With pandemic memories fresh, town's voluntary curfew to prevent spread of lethal mosquito-borne virus draws ire

The idea to implement a curfew on outdoor activities to protect against a mosquito-borne virus is not new, but this year’s public response to the measure is different. In the past, towns in Massachusetts and Connecticut asked residents to limit outdoor activities during outbreaks of a virus called eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), with little attention or protest. However, when officials in Oxford, Massachusetts, announced a voluntary curfew, some residents were unhappy and expressed their disagreement at a town meeting. It seems that after enduring Covid restrictions, people are less willing to follow additional regulations. EEE is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites and can cause severe illness. The mosquitoes that carry EEE are most active at dusk and dawn.