health Institute of Western MA