Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-2153169-20170629021436/@comment-27229795-20170708220926

Or a better idea than it being a cover is that all of Seattle as well as maybe Massachusettes being cursed.

Think about it. What do you think happened to Snow, Charming, Emma, Belle and Zelena? It is possible they ended up in Massachusettes due to this new curse. That can explain their absence.