Peabody Brings Back Indoor Mask Order Amid Coronavirus Spike

PEABODY, MA — Peabody is bringing back the mask mandate for all indoor public spaces starting Monday amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

The Peabody Board of Health voted Wednesday night to reimpose the mask order until further notice. It applies to all indoor businesses, buildings open to the public and common areas of multi-family dwellings. Masks may only be removed in bars, restaurants and performance venues when customers are actively eating and drinking.

The Board of Health said because of the recent surge in coronavirus cases "there exists in the community a disease and cause of sickness that is dangerous to public health and that action is necessary to minimize the further spread of the disease."

The Peabody mask order passed on the same night the Salem Board of Health reimposed its own indoor mask order for public spaces and adopted a coronavirus vaccination order to enter many businesses, such as bars, restaurants, gyms, fitness centers and entertainment venues.

The Peabody order applies to those 2 years old or older.

Establishment staff will be charged with supervising and enforcing the requirement. Customers can be denied entry for non-compliance.

The Peabody Board of Health and authorized agents will oversee the enforcement with a warning followed by escalating daily fines up to $300 for non-compliance.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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