Will Brookline Follow State, Lift COVID-19 Restrictions?

UPDATE: Brookline To Follow State, Lift All COVID-19 Restrictions May 29

BROOKLINE, MA— Massachusetts is set to lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including the mask mandate before the end of the month. Now eyes are turning to Brookline, which has taken a more conservative approach so far with reopening measures.

"I believe a more conservative approach is prudent until the pandemic has ended to avoid a fourth surge in cases," said Brookline Health Commissioner Dr. Swannie Jett in an email.

Jett said because the agenda for Tuesday's Select Board was already set before the governor's announcement, his department and town officials will "digest" the latest information before making any decisions public.

Also read: Brookline To Ditch Outdoor Mask Mandate May 21

Brookline garnered national attention this month when it became one of the few municipalities in the state to continue to require people wear masks outdoors —despite the federal and state authorities saying it was no longer necessary.

The Town's Advisory council on Public Health agreed they would lift the community's outdoor mask mandate on May 21 and fall in line with the state mandate.

But Jett, and council member Anthony Schlaff, the director of the public health program at Tufts University School of Medicine have urged caution, saying it is the town's collective responsibility to keep wearing masks until everyone is vaccinated.

As of the May 13 state report, some 26,458 Brookline residents were fully vaccinated, or 41 percent per capita. That's about three and a half times more than the number of people who cast ballots in the town election on May 4, and about 3,600 fewer Brookline residents than voted in the presidential election in November.

Both have said they fear unvaccinated people will stop wearing their masks, putting the rest of the community at greater risk.

During Baker's news conference Monday he gave his blessing to communities to choose their own paths.

"Communities that don't want to go as aggressively or as far as we're proposing to go here, they know the facts on the ground as well, or better, than anybody, and they can make decisions that make sense for them," he said. "We will support that."

Boston, which has taken a conservative approach this year because of high COVID-19 statistics, has already indicated it plans to follow the governor's lead.

Previously: Gov. Charlie Baker Says He Will Lift All COVID-19 Restrictions May 29

• Boston Following MA's Lead, Reopening May 29

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how