Health Commissioner Sigalle Reiss and the Brookline Department of Public Health (DPH) announced on Tuesday, March 8 that the town is lifting its indoor mask mandate in public spaces for all patrons, regardless of vaccination status, beginning Saturday, March 12.

Local businesses are still permitted to require masks. The mandate excludes public transportation, rideshares and healthcare facilities.

On Friday, March 4, the Brookline School Committee (BSC) voted to withhold reassessing the mask mandate in schools until DPH’s decision. In accordance with this town-wide rescindment of the mandate and their recent vote, the BSC will presumably be reconsidering the in-school mask mandate in the coming weeks.

Reiss said the mandate being lifted does not mean officials will stop monitoring the health and safety of residents.

“We are cautiously lifting the mask mandate, but I want to remind all residents and business owners that the COVID-19 pandemic remains unpredictable,” Reiss said. “We will continue to monitor data moving forward to ensure the Town of Brookline is following best practices for containing the spread of COVID-19.”