MASSACHUSETTS CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY COVID-19 UPDATE
March 5, 2022
City of Boston Lifting Mask Mandate
Effective March 5, the City of Boston lifted the indoor mask mandate. Due to improving Covid-19 metrics, masks will no longer be required for indoor public spaces, including gyms, bars and restaurants, museums, and entertainment venues.
Please click HERE to learn more.
February 18, 2022
B Together Vaccine Requirement Update
The City of Boston announced the proof of vaccination policy has been lifted effective immediately. In accordance with CDC guidelines and the City of Boston, masks are still required for all guests, regardless of vaccination status. Masks must be worn except while actively eating or drinking. Masks must completely and tightly cover the wearer’s nose and mouth. Neck gaiters, bandanas, masks with valves or vents, and any covering with only a single layer of cloth are not permitted. Face shields may not be worn in place of a face mask, though may be worn in addition to a face mask. Guests failing to adhere to this policy will be subject to disciplinary measures including ejection.
Children under 2 years old are exempt from the mandatory mask policy. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a face mask, please notify MCCA Public Safety.
To learn more about the B Together initiative, please click HERE.
December 29, 2021
B Together Vaccine Requirement Update
Beginning on January 15, the City of Boston will require proof of vaccination against Covid-19 in order to enter certain indoor spaces, including convention centers and exhibition halls. Businesses will be responsible for checking proof of vaccination and the following will be accepted for verification:
- a CDC vaccination card
- a digital image of your CDC card
- an image of any official immunization record, or
- a City of Boston app or any other COVID vaccine verification app.
To learn more about the B Together initiative, please click HERE.
August 27, 2021
In accordance with CDC guidelines and the City of Boston, masks will be required for all guests, regardless of vaccination status, at all Boston MCCA facilities starting on August 27, 2021. Masks must be worn except while actively eating or drinking. Masks must completely and tightly cover the wearer’s nose and mouth. Neck gaiters, bandanas, masks with valves or vents, and any covering with only a single layer of cloth are not permitted. Face shields may not be worn in place of a face mask, though may be worn in addition to a face mask. Guests failing to adhere to this policy will be subject to disciplinary measures including ejection.
Children under 2 years old are exempt from the mandatory mask policy. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a face mask, please notify MCCA Public Safety.
May 17, 2021
MASSACHUSETTS CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY REOPENING UPDATE
On May 17, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Kim Janey announced the lifting of pandemic restrictions in the Commonwealth and City of Boston effective May 29. As a result, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s (“MCCA”) Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, The Lawn On D, Powered by Citizens Bank, the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, and the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA will again host events and meetings, concerts, sporting events and family events at full capacity. The Authority will continue to work collaboratively with customers to ensure the appropriate safety and cleaning protocols are in place to ensure the health and safety of exhibitors, guests, attendees, employees and our contract workforce.
“I want to thank Governor Baker and Mayor Janey for their continued leadership throughout the pandemic,” said David Gibbons, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. “Massachusetts has been a national leader in public health and the strategies implemented based on data have successfully led to this moment when we can safely say that it is time to get back to business and we, and our customers, are ready to go.”
The MCCA has played a key role to assist in the public health response to the pandemic. The BCEC hosted the Boston Hope Field Hospital in the Spring of 2020 during the height of the crisis. More recently, the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center has been serving as a mass vaccination site administering more than 250,000 doses to the public.
March 22, 2021
On March 22, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts officially opened a mass vaccination site at the Hynes Convention Center. The site will be open 9AM-5PM daily and will be ramping up to vaccinate upwards of 9,000 people a day. To find out more about the mass vaccination site operated by CIC Health please click HERE.
June 2, 2020
On June 2, the last two patients were discharged from the Boston Hope Medical Center at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC). Taking just one week to build, the Boston Hope Medical Center treated over 700 patients in two months.
April 10, 2020
On April 10, 2020 the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (“BCEC”) temporarily transitioned into Boston Hope, providing 1,000 beds for COVID-19 patients, 500 for those who need medical care, and another 500 for individuals who are homeless and recovering from COVID-19. Thank you to our staff and our partners at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, City of Boston, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Massachusetts National Guard, Massachusetts Building Trades Council, Teamsters Local 25, Suffolk Construction, Partners HealthCare and Boston Health Care for the Homeless for their roles in this unprecedented effort. Learn more about Boston Hope Medical Center here.
March 23, 2020
The MCCA is following Governor Charlie Baker’s order announced on March 23 prohibiting events with groups of 10 or more. We are currently working with our clients to reschedule events that are booked at our Boston and Springfield facilities in the immediate future.
The majority of our events, meetings and conventions have indicated that they will be postponing, rather than cancelling their events. Please visit here for a current list of our upcoming events.
Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Covid-19 Response Plan
In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, the MCCA continues to monitor CDC and WHO guidelines as well as the Commonwealth’s Department of Public Health guidelines.
The MCCA is committed to providing a safe environment to all of our guests and we are closely monitoring the activity of COVID-19.
These precautionary measures onsite include, but are not limited to:
- Housekeeping has increased cleaning frequency and disinfection operations across all high-volume touchpoints throughout the MCCA’s facilities including but not limited to the following areas:
- Restrooms
- Door entrances/exits
- Escalators, Elevators
- Pay stations
- ATMs
- Hand railings
- Increased placement of hand sanitizer stations and disinfectant wipes throughout our facilities including offices, and back of house that contain 70% isopropyl[CD1] alcohol.
- The purchase of extra hand sanitizer dispensers placed in high trafficked areas.
- Installation of additional hygiene advisory signage throughout the venue, including all restrooms.
- Education and awareness extended to all team members on standard personal preventative measures, using sanitizing/disinfection products, etc.
- Many of the surfaces in our restrooms are touch-free using automatically flushing toilets, hands-free faucets, paper towel dispensers and hand dryers.
- Our Food and Beverage partner has ServSafe® certified trained Food and Beverage professionals throughout the facilities that adhere to all current guidance from the CDC and WHO on food handling practices as well as employee wellness management to protect employees, clients and consumers. Existing rules for food safety, personal hygiene and infection control are rigorously followed in order to minimize the risk of this, or any other virus spreading.
The CDC recommends that everyone follow everyday prevention practices:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
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Most importantly “Stay Home If You Are Sick”.
MCCA staff will maintain regular communication with event organizers, business partners and other key stakeholders to relay updates.
In addition to applying prevention practices in our daily operations, we are also utilizing our communication channels which include social media and digital signage to convey prevention practices.
Please know that the MCCA is taking every precautionary measure necessary to ensure the safety of our team, our guests and our community.
For more information on the COVID-19 please follow the links below: