Health

HE A LTH • Fall 2021 13 Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Karen Chapman. "It just goes more toward an individual [decision]," Chapman said of reintroducing mask requirements. "I find a lot of our companies are really following the CDC rules, their recommendations." Most businesses are following the recommendation that non- vaccinated employees mask in the workplace, she said, while leaving the option open for those who are inoculated. The needle does seem to be moving back toward requiring masks, in general, though, Chapman said. "It's interesting just to see," Chapman said. "It's fascinating to see just the big change in the last two weeks." of vaccination status. All Massachusetts counties currently fall under one of those two designations. With the lack of governmental regulation, some Central Massachusetts business leaders are doing their own risk assessments. Among them is Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, where visitors are once again required to mask while using indoor facilities. Grace Elton, Tower Hill's CEO, said the garden destination made the decision after Worcester County was designated as a place of substantial transmission, in the interest of being proactive. The reception, Elton said, has been mixed. While the garden has received negative comments on Facebook when Tower Hill announced the new masking rule, others expressed gratitude. "We always look at the clicks," Elton said, noting while there were negative messages on the post, the number of likes was far greater. One thing she's not concerned about is losing any substantial businesses, as some commenters threatened would be Tower Hill's fate over the masking rule change. Elton said earlier in the pandemic, Tower Hill became a destination for those looking for a safe place to get out of the house and, in most cases, get some fresh air. Requiring masking helped provide that kind of environment. Hebert, at the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, said manufacturers in the region are broaching the issue of masking with particular caution as they face a myriad of other challenges not immediately related to workplace transmission of coronavirus. Some are continuing to require unvaccinated staff wear masks indoors, while at least one unnamed manufacturer is cordoning off its plant from the rest of company operations. "They're just starting to get back on their feet," Hebert said. "With all the trouble with the supply chain, they just can't compound it." She hasn't heard much chatter about reinstituting mandatory mask rules in other sectors in the area, she said. Making the change For those in more customer-facing sectors, like Alan MacIntosh, co-owner and co-chef at Doragon PHOTO/STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE H Phase When it started What did it do Phase 1 May 18, 2020 Allowed manufacturing, construction and places of worship sites to reopen May 25, 2020 Lab space, office space, limited personal services allowed to reopen Phase 2 June 2020 Retail, childcare, restaurants (with outdoor seating), hotels, personal services, amateur sports, driving and flight schools reopened Phase 3 July 6, 2020 Movie theaters, outdoor venues, museums, cultural and historial sites, fitness centers, certain indoor recreational facilities allowed to open October 2020 Indoor performance venues open Holday season, 2020 Temporary re-restriction of capacity limits and mask requirements during winter surge Phase 4 March 22, 2021 Indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas and ballparks allowed to open at 12% capacity, as well as exhibition and convention halls. May 10, 2021 Amusement parks, outdoor water parks, road races and other large, outdoor athletic events resume May 29, 2021 All restrictions ended and all businesses allowed to open, with masking remaining required for public and private transportation and facilities housing vulnerable populations Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts reopening timeline Ramen in Ashland, the decision to first reinstitute masks for staff this summer – and plans to require them again soon for customers – was as straightforward as can be. "The numbers are there, and we're just pretending like nothing's happening," MacIntosh said, adding his restaurant never reopened for indoor dining, opting to provide to-go and outdoor seating options instead. For MacIntosh, who said he lost a close friend and longtime staff member to COVID-19, keeping people safe is the No. 1 priority. He's frustrated the state government is not being more aggressive about implementing new masking rules. "It's just disappointing ... It always seems that our state operates in a reactionary mode rather than a cautionary mode," MacIntosh said. "From the beginning of COVID, our state government has seemed to wait and see what other states were doing." He expects backlash from customers when he reinstitutes the mask rule for those visiting his business, he said, but he is not nervous. Staying open At the end of the day, for much of the business community, which is still feeling the effects of the 2020 nonessential business shutdown and the slow reopening that followed, the priority is centered around keeping their doors open and their companies running. Staying open safely is the No. 1 goal, said Corridor 9/459 Regional Jeannie Hebert, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce president and CEO

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