WILMINGTON, MA — At Monday night’s Board of Selectmen Meeting, Selectman Mike McCoy asked Wilmington Health Director Shelly Newhouse to direct the Board of Health to consider passing an ordinance that would require residents to wear masks in public during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Wilmington is not making [mask wearing] mandatory… No fines or anything like that,” explained Newhouse.
Newhouse noted that only the town’s Board of Health would have authority to issue such an ordinance.
“The Board of Health should really take a look at this. Anyone going into a supermarket or a local restaurant for takeout should have some type of coverage of their face. They should really do that,” said McCoy.
“We discussed [making masks mandatory] at a Zoom meeting last week. They weren’t ready to implement anything like that,” Newhouse told McCoy.
“When I to go to the drug store to pick up my prescription, I’m fully masked and put on gloves. I think we all need to do that. It’s not a panic thing. It makes common sense,” argued McCoy.
“It’s tough enough to get PPE, I just don’t see how we could make it mandatory for people when they leave their house,” noted Newhouse. “But if you have them, you really should be wearing them.”
McCoy argued that residents without masks can use curshifs or bandanas to cover their face. Residents can also make masks out of socks or even paper towels, according to McCoy. He also noted there’s lots of wonderful folks in the community making masks for residents in need.
“I can take this issue up again at [the Board of Health’s] next meeting,” Newhouse told McCoy.
“I hope they’ll consider [requiring masks], and sooner rather than later,” responded McCoy. “I think we should that.”
McCoy did not discuss punishments or enforcement.
No other Selectman or the Town Manager commented on McCoy’s recommendation.
Free Masks Available To Residents
Newhouse added that the Health Department currently has a limited supply of masks and gloves available for free to residents who need them. Residents can contact the Department at 978-658-4298 or boh@wilmingtonma.gov to place a request. Gloves and masks are being delivered daily to residents by the Health Department’s staff. The Department is about to receive a large donation of masks from FEMA.
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Wilmington Apple 
What is your Board Of Health waiting for more people to die ?
This is a perfect example why ( I have for the past 4 years) the members of the Wilmington Board Of Health should be elected by the residents of Wilmington!!!