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Massachusetts State House reopening plans include COVID-19 vaccine requirement for members, staff

Massachusetts State House reopening plans include COVID-19 vaccine requirement for members, staff
JANET: HOUSE SPEAKER RON MARIANO IS NOT A HAPPY LEADER. WHY SHOULD HE DO? MARY ANNE: YOUR VACCINATION STATUS SHOULD BE PUBLIC, AND THAT IS THE STATE HOUSE. B:RO EASY ANSWER, MAKE LEADERSHIP PAY AND ASSIGNMENTS CONTINGENT ON BEING VACCINATED. THEY WILL GET IN LINE. MY WORST WEEK IS RICEHI NEIL, PUSHING A HEUG TAX INCREASE, THE BIGGEST INCREASE SINCE 1968. HE IS LEADING THE CHAR.GE MARY ANNE: BOSTON VOTERS, THERE WAS NO EXSECU WHY YOU DID NOT SHOW UP AND YOU BETTER SHOW UP IN NOVEMBER. ED: I THINK THE ELECTION SAFETY FROM SAYING THE PATRIOTS WERE THE WORST BECAUSE TYHE LOST. MARY ANNE: I COULD PLAY A BETTER OFNSFEIVE LINE. I WOULD PROTECT THE QUARTERBACK. :ED THAT IS RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. EVERY SUNDAY, WE GO "ON ETH RECO."RD
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Massachusetts State House reopening plans include COVID-19 vaccine requirement for members, staff
All Massachusetts House members and their staff would be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 under a set of pandemic proposals being weighed as House leaders look ahead to welcoming the public back to the Statehouse.The set of recommendations unveiled Monday proposes a phased-in approach to reopening, with staggered timelines for members, staff, and the public. There is no date set yet for reopening.Under the proposal, those unwilling or unable to provide proof of vaccination status would be required to continue to stay home and participate remotely. Proof of vaccination status must be provided to House human resources by Nov. 1.The report by a working group charged with drafting reopening plans also urges expanding the mask mandate for all members and staff in all House-controlled spaces in the Statehouse. The group suggests keeping the virtual option for public hearings, while also proposing a model that would reduce the risks of indoor airborne transmission of the coronavirus to let the House resume in-person public access to hearings.The reopening of the Statehouse would take place in four steps.Phase 1 would give access to members who want to return for in-person voting, along with core staff who must be physically in the building to conduct House business. Phase 2 would broaden access to the building to all remaining House staff and employees, along with individuals who have a need to conduct business at the State House.Phase 3 would allow entry by members of the public, by appointment, for meetings and committee hearings. In Phase 4, the Statehouse would be fully open to all parties, for all activities under federal and state guidelines.The report does not give hard deadlines for when each phase will start.The report also points to a need to update and formalize the House’s contact tracing and quarantine protocols.Democratic House Speaker Ronald Mariano said there is still a lot of work to be done.“These recommendations establish a framework within which that work can be done,” Mariano said in an email to House members. “More information on the implementation and execution of these recommendations will be forthcoming.”

All Massachusetts House members and their staff would be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 under a set of pandemic proposals being weighed as House leaders look ahead to welcoming the public back to the Statehouse.

The set of recommendations unveiled Monday proposes a phased-in approach to reopening, with staggered timelines for members, staff, and the public. There is no date set yet for reopening.

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Under the proposal, those unwilling or unable to provide proof of vaccination status would be required to continue to stay home and participate remotely. Proof of vaccination status must be provided to House human resources by Nov. 1.

The report by a working group charged with drafting reopening plans also urges expanding the mask mandate for all members and staff in all House-controlled spaces in the Statehouse. The group suggests keeping the virtual option for public hearings, while also proposing a model that would reduce the risks of indoor airborne transmission of the coronavirus to let the House resume in-person public access to hearings.

The reopening of the Statehouse would take place in four steps.

Phase 1 would give access to members who want to return for in-person voting, along with core staff who must be physically in the building to conduct House business. Phase 2 would broaden access to the building to all remaining House staff and employees, along with individuals who have a need to conduct business at the State House.

Phase 3 would allow entry by members of the public, by appointment, for meetings and committee hearings. In Phase 4, the Statehouse would be fully open to all parties, for all activities under federal and state guidelines.

The report does not give hard deadlines for when each phase will start.

The report also points to a need to update and formalize the House’s contact tracing and quarantine protocols.

Democratic House Speaker Ronald Mariano said there is still a lot of work to be done.

“These recommendations establish a framework within which that work can be done,” Mariano said in an email to House members. “More information on the implementation and execution of these recommendations will be forthcoming.”