Under Baker's order, both the driver and the passenger of any taxi or ride-sharing service are required to wear a face covering. And it may be a while, said Dr. Helen Boucher, chief of infectious diseases as Tufts Medical Center. Even when outside, “the … But experts suggest that when you are alone outdoors and far from others you may not need to wear your mask. "We're going to do everything we can to make sure we continue to engage in the social distancing," Baker said, flanked by a backdrop of mostly law enforcement officials who were not wearing masks. “We are a very densely populated city, the most densely populated in New England, one of the most densely populated in the country,” said Curtatone. Nothing in the order appears to override the mask rules put in place by cities and towns, and there are some distinctions. People with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks are exempt from this order. We're not there quite yet. Yes, wearing a mask is believed to protect you from inhaling infected droplets from other people, but it is also intended to protect other people from you. Masks have been mandatory in public and privates places in Massachusetts due to the COVID-19 pandemic but what about wearing them after the pandemic is … So what does that mean for you? If everyone does their part, children … They point out that the important loophole is that children don't need a mask if (it's a big if) you can keep them away from other people and prevent them from touching things. At that point, the health care system could be facing two similar and potentially fatal diseases, with many unknowns about how they will interact and whether hospitals will have the capacity to handle both COVID-19 and regular flu patients. That is … Of course it also applies to buses, trains and other public transit. Read more local and national coronavirus coverage here, Download the free Boston 25 News app for up-to-the-minute push alert, - Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW, - Download our free apps for your phone and smart TV, Boston 25 News facebook feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News twitter feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News youtube feed(Opens a new window), How to help kids adjust to wearing a face mask, Download our free apps for your phone and smart TV. We couldn't do it without you. Doug Ducey issued an executive order March 25 lifting all state … Starting Wednesday, May 6, people over the age of two across Massachusetts must wear face masks while out in public when social distancing isn’t possible. Charlie Baker says he welcomes the new CDC guidelines, and that he will be updating COVID-19 restrictions in the near future. Do I have to wear a mask every time I leave my home? 4. Mask wearing is suggested to continue even when we leave lockdown so expect it … Masks are REQUIRED in:▪️Grocery stores ▪️Pharmacies▪️Retail stores▪️Public transportation @boston25 pic.twitter.com/FccNpZHC2W. Now, with two potential vaccines making progress, can we stop wearing masks … The APA suggests parents also put a mask on a favorite stuffed animal and decorate a mask to make it more fun, in the hopes of reducing a toddler's fear of the face covering. There is some wiggle room here; the governor's order applies to "any person who is in a place open to the public in the Commonwealth, whether indoor or outdoor, and is unable or does not maintain a distance of approximately six feet from every other person.". Donors make that happen, and every donor counts. Masks remain an important tool in preventing spread, both indoors and outdoors. Masks must also be worn on public transportation and… And that depends on the material and other factors. Listen Live: Classic and Contemporary Celtic, Listen Live: Cape, Coast and Islands NPR Station, Two Boys Who Couldn't Swim Drown In Brockton Lake, CDC Director Defends Decision To Ditch Masks, Pipeline Panic Recalls Perils Of Gas Lines For Past Presidents, Paris Bookstores Are Designated Essential — But These Landmarks Struggle To Survive, Houses Of Worship Grapple With The Vaxxed And Unvaxxed Divide. Yep. Gov. An emergency order requiring face coverings in public took effect in Massachusetts Wednesday as the state battles to control the coronavirus outbreak. Even when wearing a mask, you should still try to maintain six feet of space between yourself and other people. If a customer refuses to wear a mask or cloth face-covering, businesses have the authority to deny that person’s entry. Paul Singer is the investigations editor at the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting. April 23, 2021. Charlie Baker, applies to everyone over the age of two in all indoor public places and outside when social distancing can’t be properly maintained. In many places, there is a mask requirement to enter restaurants, airports and schools. BOSTON (CBS) — Calling it part of “the new normal”, Massachusetts Gov. Governor Baker issued a revised Order effective April 30, 2021 requiring people to wear masks or face-coverings in indoor public places and outdoors when they are unable to maintain 6 feet from other people. Charlie Baker’s May 1 executive order mandates that people must wear masks in grocery stores, pharmacies, and on public buses