Public Health Advisory - April 6, 2020

PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY
OF THE MAYOR OF MELROSE AND THE MELROSE BOARD OF HEALTH
REQUESTING RESIDENTS TO STAY AT HOME DURING CERTAIN HOURS, COVER
THEIR FACES WHILE OUT OF THEIR HOMES, REFRAIN FROM CERTAIN USES OF
PUBLIC PARKS, AND LIMIT OUT OF HOME TRAVEL

DATE OF ADVISORY: April 6, 2020

The Mayor and Melrose Board of Health, acting through its duly appointed and authorized agent, Health Director Ruth Clay, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111, § 30, Section 3-2 of the Melrose City Charter, and the City of Melrose’s Declaration of a Public Health Emergency Relative to COVID-19 dated March 18, 2020, hereby enact and declare as follows:

WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, Mayor Paul Brodeur declared a state of emergency due to the outbreak of the 2019 novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) in the City of Melrose, and such remains in full force and effect until further notice;

WHEREAS, a Public Health Emergency due to the outbreak of the 2019 novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) is in effect in the City of Melrose pursuant to declaration of the Melrose Board of Health dated and Mayor Public dated March 18, 2020, and remains in full force and effect until further notice;

WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, Governor Baker declared that there exists within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a state of emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19;

WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, Governor Baker issued an Order Assuring the Continued Operation of Essential Services in the Commonwealth, Closing Certain Workplaces, and Prohibiting Gatherings of More Than 10 People in effect until April 7, 2020, which has subsequently been extended until May 4, 2020 (“the Governor’s March 23, 2020 Order, as extended”);

WHEREAS, the Melrose Board of Health acting through its appointed Health Director along with the Mayor have determined that community-wide compliance with the practice of social distancing, including people remaining at least six feet apart, and eliminating all unnecessary physical interaction is reasonably believed to be necessary to prevent or reduce the immediate spread of COVID-19;

WHEREAS, the unique size and density of Melrose’s population poses inherently elevated risks of transmission that the City must address on behalf of the public health of the City and region;

WHEREAS, a large and important number and concentration of businesses designated as Essential Businesses under the Governor’s March 23, 2020 Order, as extended, including in particular health care providers and other frontline workers, are located in Melrose and additional measures are required to protect the large number of Essential Workers who work in Melrose and the patients who seek and require their care;

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Health Director have determined that additional public health orders and social distancing requirements are necessary to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 within the community;

WHEREAS, the intent of this Advisory is to ensure that residents and businesses in Melrose act consistently with the imperative public health need that the entire community achieve the maximum amount of “social distancing” feasible, while continuing to provide and receive Essential Services, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. All provisions of this Advisory should be interpreted to effectuate this intent. Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Advisory constitutes an imminent threat and creates an immediate threat to public health.

NOW THEREFORE, THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY IS HEREBY IN EFFECT FOR THE CITY OF MELROSE, AS FOLLOWS:

1. The scientific evidence shows that at this stage of the emergency, it is essential to slow virus transmission as much as possible to protect the most vulnerable and to prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed. One proven way to slow the transmission is to limit interactions among people to the greatest extent practicable. By reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, this Advisory helps preserve critical and limited healthcare capacity in the City of Melrose.

Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

2. The Mayor and Health Director advise all residents of and visitors to the City of Melrose to stay at home between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless they are actively providing or receiving COVID-19 Essential Services as defined by the Governor’s March 23, 2020 Order and any subsequent orders or revisions related thereto.

3. Notwithstanding any provision in the Governor’s March 23, 2020 Order and any subsequent orders or revisions related thereto, residents and visitors within Melrose city limits are advised to refrain from the following activities between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.:

a. Obtaining necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or household members, or to deliver those services or supplies to others, such as, by way of example only and without limitation, food, pet supplies, and any other household consumer products, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences that can otherwise be obtained between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.

b. Engaging in outdoor physical activity, such as, by way of example and without limitation, walking, hiking, or running.

4. Notwithstanding any provisions in the Governor’s March 23, 2020 Order and any subsequent orders or revisions related thereto, residents and visitors within Melrose City limits are advised to refrain from the following activities between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.:

A. Leaving their homes for any reason except attending necessary medical appointments, engaging in passive recreation which includes only and is limited to appropriately socially distanced hiking, walking, cycling, jogging, wheelchair use, scootering, pet- walking, and skateboarding, obtaining necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or household members, or to deliver those services or supplies to others, such as, by way of example only and without limitation, food, pet supplies, and any other household consumer products, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences.

B. At all times, residents leaving their homes are advised to wear a nose and mouth covering which may include but is not limited to a scarf, bandana, fabric mask, or other face covering equipment or mask. The cloth face coverings referenced here 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.

5. This Advisory shall begin at 9 p.m. on April 7, 2020, and will continue through 11:59 p.m. on May 4, 2020, at which time the Mayor and Health Director shall review all relevant information and determine if a further Advisory or Order or Regulation is warranted. In making this determination, the Mayor and Health Director may consider whether community transmission of COVID-19 in Melrose continues to present a serious danger to public health.

ENFORCEMENT

6. All reasonable efforts will be made to secure voluntary compliance with this Advisory. The Mayor and Health Director may seek the assistance of other City of Melrose departments in encouraging compliance with this order. Police will take notice.

NOTICE

7. The City of Melrose will promptly provide copies of this Advisory as follows: (1) by posting on the City of Melrose's website (CityofMelrose.org) and the Melrose Board of Health (cityofmelrose.org/board-health) website; and by providing to any member of the public requesting a copy.

IT IS SO ADVISED: Dated: April 6, 2020