BROOKLINE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — According to the Brookline Department of Public Health, those who are medically excluded from wearing a face mask or covering will soon be required to wear a plastic face shield in lieu of a cloth face covering over their nose and mouth.
The town's Health Commissioner Dr. Swannie Jett said the Brookline DPH will enact a modified version of its existing face covering order next month, to begin on September 10th.
"We are pleased with the level of cooperation with the existing face covering requirement," Dr. Jett said. "However, it is important to reinforce the need for a protective layer that limits the possibility of spreading the coronavirus -- as a cloth face covering does -- while ensuring people with medical limitations are protecting those around them from COVID-19 without jeopardizing their own wellness."
Currently, there is no alternative in place for those who are medically exempt from wearing a face covering.
The Town of Brookline first enacted a face covering requirement in March, which was later followed by a similar statewide order, which requires that:
All establishment staff must wear protective face covering, gloves and eye protection during all service in the establishment
All establishments are required to install temporary Plexiglas type barriers at customer service counter areas. If employees stay behind Plexiglas at all times eye wear isn’t required
All entry doors must be posted – advising customers that face covering and social Distancing (six foot separation) must be maintained.
The town of Brookline also said its establishments "must increase employee illness surveillance by continuing to ask if staff have been exposed to COVID-19, ensuring employees don’t come to work while ill and taking a daily temperature reading of employees at the start of each work shift." It also said daily surveillance must be recorded by staff to ensure employee compliance regarding COVID-19 guidelines.
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