Effective Wednesday May 6th, the Baker-Polito Administration has ordered all residents over the age of two to use a face covering or mask in indoor and outdoor public places where maintaining proper social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are not possible.
This order applies to all workers and customers of businesses and other organizations that are currently open to the public and permitted to operate as COVID-19 Essential Businesses, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail stores. If a customer refuses to wear a face covering for non-medical reasons, a business may decline entry to the individual. Residents are also required to wear a mask or face covering at all times when using any means of transportation service or public mass transit.
A face covering may include anything that covers your nose and mouth, including a mask, scarf, or bandana. Medical-grade masks should not be used and should be preserved for healthcare workers and first responders. Cloth masks should not be worn by young children under the age of two, persons with difficulty breathing, or those who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. Instructions on how to make a cloth mask are available from the CDC.