Board of Health Issues Face Covering Advisory

At the bottom of this page you can find the official Advisory issued by the Board of Health.  

Because of evidence that wearing some form of face covering will lessen the spread of COVID-19 in all public and private spaces, and because of the CDC recommendation[1] issued on April 3, 2020, the Board of Health voted to issue a face covering advisory at the Board of Health meeting held on April 6, 2020.  The following advisory is in effect until further notice:

The Uxbridge Board of Health advises all Uxbridge residents, and people who work in places of business and government facilities, that a mask be worn at all times outside of a home or other dwelling.  This applies to people in all public spaces, outdoor spaces and private businesses. 

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in all public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores, pharmacies and workplaces).  COVID-19 can be spread in the community by people who have the virus but don’t yet have symptoms.  Face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing, which remains the primary way to prevent transmission of COVID-19. 

Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items such as t-shirts or even coffee filters.  Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age two (2) or anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators.  Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

The Board of Health recommends resident refer to a simple guidance document on Face Coverings: Using, Wearing & Makings[2] for more information on making and wearing masks.  Also, please make sure to wash hands immediately after removing face coverings, masks, and gloves and to frequently wash these items.