Remember to Wear Face Coverings When Outside Your Home

April 28, 2020 -The City’s Temporary Emergency Order Requiring the Wearing of Masks or Face Coverings in all Public Places, Businesses, and in Common Areas of Residential Buildingswas amended on April 28, 2020: 1) to clarify that in residential buildings of 2 or more units people can either wear a mask or cloth face covering or maintain a 6 foot distance in common areas of such buildings, but that those caring for a child or for a disabled or elderly person do not have to maintain a distance of 6 feet when in such common areas; 2) to clarify that the Order does not apply to people under 5 or people with a disability or medical condition for whom wearing a mask or cloth face covering is not recommended by their healthcare professional; 3) to clarify that when employees, contractors and visitors are in COVID-19 Essential Businesses, all such people must wear a mask or cloth face covering unless they can maintain a distance of six feet from all people at all times; 4) to add a one week grace period during which the Order will not be enforced; and 5) to add an additional clause reflecting Governor Baker’s April 28, 2020 extension of his March 31, 2020 Executive Order through May 18, 2020.

April 27, 2020 - City of Cambridge Issues Emergency Order Requiring the Use of Face Coverings

As a reminder, and in keeping with the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Cambridge Public Health Department, the City of Cambridge is requiring that residents wear face coverings anytime they are outside of their home, especially in public settings in which physical distancing measures (ensuring 6 feet of space or more from others) are difficult to maintain. Those areas include grocery stores and pharmacies.

When wearing a face covering, residents should be aware that face coverings should:

• Fit snugly, but comfortably against the side of the face;
• Be secured with ties or ear loops;
• Include multiple layers of fabric;
• Allow for breathing without restriction (cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, persons who have trouble breathing, or anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance);
• Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape; and
• Be frequently washed using a washing machine with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. They can also be hand washed with soap and warm water and left to dry.

After wear, residents should remove facemasks/face coverings carefully, avoiding touching their nose, eyes or mouth until the face covering has been properly disposed of or placed carefully away to be washed, and the wearer should immediately wash their hands after removal. 

More information on how to properly wear, clean, and create face coverings can be found on the CDC’s website and Guidance for Residents on Wearing Face Coverings is available from the Cambridge Public Health Department.

Learn more at www.cambridgema.gov/facemask

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