Somerville orders non-essential retail, personal service closure

[siderea]

Just got this email:

This is a message from the Somerville, MA Community Alert System.

Hello, this is Mayor Joe Curtatone with an update on additional
measures being taken to control the spread of COVID-19. I know there is
a lot of news to digest, and I wanted to personally keep you informed
of local actions.

Today, with the Board of Health, I announced new measures regarding
personal services, retail businesses, and construction designed to
promote social distancing and to keep our community safe during this
public health emergency.

Effective at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, March 22, all personal service and
general retail businesses must temporarily cease operation. This
includes businesses that cannot operate at a 6-foot distance such as
nail salons and hairdressers, as well as general retail stores.

Pharmacies, grocery, and convenience stores and those that sell other
essential items such as medical supplies or cleaning products may
remain open. For more information on the types of businesses that can
remain open, visit www.somervillema.gov/coronavirus.

In addition to these new measures, we have already closed schools,
limited events, closed playgrounds, suspended team sports, and closed
eateries except for pickup and delivery. I know that these disruptions
to everyday life are hard on workers, business owners, families, and
the community, but to protect the health of everyone in our community
-- and to prevent unnecessary loss of life -- we must continue to
practice social distancing.

This applies to construction as well. As of now, all work sites must
adhere to safety and distancing measures in order to remain active. All
must submit a Job Hazard Analysis and Site-Specific Safety Plan that
outlines safety and social distancing practices being used on the job.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has categorized
construction as a Low-Risk occupation, the lowest of their four
categories. For example, utility work typically isolates equipment
operators, truck drivers, and laborers, all of whom work outdoors at
significant distances. However, not all activities are as inherently
safe. Thus we are also limiting work that would bring workers into
close contact with others.

Social distancing is most effective when we all do it. To that end I
have called for leaders in Massachusetts and New England to implement
uniform bold measures including Stay at Home orders. As one city, we
are doing what we can to slow the spread of COVID-19, but it will take
widespread action to break the cycle of this virus.

Finally, I want to thank you for doing your part during this public
health crisis. We are in a time of uncertainty, but if we each play our
part we will get through this together.