Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Boston

• City Hall is only open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need to visit City Hall for essential services, you must make an appointment.
• Mayor Walsh has extended his executive order allowing plastic bags in Boston until September 30. With both the Boston Public Health Commission and Mass. Department of Public Health finding that reusable bags are safe amid COVID-19, residents can use them again while shopping in the City.
• Step 1 of Phase 3 will begin on Monday, July 6, except for Boston, where it will begin on Monday, July 13. An updated gathering advisory goes into effect on July 6 as well, except for in Boston, where it will take effect on July 13. We continue to update City-specific guidance for Boston on our reopening website.
• Park facilities, including athletic fields, courts, splash pads, and playgrounds are open as of July 13, 2020, as part of the City of Boston’s Phase 3 reopening
• Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) is now offering programs and classes for Boston youth this summer. These free programs will be held both remotely and in-person at BCYF community centers across the City.
• We have free breakfast and lunch sites across the City for youth and teens through the Summer Eats program.
• All Boston Public Library locations are closed. Through the "BPL to GO" program, the Library will allows patrons to “order” items by placing a hold on them, then safely picking them up from select branches.
• All Mass. residents over the age of two must wear a face covering or mask in public.
• There is now a "Safer at Home Advisory" in effect in Massachusetts. People over 65 and those with underlying health conditions should stay home, with the exception of essential trips for healthcare and groceries. Restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people remain in effect.
• The MBTA has reduced its services. All riders and employees are required to wear a face covering.

For more recent City of Boston updates, view our COVID-19 timeline.

Since January, the Boston Public Health Commission and Boston EMS have taken extensive steps to prepare for a potential outbreak of COVID-19. BPHC and Boston EMS are trained to respond to infectious diseases. In the past, we have successfully stood up heightened awareness, monitoring and response approaches for SARS, MERS, and H1N1 flu. We will do the same for COVID-19.

BPHC is engaging in daily communications with the CDC, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), City of Boston departments and other community partners to make sure we have the latest information on guidance, best practices and recommendations. BPHC will provide updated information on this website and on our social media channels as it becomes available.