December 21, 2021
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lindsi Mailler
lmailler@easthamptonma.gov
EASTHAMPTON STAGGERS CITY WORK SCHEDULES DUE TO COVID-19 SURGE
Easthampton, MA – The City of Easthampton is experiencing the highest rate of COVID-19 cases to date in 2021. The number of cases mirrors the same case numbers as last year. The City saw an exponential case increase in the two weeks following Thanksgiving. City departments have seen a rise in cases as well. The Mayor’s Office and the Public Health Department expect the same, if not higher, increase after January 1, 2022. To maintain the continuity of local government and overall public safety, Easthampton is re-implementing the following requirements of city employees until January 18, 2021:
- Employees who share an office space shall stagger their schedules to eliminate sharing the same area, regardless of spacing and vaccination status
- Employees who cannot work from home due to their specific work may use COVID time in WebTime
- Employees with individual office spaces do not have to stagger their schedules with their employees/co-workers as long as they can isolate themselves entirely in their office
- Communication shall be done by phone, as much as possible, and gathering, socializing, etc. shall be minimized to every extent possible
Exemptions:
- Minimum required staffing for public safety
- Minimum required staffing for DPW
These actions are in addition to the standing indoor mask mandate for all Easthampton public buildings.