MA Needs Full Mask Mandate Spilka, Rausch Urge

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Several key local elected officials on Tuesday joined the growing number of health experts urging Gov. Charlie Baker to bring back a statewide mask mandate as coronavirus and the omicron variant surge.

Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, asked Baker to bring back the mask mandate, and institute vaccine requirements for public venues. On Monday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said that city would require vaccine proof this winter at many indoor venues.

"While I thank the Governor for his actions to date, today, I am calling on the Administration to reinstitute a statewide indoor public mask mandate, increase efforts to achieve vaccine equity and require proof of vaccination for most public indoor social venues," Spilka said.

Spilka also wants opt-out pool testing in school districts. On Tuesday, Baker said schools will remain open, and is dead-set against seeing students return to remote learning. Baker advised state residents to start wearing masks, but said he won't do another mandate.

"I have no interest in putting a mandate on this issue, given all the tools available on a statewide basis, on the people of Massachusetts," he said. "If locals wish to pursue city- or town-specific options they can do so."

State Sen. Rebecca Rausch, D-Natick, held a press conference on Tuesday with a group of doctors discussing a set of COVID-19 policies she wants enacted. Those include a new statewide mask mandate and daily mobile vaccine clinics.

"Our Commonwealth’s public health experts and frontline workers know exactly what we must do to safeguard our communities’ health and curb COVID-19 transmission," she has said. "We have the plan; now we need swift action to keep our kids in schools, our families safe, and our businesses open.”

As of Monday, about 90 percent of the 8,764 hospital beds in Massachusetts were occupied, according to the state Department of Public Health. The state reported close to 14,000 new coronavirus cases over the weekend, plus 28 deaths.