Mask Mandates Return In Boston Area With COVID-19 Resurgence

BOSTON, MA — UMass Boston and Chelsea Public Schools reinstated mask mandates Monday after the the Centers for Disease Control designated Suffolk County as "High Risk” for COVID-19 transmission Friday.

Chelsea Public Schools is now mandating that masks be worn in school buildings at all times except when eating or drinking, and UMass Boston now requires masks in public indoor spaces on campus and in crowded outdoor settings, according to their respective announcements.

UMass Boston announced that the only times when masks are not required indoors are in personal offices when alone, in research spaces when alone, in residence hall rooms, for children under two years old, for active performers on stage during certain approved performing arts events, and for active participants in approved NCAA athletic events.

The university added that people can briefly lower or remove masks while actively eating or drinking.

COVID-19 levels in some local wastewater reached their highest point in about a year at the end of December as the new XBB.1.5 variant of the omicron strain now accounts for 75 percent of all cases in the Northeast, according to data from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority and the Centers for Disease Control.

As of December 29, the viral concentration in local wastewater samples was 1,947 copies per milliliter, representing a 42 percent increase over over seven days and a 116 percent increase over 14 days, the Boston Public Health Commission said in a news release.

“Based on the trends, it is imperative that we all protect ourselves and others. I understand there’s a very high level of pandemic fatigue, but the numbers speak for themselves,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “We should all be masking indoors, staying home when sick, and testing for COVID-19. In addition, getting boosted is the best way to protect yourself from severe illness and hospitalization.”

The omicron-specific bivalent boosters recently became available for everyone ages 6 months and older. Only 13.7 percent of Boston residents have received the booster, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.

The Boston Public Health Commission has set up several standing sites throughout Boston where residents can get COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, flu shots, and PCR testing for COVID-19.