From this point forward, Palmerton borough hall’s meeting rooms will be open by reservation only.

On a unanimous measure, borough council on Thursday approved the new COVID-19 regulations.

Borough Manager Donna McGarry said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Pennsylvania Department of Health have relaxed guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals.

McGarry said the gym is still closed.

“We will start opening borough hall for meetings, but not the gym (for playing),” McGarry said. “And then come fall, we’ll see.”

McGarry said the following changes for borough employees and facilities will take effect immediately:

• Borough hall and police station: Fully vaccinated visitors are not required to wear masks to enter the buildings (signs will be posted). At the end of the day staff will continue sanitizing counters, door handles, and any areas the public has had access to.

• Fire station: Temperatures are no longer required to be taken, and temperature units are asked to be returned to the borough office. Masks are not required indoors or in vehicles for members who are fully vaccinated. Where emergency services are provided for known COVID-19 responses, all protocols outlined by the fire chief pertaining to response and decontamination are to be followed.

• Employees: Temperatures are no longer required to be taken, and temperature units are asked to be returned to the borough office. All employees are to wear masks indoors, in vehicles or outdoors. All employees are to wear a mask if they are entering homes, or in a business that still requires masking. Fully-vaccinated employees are not required to be tested or quarantined following a known exposure if they are asymptomatic.

As for traveling, as of March 1, the Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health for Mitigation Relating to Travel is no longer in effect.

Travelers should still practice appropriate public health measures as recommended by the DOH to slow the spread of COVID-19.