Special to the Transcript
Interim Town Manager Terence Delehanty and Health Director Meredith Hurley are pleased to announce that Winthrop’s town buildings will provide full service to the public.
On June 1, Winthrop Town Hall was open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Town Hall will be closed on Fridays.
Residents are still encouraged to visit the town’s website to conduct online transactions such as pay taxes, parking tickets or apply for resident parking stickers. Payments and applications can also be dropped in the drop box located at the Town Hall front door. If residents wish to request bulk permit trash stickers from the Department of Public Works, they can call 617-846-1341 Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Residents should be mindful of the following guidelines when visiting Town Hall:
• Face masks are recommended in the building for non-vaccinated individuals.
• One resident at a time will be permitted in each of the department offices.
• Residents will be expected to adhere to social distancing whenever possible and maintain a 6′ distance from others in the event a line forms outside any of our offices.
• Hand sanitizer dispensers are located throughout the building and their use is strongly encouraged.
• Individuals seeking to obtain documents such as a building permit, birth certificate, applications etc. are encouraged to call the office responsible for the document in advance of arriving at Town Hall or any of our other buildings. This will enable personnel to have the document available upon arrival.
These changes came after the Baker-Polito Administration’s announcement Monday, May 17 that the Commonwealth is on track to meet the goal of vaccinating 4.1 million residents by the first week of June, and nearly all remaining COVID-19 restrictions were lifted effective May 29.
Most Pandemic Restrictions Lifted Statewide May 29
Effective May 29, all industries were permitted to open. With the exception of remaining face-covering requirements for public and private transportation systems and facilities housing vulnerable populations, all industry restrictions will be lifted, and capacity will increase to 100% for all industries. The gathering limit will be rescinded.
All industries were encouraged to follow CDC guidance for cleaning and hygiene protocols.
On May 18, 2020, the Administration published the reopening phases, which called for ending restrictions when vaccines became widely available. Today, there are over 975 locations for Massachusetts residents to access vaccines without delay.
Getting Vaccinated
Those who are eligible but have not yet been vaccinated are strongly urged to do so. Vaccines have been thoroughly reviewed by federal regulators and have been determined to be both safe and highly effective. To find out where to obtain a vaccine, click here.
All individuals over the age of 12 are eligible to be vaccinated in Massachusetts. There is no cost to be vaccinated.
Face Covering Guidance
In line with updated CDC face covering guidance, the Baker-Polito Administration rescinded the current face covering order and issue a new face covering advisory effective May 29.
Non-vaccinated individuals are advised to continue wearing face masks and to continue distancing in most settings. The advisory will also recommend fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a face covering or social distance indoors or outdoors except for in certain situations.
Face coverings are still required for all individuals on public and private transportation (including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA buses and rapid transit, Commuter Rail trains and inside transportation stations and on station platforms), healthcare facilities and providers, congregate care settings and health and rehabilitative day services.
Face coverings are required indoors for staff and students of K-12 schools and early education providers.
State of Emergency Order
Governor Charlie Baker will end the State of Emergency June 15, and the administration will work with legislative and municipal partners during this period in order to manage an orderly transition from emergency measures adopted by executive order and special legislation during the period of the State of Emergency.
There is currently proposed legislation at the state level to extend certain changes that were adopted during the pandemic, such as expanded outdoor dining. More information about those provisions will be announced when more information becomes available.