Great Mask Debate Building On North Shore

SALEM, MA – A great mask divide could be brewing on the North Shore.

With all state coronavirus-related business restrictions set to expire on Saturday, many are looking forward to shedding a mask out in public as gyms, restaurants, bars, stores and other public businesses will no longer have to require them for customers or employees.

But plenty of those who responded to a Patch question on continued mask-wearing were far less enthused about the end of the mandate. Not only did some of the more than 30 responders say they planned to continue to wear them — at least indoors — they said everyone should be required to wear them until either coronavirus vaccination rates reach overwhelming levels or there is some type of vaccination verification system.

"Yes, I will patronize businesses that still require masks," one North Shore reader responded via email. "I appreciate the businesses continuing to be safe. They may have workers (unvaccinated or vulnerable) or other reasons why they feel they need to continue the masks.

"Unfortunately, people will stop wearing masks even if they chose not to get vaccinated."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 13 issued new guidance that fully vaccinated Americans need not wear masks outdoors or indoors even in close proximity or larger crowds with some exceptions, such as hospitals, airports, buses and subways. On May 18, Gov. Charlie Baker moved up the state's elimination of all business restrictions from Aug. 1 to Saturday because he said the state is on pace to reach a benchmark of 4.1 million fully vaccinated residents (about 59 percent of the overall population) by early June.

However, the federal and state government have shown no indication they plan to have any type of vaccination verification system, and with the exception of some colleges and universities there has been little sign communities or individual business will — or even feasibly could, in most circumstances — set up their own vaccine confirmations.

With business owners leery of having their staff become "vaccine police" that leaves them the choice of maintaining their own mask mandate or accept that while they may "strongly encourage" unvaccinated customers to mask up indoors, it is essentially a suggestion based on the honor system.

"I will continue to mask up in any stores and on tight outdoor trails," said a Marblehead reader of the "seemingly rather abrupt opening," as she called it. "I am older and finally vaccinated. But I am not completely sure the CDC has a handle on the variants, plus I will admit my human nature is more cautious than most and I'm certainly not hurting anyone by wearing a mask.

"I do plan to try to patronize only shops that continue to require 'masks for all' for some time after May 29 and many friends have stated the same. Marblehead is densely populated and shops are tiny. Too close for comfort. Yes, there are unvaccinated here. Some are unable to and they deserve a break. Others will just lie. I'll wear a mask for as long as I wish in honor of my mother, who suffered from acute leukemia and had zero immune system."

The CDC has said immunocompromised individuals may not be able to get vaccinated, in some cases, and may not have the same protection as most when they are vaccinated.

"For the first time in our history, society is forced to look at those with serious life-threatening disease who have already led a life of isolation," a Salem reader said. "COVID increased that isolation. We are the ones wearing double masks in public being looked at once again as a person to stay far away from. When reality is, just have a safe distance conversation, and look to understand how complex this current issue is."

Many national chains — such as Stop & Shop, Target, Kohl's, Starbucks, BJ's Wholesale Club and Market Basket — said they will end mask mandates on or about May 29 unless superseded by a local ordinance. Fenway Park plans to open to full capacity on Saturday with masks optional for the nearly 40,000 fans expected. TD Garden will open to "near full capacity" for Bruins and Celtics playoff games beginning on Sunday.

"I am fully vaccinated and will not wear a mask unless required within a store or facility," a Beverly reader said. "Masks are good within 6 feet, so all along we should have been wearing them at home or work when family or friends are within 6 feet.

"And wearing a mask outside is just silly unless you are in tight quarters with many people. Common sense and personal preference should prevail at this stage. And we should not judge others for their choice."

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One Salem business owner told Patch she will require all customers to wear masks even though she is vaccinated: "Less than 40 percent of the U.S. population is (fully) vaccinated, and Salem is a tourist destination. Customers who are unwilling to wear masks can enjoy our curbside pick-up service."

Other Salem residents said they will support businesses that continue to require universal masking.

"I am fully vaccinated and will continue to wear a mask when I go into any store, restaurant or other business where there are people I don't know," a Salem reader said. "I don't know when I will feel comfortable going into those places unmasked, but we have come so far since February-March 2020 that I don't feel continuing to wear a mask is a personal inconvenience."

"I'm fully vaccinated but for now I will wear a mask when close to strangers, especially indoors or around children and other vulnerable people," another Salem agreed. "I know I can still get a mild case of COVID-19, and, if I do, I may not know I have it, and I don't know for certain whether I could transmit it. COVID-19 is not the flu. Do some reading about the long-term effects."

Another Salem reader said she will seek out businesses that continue to enforce mask mandates.

"I will go to restaurants or businesses that maintain a mask mandate," she said. "As a high-risk person, these will be who I give priority to support."

"I am fully vaccinated, but I will continue to wear a mask for now when I go into stores and other indoor places," agreed a Beverly reader. "The variants have not gone away, and I could still get a milder case of covid. Plus, I am elderly and have asthma."

For those who don't feel as strongly, either way, the best advice may be to keep a mask handy at all times and "read the room" for individual store mandates and etiquette when you frequent any North Shore business over the next few weeks.

"I have no problem being in the presence of folks who have chosen not to be vaccinated," a Salem reader added. "They are the ones who should be concerned for themselves and for their family members."

"Yes, I will drop my mask when I go into a store," a Peabody reader concluded, "and I will also go into a business which maintains its mask mandate.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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