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BOSTON - Friday,
August 20, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey today announced face masks will be
required in all indoor public settings in the City of Boston, as part of a
Five-Point Plan for the Delta Variant, a more contagious COVID-19 variant
that is now the primary strain of the virus. The public health order,
issued by the Boston Public Health Commission, is effective at 8:00 a.m. on
Friday, August 27 in the City of Boston. The City is implementing this
proactive public health plan to mitigate community transmission of the
Delta variant, ahead of the arrival of more than 50,000 college students
from across the country and a return to school for more than 50,000 Boston
Public School students. Most of the 100,000 children who live in the City
of Boston are too young to be eligible for vaccination.
“There is nothing
more important than Boston’s safe recovery, reopening, and renewal from the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Janey. “We know that masks work best
when everyone wears one. Requiring masks indoors is a proactive public
health measure to limit transmission of the Delta variant, boost the public
confidence in our businesses and venues, and protect the residents of our
city who are too young for vaccination.”
“The Delta variant
continues to create an additional challenge to stopping the spread of
COVID-19 in our community,” said Rita Nieves, the Interim Executive
Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “Wearing a mask indoors along
with getting more people vaccinated will offer more protection to all our
residents, including children under 12 and those who are not able to get
vaccinated.”
Through an order from the Boston Public Health Commission, the City of Boston will require all people
over age two to wear a mask or face covering:
·
Whenever
they are indoors on the premises of a business, club, place of assembly or
other place that is open to members of the public, including but not
limited to retail establishments, restaurants, bars, performance venues,
social clubs, event spaces, and municipal buildings.
Face coverings may
be removed when actively eating or drinking. Masks must be worn for all
other indoor activities, including ordering at a bar or dancing. Masks are
also required in gyms. The order does not apply to gatherings in private
residences when no compensation is paid, private buildings that are
inaccessible to the public, places of worship, private workspaces
inaccessible to the public, or performers who maintain six feet of distance
from their audience.
Mayor Janey’s new
face covering order builds on the City’s ongoing efforts to address the
COVID-19 Delta Variant. The Five Point Plan for the Delta Variant includes:
·
Equitable
vaccine and booster access
·
Vaccine
mandate for city workers
·
New
HVAC investments for schools
·
Mask
mandate for schools and city buildings
·
New
mask mandate in all public spaces
“Boston’s five-point
plan for the Delta variant places vaccination and prevention at the center
of our COVID-19 response,” said Mayor Janey. “I ask that every resident of
Boston do their part to keep our city safe. Get vaccinated, wear your mask,
wash your hands, and get tested, especially if you have traveled, are
experiencing symptoms, or have been exposed to the virus.”
Boston is one of the
most vaccinated large cities in the country, with over 68 percent of
residents having at least one shot. In the last two weeks, nearly 8,000
residents got their first dose of the vaccine. By the end of August, all
City employees, contractors, and volunteers will be required to verify
their vaccination status through a secure centralized digital portal.
Mayor Janey has also
committed $30 million to improve heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
in Boston Public School buildings. The wide-ranging HVAC installations and
upgrades will be performed throughout the coming school year.
The new mask
requirement was welcomed by leaders of the healthcare and arts sectors that
have been among the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I commend the
Mayor’s decision to protect the safety of our families and neighbors by
instituting a mask mandate for indoor public spaces,” said Kate Walsh,
President and CEO of the Boston Medical Center. “The high risk of infection
associated with the Delta variant poses a critical challenge for our
communities. We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to
mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infections while continuing to encourage
everyone to get the vaccine, including those 12 and older who will be going
back to school soon.”
"I want to
thank Mayor Janey and the entire City of Boston for taking this step to
promote a healthy space for patrons,” said Emily Ruddock, Executive
Director of MassCreative, the state-level arts advocacy organization. “As
we continue to respond and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we support
this indoor mask mandate to ensure that Boston's vibrant arts and culture
sector is safe for all to enjoy."
"The City of Boston has come a long way in
ensuring that every resident has had access to the critical resources
needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including vaccinations and
testing. The CDC reports that indoor masking will cut transmission by about
66 percent. I want to thank Mayor Janey for taking this precaution. Keeping
Boston's economy strong means continuing to promote best practices for
keeping all Bostonians healthy and safe as we continue to battle the
pandemic," said Tim
Rowe, CEO of Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC).
“Boston University welcomes
and applauds Mayor Janey’s decision to institute an indoor space mask
mandate,” said Dr. Judy Platt, chair of Boston University’s Medical
Advisory Group. “The action complements the university’s own indoor mask
rule, and together these policies make the city a safer place for our
students, the people of Boston, and the communities within which we
reside.”
"I am happy to
hear guests will be joining me in wearing masks,” said John Flannery,
Doorman at Fairmont Copley Plaza. “I think this will ensure that everyone
at my hotel is safe and respected.”
"The members of
Local 26 applaud Mayor Janey’s implementation of a mask mandate for indoor
spaces. This will ensure that hospitality workers are safe at work and our
industry can continue its recovery,” said Carlos Aramayo, Local 26
President. “We believe that by implementing smart health and safety
policies we can continue safely to welcome guests back to our great
city."
Frequently asked questions about the new mask mandate are available on
boston.gov/reopening. Restaurant owners with questions specific may
contact: licensingboard@boston.gov. If you are in any other sector covered
by this mandate, or you have general questions, please call 311 or contact:
smallbiz@boston.gov. | 
