BOSTON (WHDH) - The Boston Board of Health on Wednesday unanimously voted to rescind the city’s COVID-19 public health emergency.
The emergency will officially expire on April 1, 2022.
Health officials declared an emergency back in March 2020 at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. Boston lifted its indoor mask mandate for businesses and many other venues last weekend.
“In the early stages of the pandemic the declaration was really instrumental,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu who serves as Commissioner of Public Health and the Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission.
Over the last two years, many orders fell under this emergency declaration including, the indoor mask mandate, a public health crisis related to unsheltered homelessness and the B-Together initiative that required proof of vaccination for entry into indoor dining, entertainment and fitness establishments.
“All of these orders that fell under the emergency order have now been rescinded or are set to be rescinded by April 1st,” said Dr. Ojikutu.
The latest health data is why experts say now is the time to move forward. In January, the community positivity rate was 32 percent. That number has now dropped to 2.2 percent.
In January, daily adult hospitalizations were at 769. That number has dropped to about 94.
“Today’s announcement is a testament to how Boston came together in a historically challenging time to lift up public health and community,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we transition to this next phase of living with COVID, we will focus on providing the testing, resources, and planning to keep our communities safe and prepared.”
The mask mandate for Boston Public Schools will remain in place until health metrics improve, city officials noted.
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