Easthampton institutes mask mandate

Daily Hampshire Gazette: A new mask mandate has been put into place in the city, in response to increased COVID-19 cases and the spread of the delta variant. The mandate, passed by the Board of Health on Tuesday, goes into effect Thursday. The city joins Northampton, Hadley and Amherst in recently declaring new mask mandates.

“I think it makes good sense,” said Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, who expressed her support for it. She also noted that masks are very effective at preventing the disease.