and trains. "Starting today, if you're fully vaccinated, and you're outdoors … and not in a big crowd, you no longer need to wear a mask," President Joe Biden said on April 27. So, when can we safely stop wearing masks? The order includes an exemption for anyone with a medical condition that prevents mask-wearing. No. View Comments. I'm young and healthy and not afraid of getting sick — why do I need to wear a mask? If I wear a mask when I am commuting can I take it off at work? MASK UP When can we stop wearing face masks in England? When the CDC announced on Thursday that fully vaccinated people can safely take off their masks in most settings, one group that did not necessarily breathe a sigh of relief was the parents of young children. Wilmington health officials weigh in. You may be a carrier of the virus even if you don't have symptoms; the point of the mask is to prevent you from spreading germs to other people. That being the case, it seems like it would make sense to say we can all stop wearing masks when we don’t have to worry about spreading this virus anymore. "Especially for younger children who may not understand why they can’t run up toward other people or touch things they shouldn’t, the best approach is to keep them home and in spaces away from other people and common surfaces.". The answer is “yes.” In a pandemic, governments have the authority to do a lot of things that would otherwise be questionable. Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com Staff April 30, 2021 Beginning on Friday, people in Massachusetts are free to take an unmasked breath of fresh air — … Under an order issued by Gov. Face masks have been an integral part of stopping the spread of COVID-19. There are lots of on-line guides for how to make masks, including suggestions from the CDC about how to cut up an old t-shirt to make a mask. Does the state order replace local mandates on masks? Also on Thursday, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, told CNN's New Day program that if you're vaccinated "I'd say for the most part, you don't need to wear a mask outdoors." When can we throw out our masks? What It's Like To Go Back To School In 2021, Explore how Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have enriched America’s history with this collection presented by GBH and GBH WORLD. We achieve “herd immunity” to COVID-19. 6. Dr. Fauci Said Kids Should be Able to Return to School Soon. Produced in Boston, shared with the world. Businesses and towns look to governor for clarity, What's Happening Inside The Cells Of A Coronavirus Patient, Massachusetts Contact Tracing Team Comes Online This Week, WATCH: Walsh Says Boston's COVID-19 Curve Is 'Slowly Bending', 'If This Thing Boomerangs': Second Wave Of Infections Feared, In The Age Of Coronavirus, How Doctors Are Becoming Inventors, If you can right now, please consider a donation in any amount. When does the governor's order expire? The governor's order applies to anybody over the age of two unless there is a medical condition that makes wearing a mask impossible. No, in fact the state prefers you not wear a medical mask, saving those for actual medical workers. Massachusetts Gov. It's not about you. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. When can we stop wearing masks? Also: Wearing a mask tends to limit how much you touch your face, which is believed to be a primary transmission method for the coronavirus. Read the order | Mass.gov face covering guidance | DPH guidance, MORE: Per the Governor’s order, people must wear masks whenever they leave home if they can’t maintain a distance of 6 ft. away from others. 10. But I think if everyone is wearing a mask and trying to stand apart as much as they can, then … While the CDC still recommends wearing masks outdoors, experts are saying it may be time to take the mask off in certain situations. Get your vaccine as soon as you can if you haven’t already. The state Department of Public Health says that to comply with the order, "a face covering can include anything that covers your nose and mouth, including dust masks, scarves and bandanas.". Current plans are to stop mandatory mask-wearing in shops and offices from June 21, according to The Sun. 8. While Adams is hopeful it will be safe enough to reduce mask rules in the summer, she believes there’s too much unknown at this point to be certain. People who don’t comply with the governor’s executive order face a civil fine up to $300, though Baker said he’s leaving enforcement up to individual cities and towns. We … The governor's order specifies a fine of up to $300 per violation and also notes that anyone not wearing a mask can be banned from entering any business in the state. Support GBH. In Somerville, people must always wear a face mask in public, even when social distancing is possible. Amanda McReynolds. Statewide order: No. In short, yes. Several communities, including Somerville, are already threatening to fine people up to $300 for not wearing masks, including Cambridge, Essex, Everett, Lawrence, Salem, and Watertown. Maybe not. But definitely keep it handy. The governor’s order only requires people to wear face masks outside when they can’t stay 6 feet away from others, but some cities and towns are taking things a step further. Social distancing remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease. The pandemic has made wearing masks ubiquitous. So if we are wearing masks, can we stop distancing? 3. Do I have to wear a medical mask? “So it is necessary.”, [ How to help kids adjust to wearing a face mask ]. Expect many employers to require workers to wear masks in the office as well. Starting Wednesday, if you are out in public, you need to cover your nose and mouth. There is. For instance, the mask rule in Somerville specifically requires joggers and bicyclists to cover their faces, whether or not they maintain six feet of distance. They can see unvaccinated people from a … When can we stop wearing masks and will June 21 be the last time we wear them? CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on May 13 said that fully vaccinated Americans can participate in … People with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks are exempt from this order. The governor's order applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces, so if you are in a crowded lobby, an elevator, a lunch line — anywhere you cannot easily keep space between you and the next person — you need to have a face covering. Is there a penalty for not wearing a mask? Am I really supposed to put a mask on my 2-year-old? Professor Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group and chief investigator of the Oxford vaccine trial, has said the end of masks is “getting … Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. Face masks have become a regular part of life during (and likely after) the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's become pretty darn clear that many people don't love wearing them. A couple of communities are going even further: Peabody and Winthrop are threatening fines up to $1,000. BOSTON — This summer, sunglasses aren’t the only thing you’ll be wearing on your face. Every day GBH News journalists and program hosts come together to deliver timely information and intelligent analysis about what today’s news means to our community and our culture, for free to everyone. So in theory, it seems we might be able to stop with the masks if one of these three things happen: There’s an effective vaccine available (and it’s being utilized widely enough to drastically reduce the number of COVID-19 cases). Charlie Baker, starting Wednesday, anybody going out in public in Massachusetts will be expected to wear a mask. However, if vaccinations keep up, and end to the mask mandate may be in sight -- hopefully within the next few months. It does. Wilmington StarNews . Here are some answers to the questions we hear most frequently: 1. Gov. Starting Wednesday, May 6, people over the age of two across Massachusetts must wear face masks while out in public when social distancing isn’t possible. Boucher says it would probably be wise for people to be covering their faces through the next flu season, which begins in the fall. When can we stop wearing masks? Presumably there will come a time when the order will be revised or lifted, but for now, the order remains in effect until Baker says otherwise. “We can’t assume that everyone who’s not wearing a mask is vaccinated,” he said, “but we all have an obligation to take care of ourselves and take care of each other. How many unvaccinated people will stop wearing masks now? Gibert Jeune bookstore has held a prominent place on Paris' Place Saint Michel for decades, its yellow awnings nearly as iconic as the plaza's fountain statue of Saint Michael slaying a dragon. Chris Bradford; 24 Apr 2021, 12:14; Updated: 24 Apr 2021, 12:15; WEARING a face covering has become a … But that is clearly meant to be the exception, not the rule. (WWLP) – We have been asked to wear a mask since the spring. "I’m delivering the science as the science is delivered to the medical journals,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. PAUL MARTINO: You know, Kim, we're all more than anxious to get back to the life we once had. The order, signed by Gov. 7. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday advised that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors and can avoid wearing them indoors in … Can the government legally force you to wear a mask? That’s consistent with what the CDC is currently recommending as well: In private homes, vaccinated people don’t need to continue wearing masks. No, in fact the state prefers you not wear a medical mask, saving … Wearing the personal protection equipment is required in many public spaces. Reading carefully, that means if you are in your own backyard or in a large open space with plenty of distance between people, you do not have to have your face covered. Charlie Baker announced Friday that everybody in the state will have to wear a face mask or covering while in public. Mayor Joe Curtatone said it’s necessary to expand on the governor’s order in his city. No. Of course, parents will tell you that almost anything is impossible with a two-year-old. The American Academy of Pediatrics has some helpful guidelines. Arizona. 9. Check out Drama After Dark, Drama Recaps, and other incisive articles. Paul Martino is live in the Strip District right now to explain. It doesn't. The new emergency order, which goes into effect on May 6, … Paul.