it's now official... Baker says masks are required

A few months late Charlie and a few thousand lives lost later you finally make it an executive order. This will not bode well for your re-election.


Gov. Charlie Baker signed an executive order requiring Massachusetts residents over the age of 2 wear face coverings in public when social distancing is not possible. The order goes into effect May 6.
Anyone riding public transportation or in retail or grocery stores must wear face coverings. People in other public places where it's not possible to always stay 6 feet away must also be wearing them.
Baker said the order does not apply to people who are medically exempt. He also said people should not use medical-grade masks, instead leaving them for health care workers.

Baker had previously said the decision on whether to require face coverings should be left up to individual municipalities, several of which put it into practice. But on Friday, he told reporters he sees it as "common sense."
Wearing masks when being in populated public places is going to be a key measure in stemming the spread of the virus and reopening the state, Baker said.