Coronavirus developments around New England:
RHODE ISLAND
The clerk’s office at federal court in Providence is scheduled to reopen to the public on a limited basis on Tuesday.
The office will be open for in-person filings and inquiries from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the office said in a statement.
The staff has been fully vaccinated, but visitors will still be required to have their temperature taken with a contactless thermometer; answer health screening questions; and wear a mask.
The court will continue to conduct proceedings in eligible criminal and petit offense cases by video or telephone conference.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Even though society and the economy are reopening, some New Hampshire residents are still dealing with food insecurity because of by the coronavirus pandemic.
The address the problem, Sewa International, a Hindu faith-based humanitarian organization, handed out 1,000 boxes filled with 30 pounds of healthy, fresh foods to families in Nashua on Sunday, WMUR-TV reported.
City leaders and volunteers said since the pandemic began, they have seen a sharp rise in demand for help feeding families.
“This is a very essential program for many families, especially families that are still struggling with the aftereffects of COVID. Maybe they’ve lost their jobs, they’re not able to get nutritious food every day,” Sewa chapter coordinator Subba Raju Datla said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture offered the food to the nonprofit.
MASSACHUSETTS
Even though Massachusetts has lifted most pandemic restrictions on businesses, many are still weighing whether to require employees to be vaccinated or wear masks at work.
A recent survey by the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber may provide some clues.
The organization, which represents businesses in communities west of Boston, surveyed about 450 members last week about their back-to-work protocols, The Boston Globe reported.
Nearly 30% of businesses said they will mandate that employees wear masks. A similar number will not, and about one-third remained undecided.
Also, 23% will require employees who return to the workplace to be vaccinated, while nearly 40% said they will not. Smaller business with fewer than 20 workers were more likely to require employee vaccinations.
The chamber surveyed a range of businesses including retail, technology firms, and insurance companies.
At Needham-based Kaplansky Insurance, workers won’t need to be vaccinated to come into the office. However, those who are not vaccinated will need to wear a mask, said Jennifer Soares, an assistant vice president.
MAINE
Maine public health officials reported 42 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Monday, the lowest one-day total since late October.
It was the second consecutive day of fewer than 100 cases.
Also, for the fifth consecutive day, the Maine Centers for Disease Control did not report any virus-related deaths.
Nearly 60% of the state’s eligible population is now considered fully vaccinated, according to the latest data. Almost 77% of state residents age 50 or older are fully vaccinated, but only about 42% of people between 12 and 49 are and most of the new cases are in that lower age group.
VERMONT
The Brattleboro Select Board is scheduled to discuss whether to lift the town’s indoor mask mandate at Tuesay’s meeting.
The board recently asked for data and feedback from community members on lifting a mask order put in place in May 2020, The Brattleboro Reformer reported.
Town Manager Peter Elwell wrote in a memo last week that state Department of Health statistics indicate Brattleboro’s vaccination is “comparable to the statewide rate and that new cases in Brattleboro are declining.”
“The two-week rolling average of new confirmed cases in Brattleboro has declined during May from 17 to 10 to 4 to 3,” he wrote.
The board is also scheduled to discuss how to host future meetings — remotely or in person.