Waltham Requires Face Masks, Coverings In Public Amid Coronavirus

WALTHAM, MA — Anyone older than 5 is now required to cover their face, including mouth and nose with a clean mask, scarf or other face covering when in any public space, according to a Waltham Public Health order released Thursday.

The order comes as the number of people who had tested positive in Waltham for the coronavirus rose to 774 Thursday. Another 29 people were reported to have died because of the illness the virus causes, known as COVID-19.

The face covering requirement will go into effect Friday, May 1.

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy has said many of the calls and emails she has received from residents have been complaints about people not wearing masks.

"The issue here is prevention of the spread of known and deadly infection," McCarthy said in an emailed statement. "As the numbers are not down yet and as more and more people are going go out despite the Governor’s stay home order, we feel it is needed to prevent the spread of infection and to get the people to wear them.

The mayor said a penalty could range from $10 to $100 for those who do not follow the order.

"If we did not have a pandemic we would not be doing any of this," said McCarthy.

With the order, Waltham follows the likes of a growing number of municipalities nearby.

In Somerville the order requiring that face coverings be worn at all times in public comes with A $300 fine is possible for those who "willfully refuse to comply." The order applies to anyone age 2 or older when in any public indoor or outdoor space. For Cambridge, a similar order will be in effect for those over the age of 5. While several cities and towns have required face coverings in public stores and buildings, only Boston issued an advisory and Brookline instituted such a rule for being outside prior to this week.

See the order:

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