For Immediate Release: 8/10/2021 9:35 pm
With a rise in COVID-19 cases and the proliferation of the highly-transmissible delta variant, as well as a number of breakthrough cases in fully-vaccinated individuals, City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. has issued an Executive Order requiring the use of masks by all City employees and visitors in all municipal buildings.
The Order is effective Thursday, Aug. 12, and applies to all vaccinated and unvaccinated City employees and visitors. The Order also applies to all City-organized events occurring indoors.
The Order will remain in effect until further notice.
Municipal buildings include City Hall, 455 Main St.; Municipal Service Center, 801 Main St.; Worcester Police Department; Worcester Fire Department; Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square; Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St.; Department of Public Works & Parks Customer Service, 76 East Worcester St.; Union Station, 2 Washington Square; and Worcester Division of Public Health/Inspectional Services, 25 Meade St. Masks must also be worn by employees and visitors at the MassHire Workforce Career Center/MassHire Central Region Workforce Board at 340 Main St.
This requirement follows guidance from the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The CDC has recommended masks be worn in counties with a “substantial” or “high” transmission of COVID. Worcester County has been designated a county of “substantial” transmission.
The City of Worcester has worked hard to ensure the safety of all employees and visitors in municipal buildings, including a $15-million upgrade of HVAC systems in all City buildings, including schools, to include ionization units and help improve indoor air quality. The City also advises all residents and businesses to follow CDC and DPH COVID-19 guidance, including the wearing of masks by all unvaccinated individuals, as well as fully-vaccinated individuals in certain instances.
“We are all eager to be rid of the COVID-19 virus, and the surest way to accomplish that is to curb the spread,” City Manager Augustus said. “Masks and face coverings are an effective way to do that, along with getting vaccinated. We have made great strides against the virus, but we are still in the midst of a pandemic. We must all do our part to ensure we beat this virus once and for all.”
The City of Worcester’s Department of Health and Human Services offers a number of Mobile Equity Vaccination Clinics, with no appointment required. For a list of upcoming clinics, visit www.worcesterma.gov.
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Executive-Order-Regarding-Mandatory-Face-Coverings-for-Employees.pdf
