Simon Malls In MA Won't Require Masks For Vaccinated Shoppers

BRAINTREE, MA — The Simon Property Group, which owns 13 shopping centers in Massachusetts, won't require fully vaccinated customers to wear masks when shopping inside its malls, beginning May 29.

The policy change comes after Gov. Charlie Baker announced he's rescinding the state's mask mandate and other business restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic on Saturday, May 29.

Businesses still have a right to keep mask mandates and other restrictions in place — and as of Thursday, Simon malls still planned to require masks. But that changed in an announcement on Simon's website Friday.

"At Simon centers where there is no state or local jurisdictional mask mandate, visitors who are fully vaccinated may enter without a face mask or face shield,"the company said on its website. “If you are not fully vaccinated, please wear a mask.

People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot or two weeks after getting the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Simon also said masks will remain required at its malls in local communities that don't drop the mandate.

Simon Malls in Massachusetts include the South Shore Plaza, Cape Cod Mall, Auburn Mall, Burlington Mall, Copley Place, Lee Premium Outlets, Liberty Tree Mall, Liberty Tree Strip, Northshore Mall, Solomon Pond Mall, Square One Mall, The Shops at Chestnut Hill and Wrentham Village Premium Outlets.