Boston, Mass., Dec 13, 2021 / 16:26 pm
Citing a spike in COVID-19 cases and a “likely increase” in cases during the holiday season, the Archdiocese of Boston is reimplementing its mask mandate from Dec. 18 to Jan. 17, 2022. Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of New York has directed parishioners to follow the statewide mask mandate recently implemented by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The Boston mandate, announced by the archdiocese on Dec. 9, applies to those attending public Masses, weddings, and funerals. The only exceptions are children under the age of 5, who are not required to wear masks, while children under the age of 2 “should not wear masks,” the announcement says.
Mass celebrants, deacons, readers, servers, choir members, and instrumentalists can take off their masks when speaking; however, they are required to cover up when silent, the Boston Archdiocese announcement says.
The policy doesn’t include a requirement for parishioners to socially distance themselves. But there is a requirement for churches to provide a designated area “in which social distancing is respected for those who want to use it.”