Westborough Issues Mask Advisory As Coronavirus Surges

WESTBOROUGH, MA — Amid a serious surge in coronavirus cases, the Westborough Board of Health has issued a new mask advisory urging all local residents to wear a face covering while indoors.

On May 12 — the day of the health board's mask advisory vote — the statewide positive test rate in Massachusetts crested 8 percent for the first time since the omicron surge at the end of January.

An highly contagious omicron subvariant, ba.2, is behind the new surge, health officials say. As of May 12, Westborough was adding about 33.6 new cases per day per 100,000 people over a two-week period. The town positive test rate was at about 6.5 percent. New town-by-town coronavirus data in Massachusetts are due out today.

“The town of Westborough’s Board of Health strongly advises all residents to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces that are crowded or when social distancing isn’t possible," the advisory said.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity, a coalition of state health professionals, is urging Gov. Charlie Baker to issue a statewide mask advisory as the more contagious ba.2 variant surges. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has rated most of the state — including Worcester County — as a high risk area for coronavirus transmission.

Other cities and towns have issued varying mask advisories. Worcester issued an advisory on Friday, and Wayland brought back masks in schools for this week only during a surge. Westborough's mask advisory took effect on Monday.