Aaaaaand there we go.
Mar. 23rd, 2020 11:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
camwynFacing a surge in both coronavirus cases and related deaths, Governor Charlie Baker on Monday ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses in the state in an effort to curb the spread of the disease.
The order takes effect Tuesday at noon and is effective until April 7 at noon. The Department of Public Health is also issuing a “stay-at-home” advisory, which will also be in effect until April 7, Baker said.
“Everyone is advised to stay home and limit all unnecessary activities,” he said at a State House news conference. “We’re asking everyone to use their common sense, think about the impact this virus is having on the sick and elderly, and to limit their interactions with other people. This cuts down on the chances this virus has to spread.”
Travel is not barred, but people over the age of 70 or with underlying health conditions are “strongly” advised to stay home and “limit interactions” as much as possible, Baker said.
He stressed that essential businesses including grocery stores, pharmacies, medical facilities, and gas stations will remain open.
“We will always allow” such essential businesses to stay open, he said.
“The people of Massachusetts are meeting this challenge exactly the way we would expect — with determination, cool heads, and a selfless sense of community,” Baker said.
He said that while areas like public parks will remain open for exercise, there should be no touch football games or similar activities that involve close person-to-person contact.
"That spreads the virus," Baker said. "We're advising people to use common sense with every step we take."
Baker added that while buses and trains will continue to operate, “that doesn’t mean we think it’s a good idea to take the train downtown” to visit friends. He stressed that public transit should only be used for essential travel.
(Boston Globe website. The Globe has a paywall so I'm just cut/pasting here.)
The order takes effect Tuesday at noon and is effective until April 7 at noon. The Department of Public Health is also issuing a “stay-at-home” advisory, which will also be in effect until April 7, Baker said.
“Everyone is advised to stay home and limit all unnecessary activities,” he said at a State House news conference. “We’re asking everyone to use their common sense, think about the impact this virus is having on the sick and elderly, and to limit their interactions with other people. This cuts down on the chances this virus has to spread.”
Travel is not barred, but people over the age of 70 or with underlying health conditions are “strongly” advised to stay home and “limit interactions” as much as possible, Baker said.
He stressed that essential businesses including grocery stores, pharmacies, medical facilities, and gas stations will remain open.
“We will always allow” such essential businesses to stay open, he said.
“The people of Massachusetts are meeting this challenge exactly the way we would expect — with determination, cool heads, and a selfless sense of community,” Baker said.
He said that while areas like public parks will remain open for exercise, there should be no touch football games or similar activities that involve close person-to-person contact.
"That spreads the virus," Baker said. "We're advising people to use common sense with every step we take."
Baker added that while buses and trains will continue to operate, “that doesn’t mean we think it’s a good idea to take the train downtown” to visit friends. He stressed that public transit should only be used for essential travel.
(Boston Globe website. The Globe has a paywall so I'm just cut/pasting here.)
