OXFORD – The Oxford Board of Health approved an outdoor curfew after the town reported its first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) this year.
Curfew could impact fall sports
The Board of Health met Wednesday evening to recommend ending outdoor activities before dusk to avoid peak mosquito hours, despite residents’ protests.
“Being heard is our No. 1 goal,” said Oxford Webster Football and Cheer Vice President Josh Ziemski, before the meeting.
“We don’t want to see another human case of EEE this year,” Public Health Director Rike Sterrett said. “One is already too many.”
The move could impact fall sports. The Fournier sisters are worried it’ll jeopardize their only season cheering together.
“This is my last year as a cheerleader on this team, and it would be really upsetting if I missed out on it,” eighth-grader Aria Fournier said.
Parents say they should decide what’s safe
Oxford Little League President Philip Davis said, “We think the parents should be able to make decisions as parents, for our kids, for the well-being of our kids.”
He remembers the impact EEE had in 2019 when schools had to reschedule sports games and practices to avoid peak mosquito hours.
“We took the kids and we put all the kids back in the house,” Davis explained. “We saw the effects of this. The effects weren’t great; they were awful. They weren’t outside; they weren’t being active.”
Massachusetts saw a dozen EEE infections in 2019 and half of those patients died from the mosquito-borne illness.
“Even if you do survive, usually there are severe health impacts – neurological impacts,” Sterrett emphasized.
“The numbers don’t require the drastic actions they’re trying to take,” said Aria’s mother, Sarah Fournier.
The Fourniers will join more than 800 other Oxford residents by signing an online petition to keep sports fields open.
“Let us decide. I’m a parent, I coach my son and yes if things happen, I can take precautions,” said Ziemski.
What the curfew means
Town officials said the curfew is a recommendation, not a requirement.
However, the school district will comply with the plan, so sports practices may end early or be moved indoors. If other organizations not affiliated with the town choose to ignore the guidelines, they will have to file paperwork saying they understand the risks.
Oxford joins the towns of Douglas, Sutton and Webster as areas at “critical risk” of EEE. About 30% of people who contract EEE do not survive.
