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assachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced a new stay-at-home advisory and mask order on Monday in response to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state.
Indoor recreational facilities like casinos and theaters, and other entertainment-based businesses will be ordered to close at 9:30 p.m., according to the order signed by Baker Monday. Businesses can then reopen starting at 5 a.m. the next day. The new restrictions will begin starting 12:01 a.m. Friday, and Baker said they will likely remain in place for at least a month. The goal is to stem the rise in cases and keep from having to revert to Phase 1 or Phase 2 of the state’s reopening.
Encore Boston Harbor released a statement later in the day saying it supports and will adhere to the guidelines and as a result, will close the hotel until at least December 15. “Encore Boston Harbor supports and will adhere to the additional directives put forth by the Commonwealth aimed to reduce the ongoing risk to public health,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “As a result, we are analyzing the impacts of the directives on our resort operations and will adjust accordingly to be in compliance.”
All Massachusetts residents should remain home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and anyone over 5 years old must wear a mask while in public, Gov. Baker announced on Monday. Both state and local agents can enforce the new closures, which can carry a fine of $500 per violation per day. The order also allows for injunctions against businesses that flout the new restrictions.
“The data points to a clear need to do something about these trends now. What we should not do to deal with these trends is shut down the economy or close our schools,” the governor said at a press conference. “The simple truth is this — too many of us have become complacent in our daily lives. We’re doing much better than many other states and many other countries, but here too, we’ve let down our guard and have work to do.”
