833 cases now tied to Provincetown COVID-19 cluster, town manager says

The number of positive cases associated with a COVID-19 cluster in Provincetown that have been reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has grown to 833, the town manager said. Of these cases, 501 are Massachusetts residents, 210 of which reside in Provincetown. The remainder of individuals who tested positive reside in other states, Town Manager Alex Morse said. Seven hospitalizations have been reported to date associated with the cluster – five in Massachusetts and two out-of-state. No deaths have been reported.Morse said case number is cumulative since July 1 and does not represent the number of people with active cases of COVID-19, or the number of cases currently hospitalized. On Tuesday, Morse said 765 cases had been identified as part of the Provincetown cluster. On Sunday, Provincetown officials unanimously voted to re-institute an indoor mask mandate for the town.Face coverings are required in Provincetown for all workers and customers of indoor public spaces, except where an individual is unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or disability. The mandate covers all indoor restaurants, theater or performance venues, bars and dance floors, lodgings, fitness centers, retail and personal service shops, offices or other public facilities, town officials said.Food service establishment customers may only remove face coverings when seated.Performance venue customers may only remove face coverings in the actual act of eating and drinking.Indoor bar and dance venue customers may only remove face coverings when seated at tables or seated at a bar. Patrons standing or ordering at the bar must be masked. Guests must be masked on indoor dance floors.Lodging guests and workers are required to wear face coverings when inside hallways and common areas.Fitness centers/health clubs workers, customers, and visitors are required to wear face coverings during fitness activity, including strenuous activity.Personal Services customers and workers are required to wear face coverings, except for skin or beard care that occurs on the face; the customer may temporarily remove the face covering but must immediately put the face covering back on for the remainder of the visit.All unvaccinated individuals, including children under the age of 12, are required to wear masks both outdoors in crowded areas where social distancing cannot be achieved and in public indoor spaces, per CDC guidelines.Masks remain mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems (including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA, Commuter Rail and transportation stations), in healthcare facilities and in other settings hosting vulnerable populations, such as congregate care settings.Morse says that daily COVID-19 testing will continue to be conducted in the Veterans Memorial Community Center parking lot, located at 2 Mayflower St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Aug. 13. Testing is free and does not require an appointment.COVID-19 vaccines are also available at the Veterans Memorial Community Center testing site through Aug. 6. Morse says the vaccination site offers the two-dose Pfizer mRNA vaccine and the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and no appointment, ID or insurance is required.In addition, Morse says town officials are working with Barnstable County officials to procure and distribute 1,200 BinaxNOW at-home COVID-19 test kits to Provincetown businesses, residents and visitors. More tests will be made available as needed, according to Morse.Massachusetts COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and fatalitiesMassachusetts vaccination progress

The number of positive cases associated with a COVID-19 cluster in Provincetown that have been reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has grown to 833, the town manager said.

Of these cases, 501 are Massachusetts residents, 210 of which reside in Provincetown. The remainder of individuals who tested positive reside in other states, Town Manager Alex Morse said.

Seven hospitalizations have been reported to date associated with the cluster – five in Massachusetts and two out-of-state. No deaths have been reported.

Morse said case number is cumulative since July 1 and does not represent the number of people with active cases of COVID-19, or the number of cases currently hospitalized.

On Tuesday, Morse said 765 cases had been identified as part of the Provincetown cluster.

On Sunday, Provincetown officials unanimously voted to re-institute an indoor mask mandate for the town.

Face coverings are required in Provincetown for all workers and customers of indoor public spaces, except where an individual is unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or disability.

The mandate covers all indoor restaurants, theater or performance venues, bars and dance floors, lodgings, fitness centers, retail and personal service shops, offices or other public facilities, town officials said.

Food service establishment customers may only remove face coverings when seated.
Performance venue customers may only remove face coverings in the actual act of eating and drinking.
Indoor bar and dance venue customers may only remove face coverings when seated at tables or seated at a bar. Patrons standing or ordering at the bar must be masked. Guests must be masked on indoor dance floors.
Lodging guests and workers are required to wear face coverings when inside hallways and common areas.
Fitness centers/health clubs workers, customers, and visitors are required to wear face coverings during fitness activity, including strenuous activity.
Personal Services customers and workers are required to wear face coverings, except for skin or beard care that occurs on the face; the customer may temporarily remove the face covering but must immediately put the face covering back on for the remainder of the visit.
All unvaccinated individuals, including children under the age of 12, are required to wear masks both outdoors in crowded areas where social distancing cannot be achieved and in public indoor spaces, per CDC guidelines.
Masks remain mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems (including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA, Commuter Rail and transportation stations), in healthcare facilities and in other settings hosting vulnerable populations, such as congregate care settings.

Morse says that daily COVID-19 testing will continue to be conducted in the Veterans Memorial Community Center parking lot, located at 2 Mayflower St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Aug. 13. Testing is free and does not require an appointment.

COVID-19 vaccines are also available at the Veterans Memorial Community Center testing site through Aug. 6. Morse says the vaccination site offers the two-dose Pfizer mRNA vaccine and the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and no appointment, ID or insurance is required.

In addition, Morse says town officials are working with Barnstable County officials to procure and distribute 1,200 BinaxNOW at-home COVID-19 test kits to Provincetown businesses, residents and visitors. More tests will be made available as needed, according to Morse.