Provincetown issues new mask advisory following July 4th weekend outbreak

P-Town, mask up!

Officials in Provincetown, Mass. have issued a new mask advisory after an uptick in COVID-19 infections among both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

Provincetown, commonly known as P-Town, is a small resort town located at the northern tip of Cape Cod. A popular vacation destination for members of the LGBTQ community and their friends, this beloved sea town is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant art scene, and dance parties.

On Monday, during an emergency meeting, P-Town officials issued the advisory after 132 new cases were confirmed from July 1 through 16, according to data released by the The Barnstable County Department of Public Health .

Many of the new cases were tied to the 4th of July weekend, officials said.

According to The Boston Globe, the increase in positive cases is worrying health experts because of the area’s high vaccination rates.

Town Manager Alex Morse said that 114% of the eligible population has already been fully vaccinated — a figure that also takes into account part-time residents.

“We’ve been monitoring the numbers,” Morse told members of the town’s select board and board of health during the emergency session. “As the week went on last week, we saw a steady increase in the number of cases being reported.”

A biker rides down Commercial Street on May 25, 2020 in Provincetown, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/)

According to the new guidelines, all individuals — vaccinated or not — are advised to wear face masks indoors, if social distancing can’t be achieved.

Individuals are also being encouraged to take extra precaution with crowds, especially in indoor spaces where social distancing is not achievable, as well as “handshaking, kissing, hugging or other forms of close contact” for increase in the risk of infection or transmission.

Crowded venues are “strongly advised to enforce vaccine verification prior to admittance.”

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, according to CDC guidelines.

Masks are mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems.

Provincetown has had “two of the busiest weeks out of the summer over the last 14 days,” Morse said.

During the height of summer season population grows to about 60,000 people — from the 3,000 all-year-long residents.