Watertown Indoor Mask Mandate Now In Effect

WATERTOWN, MA —The Watertown Board of Health approved a requirement for face coverings to be worn indoors in town beginning today, August 25.

The highly transmissible delta variant is pushing an increase in COVID-19 cases both locally and nationally, causing a growing number of Massachusetts communities to re-issue an indoor mask mandate.

The board unanimously voted in favor of the order at an emergency board meeting Monday night.

The requirement applies to residents 2 years and older.

Health Department Director Larry Ramdin gave the latest numbers of infections throughout the pandemic. At the end of the day on August 23, Watertown has had 2,575 cases, 40 fatalities, 2,486 people have recovered, and there are 49 active cases.

In May, Watertown had 29 active cases, a daily case count of 0.93, and four breakthrough cases. In June, there were just five cases, an average daily count of 0.16, and all were breakthrough cases.

The CDC organized guidelines recommended for counties that fall under the high transmission rate. Middlesex County moved from substantial risk of transmission to the high-risk category just this week.

Watertown joins a growing list of communities that have already implemented a mask mandate, like Arlington, Belmont, Lexington, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Provincetown, Somerville, Salem and more.

Starting August 27, the entire city of Boston and Brookline will implement an indoor mask mandate.

This mandate does not apply to outdoor spaces.

You can view the Watertown Board of Health's order here.