North Andover Likely To Follow MA, Reopen May 29

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover will likely follow state guidance on lifting coronavirus restrictions, the town manager said Monday after the state announced most measures would end May 29.

"We are meeting tomorrow to review internally, but I don't anticipate any issues, and would think we will follow the state's guidance and guidelines," Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues said. "Our case count has been slowly decreasing and I'm so proud of this community's commitment to safety."

>>MA Lifting All COVID-19 Restrictions May 29

State officials announced Monday that Massachusetts will lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including the mask mandate, two months earlier than planned in a move that appears to signify the end of the pandemic's grip on many residents' everyday lives.

Gov. Charlie Baker said the state's mask mandate will be replaced May 29 with recent federal guidance that fully vaccinated people don't need to wear face coverings indoors or outdoors, with a few exceptions.

That day will also mark the end of all business, capacity and gathering limit restrictions in Massachusetts. Face coverings will still be mandated in a small number of places, such as nursing homes, hospitals, public and private transportation and schools, regardless of one's vaccination status.

Baker said communities and businesses that want to will be able to keep more coronavirus restrictions in place.

North Andover reported a 0.63 percent positive rate in the latest town-by-town report Thursday, down from 0.71 percent in the prior report. There were 50 cases in the last two weeks.

As of Monday, the town reported just 17 active cases. North Andover has had 3,014 total cases and 87 deaths.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.