Client Alert: City of Boston Lifts Mask Mandate, Effective March 5th

By Benjamin J. Hinks  •  March 3, 2022

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has announced that the city’s mask mandate for indoor businesses will be lifted, effective Saturday, March 5^th.

Beginning Saturday, Boston indoor businesses, such as gyms, bars and restaurants, museums, and entertainment venues, can forgo face covering requirements in indoor public spaces. Still, individual businesses may choose to require masking.

Public transportation, health care settings, and congregant care settings are still subject to state and federal mask orders. Further, Mayor Wu announced that the Boston Public Schools will continue to require masking pending further review of COVID-19 metrics by the Boston Public Health Commission.

The Mayor noted that the decision is based on public health data, citing improvement in the prevalence and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in Boston.

The rollback of the mask mandate comes on the back of the city’s February 18^th lifting of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate that required indoor businesses to verify proof of vaccination for customers and employees visiting certain indoor spaces.

We will continue to monitor and provide updates on further developments related to COVID-19, as well as other issues impacting employers.

If you have questions, please consult with your Bowditch attorney.