The below constituents are requesting the end of mask mandates in Danvers.

The following data supports the end to mask mandates;

1. Decrease in town positivity and incident rates. The incidence continue to rise for an additional 2 weeks after the mask mandate was enacted.
2. Danvers is at a 80% fully vaccination rate for ages 5+
3. Increase access to testing
4. Emerging and current treatment options
5. Decline in state hospitalization rates of approximately 30% since January
6. Transparent reporting: Half of hospitalizations are “incidental”, the patient is admitted for another reason and found to have COVID-19

More importantly, updated Centers for Disease Control guidance states that cloth masks provide the least protection (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html).

The board must present prepandemic studies as to the risk/benefits of cloth masks, the studies of effectiveness of cloth masks and surgical masks for the prevention of respiratory virus transmission, and the effectiveness of mask mandates in preventing respiratory virus transmission, especially if the vote is to extend the mandate.

We, the signed constituents below, are asking the Board to consider the above items, transparent reporting from the state, new CDC guidance showing the masks the general population are least protective, and move towards ending mask mandates.