Masks & Face Coverings

The City of Cambridge issued an emergency order requiring that face masks or coverings be worn in indoor public places. The order takes effect at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 3, 2021. It applies to everyone over the age of two years old, with exceptions in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines.

Remember, not all masks provide the same protection. How well a mask fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has are all important to consider when choosing which mask to wear.

To learn about "medical style" masks that offer excellent protection against Covid-19 infection, see the Cambridge Public Health Department's Choosing the Best Mask for You and the Cambridge Public Schools' Masks Keep You Healthy.

Still need a vaccine? Visit www.cambridgema.gov/vaccine.

*Remember, you are fully vaccinated two weeks after a Johnson & Johnson vaccine OR two weeks after your SECOND dose of Moderna or Pfizer.

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Face Masks Required in Indoor Public Places in Cambridge

As of 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 3, 2021, face masks or coverings are required in indoor public places.

This Order applies to everyone over the age of two years old, with exceptions in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines.

For the purposes of this order, Indoor Public Places include, but are not limited to:

Retail establishments
Restaurants & bars - except while actively eating or drinking
Performance venues
Social clubs
Houses of worship
Event spaces
Municipal buildings
Personal care establishments
Fitness establishments

The full text of the emergency order can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where do I need to wear a mask?

Masks or face coverings will be required for all staff and customers over the age of two in indoor public places beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 3, 2021.

Face coverings are not required for persons for whom a mask or face covering creates a health risk or is not safe because of any of the following conditions or circumstances: the face mask or covering affects the person’s ability to breathe safely; the person has a mental health or other medical diagnosis that advises against wearing a face mask or covering; the person has a disability that prevents them from wearing a face mask or covering; or the person depends on supplemental oxygen to breathe.

This Order does not apply to anyone who is exempted by Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines, or, pursuant to guidance issued by the CDC, to children under two years of age.

What is an "Indoor Public Place"?

For the purposes of this order, Indoor Public Places include, but are not limited to:

Retail establishments
Restaurants & bars - except while actively eating or drinking
Performance venues
Social clubs
Houses of worship
Event spaces
Municipal buildings
Personal care establishments
Fitness establishments

What if my business isn't open to the public?

This Order does not apply to gatherings at private residences for which no compensation is paid, to common areas of residential buildings, to offices, laboratories or other private buildings that are inaccessible to the public, to private workspaces that are inaccessible to the public or to other workers

Does this apply to residential buildings?

This Order does not apply to common areas of residential buildings.

Do I have to mask at a private event that is not open to the public?

If the event is held in an indoor space that is open to the public like a hotel ballroom, social club, convention center, etc., all attendees must wear masks or face coverings at all times except when actively eating or drinking.

The mask requirement does not apply to events held at private residences or outdoors.

What about live performances indoors?

Live performances are still allowed, and performers may remove their masks or face coverings while they are performing as long as they maintain at least six feet of distance from all other people.

Why is Cambridge putting a mask requirement in effect now?

For the past several weeks, the City and Public Health Department have seen public health metrics trending in the wrong direction due to the Delta variant. Discussions with public health experts have determined that further temporary measures are necessary to prevent the spread and resurgence of COVID-19 and prevent the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible.

Although evidence shows that - even against the Delta variant - fully vaccinated individuals have substantial protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, this order is being put in place due to the CDC's recommendation that all people, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings in areas of substantial or high indoor transmission to maximize protection against the Delta variant.

If I have a question about if this applies to me or my business, who should I contact?

If you are a business with questions about this Order, please contact Matt Nelson, Assistant to the City Manager, at mnelson@cambridgema.gov.

If you are a restaurant owner or other premise licensed by the City of Cambridge with questions specific to licensing, please email license@cambridgema.gov.

If you have general questions, please email 311@cambridgema.gov.