OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
STATE HOUSE 0 BOSTON, MA 02133
(617) 725?4000

 

CHARLES E). BAKER KARYN E. POLITO
GOVERNOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

ORDER REQUIRING FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC PLACES WHERE SOCIAL
DISTANCING IS NOT POSSIBLE

Order No. 31

WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, I, Charles D. Baker, Governor of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, acting pursuant to the powers provided by Chapter 639 of the Acts of 1950
and Section 2A of Chapter 17 of the General Laws, declared that there now exists in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts a state of emergency due to the outbreak of the 2019 novel
Coronavirus 

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the outbreak was characterized as a
pandemic by the World Health Organization;

WHEREAS, the Federal Centers for Disease Control have determined that COVID-19 is
spread mainly by person to person contact and that the best means of slowing the spread of the
virus is through practicing social distancing and by minimizing personal contact with
environments where the virus may be spread;

WHEREAS, the Department of Public Health continues to urge all residents of the
Commonwealth to limit activities outside of the home and to practice social distancing at all
times to limit the spread of this highly contagious and potentially deadly virus;

WHEREAS, public health experts have determined that it is possible for an infected
individual to transmit even when the individual does not exhibit of the
virus; -

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Public Health have
advised individuals to wear cloth face coverings when they are out of the home and may be in
close proximity to others in order to prevent transmission of this highly contagious virus;

 

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WHEREAS, the number of con?rmed cases of continues to rise in the
Commonwealth. As of April 30, 2020, the Department of Public Health had reported 62,205
cases of including 3,562 deaths, with all counties across the Commonwealth
affected;

WHEREAS, the eventual reopening of businesses and public places in the
Commonwealth will require residents to continue to take precautions, including the wearing of
masks or cloth face coverings; and

WHEREAS, sections 7, 8, and 8A of Chapter 639 of the Acts of 1950 authorize the
Governor, during the effective period of a declared emergency, to exercise any and all authority
over persons and property necessary or expedient for meeting a state of emergency, including but
not limited to authority over assemblages and pedestrian travel in order to protect the health and
safety of persons; transportation or travel; regulation of the sale of articles of food and household
articles; and the policing, protection, and preservation of public and private property;

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby Order the following:

Effective Wednesday, May 6, 2020, any person over age two who is in a place open to
the public in the Commonwealth, whether indoor or outdoor, and is unable to or does not
maintain a distance of approximately six feet from every other person shall cover their mouth
and nose with a mask or cloth face covering, except where a person is unable to wear a mask or
face covering due to a medical condition or the person is otherwise exempted by Department of
Public Health guidance. A person who declines to wear a mask or cloth face covering because of
a medical condition shall not be required to produce documentation verifying the condition. This
requirement applies to all workers and customers of businesses and other organizations open to
the public that are permitted to operate as COVID-19 Essential Businesses as defined in
Appendix A of Order 13, as extended by COVID-19 Orders 21 and 30.

All persons are required to wear masks or cloth face coverings at all times when inside
grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail stores. All persons are also required to wear masks
or cloth face coverings when providing or using the services of any taxi, car, livery, ride-sharing,
or similar service or any means of mass public transit, or while within an enclosed or semi~
enclosed transit stop or waiting area.

All persons are strongly discouraged from using medical? grade masks to meet the
requirements of this Order, as medical-grade masks should be reserved for healthcare workers
and first responders.

The Commissioner of Public Health is directed to issue guidance, subject to my approval,
to implement the terms of this Order, which shall include guidance for the use of face coverings
by children between the ages of two and five years old.

If a customer refuses to wear a mask or cloth face covering for non-medical reasons, a
business may decline entry to the individual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Department of Public Health, local boards of health and authorized agents pursuant
to G. L. c. 111, 30 are authorized to enforce this Order and if necessary may do so with the
assistance of State or municipal police. Violation of the terms of this Order or Department of
Public Health Guidance may result in a civil ?ne of up to $3 00 per Violation, in the manner
provided for non-criminal disposition of Violations of municipal by?law, ordinance, rule, or
regulation pursuant to G. L. c. 40, 21D.

 

 

This Order is effective Wednesday, May 6, 2020, and shall remain in effect until
rescinded or until the emergency is terminated, whichever happens ?rst.

 

Given in Boston at i this 1st day of
May, two thousand and twenty

        

CHAES D. BAKER
GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts