The COVID Project
The record
- Jurisdiction
- Massachusetts
- Level
- State
- Authority
- Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title XVI, Chapter 111
- Issued
- 2026-09-28 Sept. 28, 2026
- Effective
- standing (read as 2026-09-28)
- End
- standing
- In force
- Standing since Sept. 28, 2026 (a statutory duty; in force throughout the six quarters)
- Quarters
- 2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Quarantine and isolationStanding duty
- Addressees
- selectmen and boards of health (duty); persons generally (obstruction offense)
- Character
- statutory duty
- Collection
- Standing duties: Massachusetts DUT-MA
Operative words
If a disease dangerous to the public health exists in a town, the selectmen and board of health shall use all possible care to prevent the spread of the infection and may give public notice of infected places... Whoever obstructs the selectmen, board of health or its agent in using such means... shall forfeit not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars.
Penalty
Forfeiture of $10 to $100 for obstruction or interference with posted notices
What it required
A mandatory duty on every municipality's selectmen and board of health, once a dangerous disease exists in the town, to 'use all possible care to prevent the spread of the infection,' with a forfeiture for whoever obstructs them or removes, obliterates, defaces or handles the posted notices.
Retrieval noteThe Massachusetts counterpart to the Texas 'duty to act responsibly' formulation: the statute places the affirmative duty on the local health authority and binds persons through the board's regulations (s. 31) and the obstruction offense.