WORCESTER, Mass. - A decision by the Healey administration to end the state’s mask mandate for health care settings next month is facing some pushback from a group of health care workers and public health advocates.

The Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity is collecting signatures in an attempt to keep protocols in place. The mask mandate is currently set to end on May 11, when both the state and federal COVID-19 public health emergencies expire. 

The coalition feels the move is "dangerous and unethical," and more than 800 people have signed its petition thus far. 

“Most of the physicians I spoke with were completely unaware that the mask mandate in health care was set to go away," said Dr. Lara Jirmanus, one of the coalition’s founders. "And I think the other piece here is there are patients who are rightly concerned about this because it will put their lives at risk.” 

The vaccine mandate for state employees will also end on May 11. In a statement released at the time of the decision, Gov. Maura Healey said “We’ve reached the point where we can update our guidance to reflect where we are now.”