Simon malls, including Copley, Burlington, and Peabody, will keep mask mandate in place

Though the state is moving ahead with dropping mask and social distancing requirements for vaccinated people on May 29, most mall shoppers will still have to mask up.

The national Simon Property Group, which owns 13 shopping centers in Massachusetts, including Copley Place and the Burlington Mall, will continue requiring shoppers and employees to wear masks.

“We’re requiring our employees, retailer employees, and shoppers to wear masks. We’re also providing free face coverings upon request,” states Simon Property Group on its website.

Other shopping centers include: The Auburn Mall, Cape Cod Mall, Lee Premium Outlets, Liberty Tree Mall, Liberty Tree Strip, Northshore Mall, Solomon Pond Mall, South Shore Plaza, Square One Mall, The Shops at Chestnut Hill, and Wrentham Village Premium Outlets.

The loosening restrictions apply only to vaccinated individuals.

“I think people are misinterpreting, thinking that this is a removal of a mask mandate for everyone. It’s not,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Axios. “It’s an assurance to those who are vaccinated that they can feel safe, be they outdoors or indoors.”

On May 18, CBS Boston posted a list of retailers that will no longer require masks for vaccinated customers, which included Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Target, Starbucks, CVS, Costco, BJ’s, Kohl’s, Stop & Shop, Sam’s Club, Home Depot, and Best Buy.

The Boston Archdiocese is following suit, and will not require vaccinated individuals to wear a mask as of May 29. Pastors and parishes will not be expected to ask people whether they have been vaccinated. 

“Parishes and pastors will not be policing the population,” the Archdiocese wrote in a statement. “Every parishioner and every family will be expected to make a sound, reasonable decision about when they are ready to take off their masks and be near other people.”

The guidance does not apply to Catholic schools or office spaces, only to worship and parish activities.

Though New Hampshire dropped the mask requirement in April, Nancy Clark, owner of Trails End Ice Cream in North Conway, told CNN why she is still requiring masks in her shop and will for the foreseeable future.

“Ours is a young employee base, we range between 14 and 25…and they’re all in different stages of their vaccines right now given that age range,” she said. “We’re going to continue to require as much to protect them — in fact more to protect them than as our customers. That’s a young vulnerable age group and until we’re certain that everyone is vaccinated in that group we’ll continue to require masks.”