Around New England

Rhode Island Catholic Church Holding Mass Outside

Matthew McDonald

A Roman Catholic church in Johnston, Rhode Island is offering Mass on the steps of the church on Saturday afternoon and Sunday mornings during the coronavirus emergency.

Our Lady of Grace Church is holding no public Masses inside the church, following the directive of Bishop Thomas Tobin, the bishop of Providence, a diocese that covers the whole state of Rhode Island.

Boston Mayor To Allow Thin-Film Plastic Bags During Corona-Crisis
News

Boston Mayor To Allow Thin-Film Plastic Bags During Corona-Crisis

Matthew McDonald

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is temporarily allowing stores in the city to offer thin-film plastic bags to their customers during the coronavirus emergency.

The mayor's executive order does not say why allowing the plastic bags is a good idea, but government officials elsewhere have suggested that the reusable bags that many shoppers in certain jurisdictions nowadays bring into stores from their homes or cars may spread the virus, and that thin-film bags provided by a store to its customers on a one-time basis may be safer.

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