Belmont imposes mask mandate for everyone 2 and older

BOSTON (AP) — The town of Belmont on Monday imposed a mask mandate for everyone 2 and older in all indoor spaces open to the public including bars, restaurants, barber shops, hair and nail salons, fitness centers and health care facilities, including congregate care settings.

The mandate requires businesses to post the mask requirement but leaves it up to workers to enforce the rule.

Those who are unable to wear a mask because of a medical condition or disability are exempted from the new requirement.

There are other partial exemptions. Diners at restaurants can remove their masks when seated while those at bars or dance venues can only remove their masks when in the act of eating or drinking.

Patrons must continue to wear masks on indoor dance floors.

The order also applies to houses of worship and public and private transportation systems — including taxis, ride-hailing companies, commuter rail trains and the MBTA.

The mask mandate will remain in effect until Middlesex County, where Belmont is located, is rated as “low” or “moderate” for community transmission of the coronavirus for two consecutive weeks.

Last week, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 12 Massachusetts counties — all but Hampshire County — with rising caseloads of COVID-19 sparked by the highly contagious Delta variant.

Gov. Charlie Baker has resisted re-imposing mask mandates, including in schools.

Baker, a Republican, said that while the state is recommending masks for unvaccinated students and staff, the final decision should be left to local school districts.