PLYMOUTH, Mass. — When will cities and towns start lifting mask mandates? Many towns started adding the mandate after the state lifted the statewide mask mandate. Angelo’s Roast Beef & Deli calls it the Bing, Bang, Boom. To enjoy one -- Owner Rich Monsini says you have to wear a face mask. “I follow the rules, I do whatever the town wants me to do,” said Monsini.
The town’s mask mandate is being revisited every two weeks. Right now it is scheduled to go until the end of February. But it could be lifted much earlier by the Board of Health but Plymouth’s Public Health Director Karen Keane says the numbers should improve first. “They always take a look at what the data is showing, what is the caseload look like, what does the hospital situation look like,” said Keane.
But even with lower case numbers - the health director also would like to see a higher town vaccination rate. “Right now the town of Plymouth’s Vax rate is lower than the state average and we need to get that up,” said Keane.
Some businesses in town have been vocally opposing the mask requirement - hanging signs that read “we do not discriminate” masked or unmasked. Some locals say there is no rhyme or reason on which city or town has the mask mandate. Kay Granger just moved from Plymouth to Brockton. “I feel like Brockton should have it because they are a city but they don’t,” said Granger.
Monsini says his business is primarily takeout so he does not see the impact as much but he says overall, the pandemic has not been kind. “It definitely has affected us somewhat, especially with this whole pandemic going on in the world, Plymouth is known for tourism,” said Monsini.
The Plymouth Board of Health is scheduled to vote on the mask mandate again next week on Wednesday afternoon. It would take a majority of the five person board to lift the mask mandate.
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