Health

Mixed messaging over COVID-19 mandates

BOSTON — Last weekend was a big one for Boston Sports.

The Red Sox hosted the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. And the new-look New England Patriots played against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium.

For both events, tens of thousands of fans packed both outdoor facilities, yet none of them were required so wear masks or show proof of Covid- 19 vaccinations.

It’s a much different story at indoor arenas.

At Boston’s TD Garden, masks AND proof of vaccination (or negative Covid test results) are required to watch a Bruins or Celtics game.

But across the state, at the DCU Center in Worcester, only masks are required.

All of these different requirements to combat Covid-19 are growing more common, and more confusing.

“If they don’t make it mandatory everywhere, what good is it? It’s no good, doesn’t work,” said Eddie Whoriskey of West Roxbury.

It turns out, Worcester’s Medical Director has a similar concern.

“I think it does portray inconsistency when indoor venues are regulated in one way in one city, and another way in another city,” Dr. Hirsh told me. “I think it should be standardized and I think it needs to come from the state down.”

Dr. Hirsh believes masks and vaccines are a powerful counterpunch to Covid-19.

But, with the 20% of Worcester’s residents still unvaccinated, he tells me the need for mask mandates is as strong as ever, despite the sometimes mixed signals from the government.

“You’ve got to pull the oars together so that we beat this thing down. And the unity of purpose that we showed in fighting lots of other enemies of our society, we got to show against this virus, we can’t give up now,” Dr. Hirsh said.


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