City of Worcester, Tower Hill revive mask mandates

Photo | Grant Welker Worcester City Hall

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By Katherine Hamilton

After face mask mandates were largely lifted this spring as the coronavirus pandemic seemed to be subsiding, they are returning to Central Massachusetts as both the City of Worcester and Tower Hill Botanic Garden on Tuesday announced they would once again require masks.

The mask requirement is back in all Worcester municipal buildings effective Aug. 12, after City Manager Edward Augustus signed an executive order on Tuesday.

All city-organized events occurring indoors also fall under the mandate, according to the city’s announcement.

The mandate comes at the heels of U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendations that masks be worn in counties with substantial or high COVID-19 transmission rates. Worcester County currently has a substantial rate of transmission.

The city’s statement cited the Delta variant, as well as several breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated employees, as the motivation behind the executive order.

Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston will start requiring visitors to wear masks starting Wednesday, according to its website.

Gov. Charlie Baker lifted the mask advisory in May when COVID-19 rates were falling, but the statewide recommendation was re-established in late July as the Delta variant surged.