Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced on Monday new vaccine requirements for some indoor spaces in the city, as well as a new vaccine mandate for the city’s employees.
Proof of vaccination will be required at affected businesses, including indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment establishments beginning on Jan. 15.
Boston is requiring vaccination for all city employees and eliminating an option for city workers to be regularly tested instead of being vaccinated. City workers will have until Jan. 15 for a first vaccine dose and until Feb. 15 for the second dose, unless they are granted a medical or religious exemption.
“Vaccines are the most powerful tool we have to fight this pandemic,” Wu said in a statement. “Vaccination saves lives, and closing vaccination gaps is the best way to support and protect our communities businesses, and cultural institutions during this pandemic. The vast majority of COVID-related hospitalizations are of unvaccinated individuals, which is impacting our entire healthcare system and compromising the health of our communities.
"Today’s steps to protect community members in certain indoor establishments and throughout our city workforce will help ensure that everyone in Boston will be safe. City government must take down barriers and direct our resources for easy access to testing and vaccination to protect our city and all of our communities.”
Kids ages 5 to 11 will have to show proof of at least one dose starting on March 1, and will have to show proof of full vaccination on May 1 to enter certain businesses.
Boston is averaging about 370 positive cases per day, compared to only about 80 positive cases per day back in October. Nearly 80% of the city's resident are at least partially vaccinated. With cases rising at a fast rate, 95% of metro Boston hospital beds are currently occupied, according to state data.
Similar policies have been enforced in other major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Boston's neighboring communities, including Arlington, Brookline, Cambridge, Salem, and Somerville will follow vaccine requirements for their local indoor venues.
“Our essential workers have been on the front lines of fighting this pandemic for more than 650 days,” Wu said. “And it’s time for Boston to follow the science and public health data to ease their burden and to take the big steps that we can to help close vaccination gaps.”
