MARION — The town’s Board of Health has lifted the 6 p.m. activities curfew, meant to reduce the risk of Eastern equine encephalitis, on Nov. 9.

Eastern equine encephalitis, a mosquito-carried virus, has no cure, and is often fatal. Marion and Rochester were at “critical-risk” for the disease based on the number of mosquitoes that were tested for the virus, and Mattapoisett was at “high-risk.” 

However, the Marion Board of health wrote that “Plymouth County has experienced the first sustained cold temperatures of the season therefore the threat of EEE has been significantly diminished. Regular scheduled outdoor activities can resume.” 

Health officials look for temperatures to drop to 28 degrees or less for at least three hours to ensure that all mosquitoes and their larvae are dead. 

All three towns implemented activities bans.  As of 11 a.m. on Nov. 9, Rochester and Mattapoisett have not lifted their bans. 

Across the state 12 people were diagnosed with the disease, including one Rochester man. Four people who were diagnosed died from the disease.