Politics & Government
How Mask Policies Have Changed In MA Towns, Cities
With COVID-19 cases declining in many areas, mask mandates are ending. See the status in nearby cities and towns.
WORCESTER, MA — This was a big week for masks in Massachusetts.
The Board of Health in Worcester, the state's second-largest city, voted 3-2 to begin phasing out the city's mandate. Plenty more have followed since. State education officials, meanwhile, announced the end of in-school mask mandates by Feb. 28, although local districts will get to decide if masks stay after that date.
The loosening of restrictions comes as COVID-19 cases linked to omicron have begun to recede. Positive test rate has dropped sharply in recent weeks, according to state health data — however, many residents are now testing with rapid kits at home, those results don't get formally reported running pandemic totals.
Even if mandates are ending, masks are still a good way to protect yourself from inhaling respiratory droplets that carry coronavirus. The most recent guidance says that K95, K94 and N95 masks offer the best protection.
"If you are infected with the coronavirus and do not know it, a mask is very good at keeping your respiratory droplets and particles from infecting others," Johns Hopkins Health System epidemiologist Lisa Lockerd Maragakis said about masks. "If you haven’t yet received your COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask can also help prevent germs that come from another person’s respiratory droplets from getting into your nose and mouth."
Less than a month after the peak of the omicron surge, here's a rundown on the status of mask policies across the region. Some local communities missing from this list may not have provided explicit mask guidance.
Mandates — Masks required in public spaces, including private businesses.
- Worcester — Rescinded effective Feb. 18
- Sudbury — In place, but will mostly end by March 7
- Marlborough — Rescinded Feb. 8
- Concord — Still in effect
- Framingham— Still in effect
- Natick — In effect until Feb. 28
- Dover — Still in effect
- West Boylston — Rescinded effective Feb. 18
- Shrewsbury — Still in effect
- MWRTA buses — Still in effect
- MBTA (commuter rail, subway, buses) — Still in effect
- WRTA buses — Still in effect
Advisories — Local governments are only advising people to wear masks in public.
Municipal requirement — Masks required inside municipal buildings, including libraries, seniors centers and at public meetings.
Keep in mind, these advisories and mandates only come from local governments. Individual businesses and other facilities may still have mask mandates in place. Check storefronts and online before heading out without a mask.
