On Friday, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker issued an advisory to all residents of the state. People were asked to wear masks when they go out into the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor has enacted several measures since coronavirus gripped the state and country, taking the lives of hundreds of people in Massachusetts and thousands in the United States.

But other communities in Massachusetts are also putting in place orders enacting curfews, orders for people to wear masks and, in some cases, fines for tossing gloves and masks on streets.

It was on March 23 that the state Department of Public Health issued a stay-at-home advisory asking people to avoid unnecessary travel and activities for two weeks. Gatherings were limited in size to 10 people at the time.

Schools were closed and restaurants were limited to takeout and delivery services, meaning no one could be inside bars and restaurants to eat. Baker also limited grocery stores to 40% capacity to cut down on the amount of people inside.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues across the country, Baker and public health officials stressed the practice of social distancing.

Curfew in Boston

In Boston, Mayor Marty Walsh saw too many issues with people ignoring social distancing guidelines.

On April 6, Walsh issued a stay-at-home advisory for the city of Boston. Residents were urged to stay home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. with essential workers excluded. The advisory began on April 7.

Walsh also asked people to wear masks outside. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno also issued an advisory for residents to wear face masks outside.

“We can all help slow the spread by covering our faces,” Walsh said at the time.

The need for the curfew came as city officials saw issues with social distancing. There were also too many people taking unnecessary trips at night, Walsh noted.

Boston City Hall will now only be open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and people entering the building including employees, are being screened and their temperatures checked.

Lynn stays in

Now, the city of Lynn has a mandatory curfew asking residents to stay home at night and into the morning. The announcement came on April 12.

Just like Boston, people were told to stay home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., excluding essential workers and people getting medical care.

“These orders will ensure that the entire community can achieve the maximum amount of social distancing, while continuing to provide and receive essential services, and ultimately slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent that we can,” Lynn Mayor Thomas McGee said.

Lynn banned all non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason. People were still allowed outside but only for non-contact activities. People in Lynn were told to practice social distancing and wear some kind of mask outside.

The order does allow for outdoor activity but limited to activities that are non-contact or where people would come into close contact with other people.

Lynn also ordered all essential services to limit the number of customers and staff inside establishments to 40% of existing occupancy permits.

Any violation in Lynn will result in a suspension/revocation of any and all city of Lynn licenses and permits and fines of up to $1,000.

Fines for violations

In Haverhill, the city council approved an emergency ordinance that fines people for violating social distancing guidelines. The order only applies to gatherings of 10 or more people violating the guidelines of not staying six feet apart on public property.

The first offense is $50; the second offense is $100; and the third offense is $300.

On April 9, the city of Salem issued an order requiring the use of face coverings by any member of the public entering a grocery store, picking up food from a restaurant or entering any other essential business now open.

People inside apartment buildings were ordered to wear masks in common areas. Police and public health officials can issue fines for violating the order.

Salem police will also fine people caught tossing masks, gloves or other potentially virus-contaminated items in public areas under the city’s anti-littering and public nuisance ordinances.

Fines for violation of both ordinances will be imposed. The first fine is $100; the second fine is $300; and the third fine is $600.

The Eagle-Tribune reports essential businesses in Lawrence could face a $300 fine, a criminal complaint and cease and desist orders for violating strict directives.

The newspaper reports those businesses must follow social distancing guidelines and disinfect surfaces along with other measures.

The city of Beverly ordered all members of the public to wear some type of face mask while entering all establishments serving or selling food and all essential businesses. The order began on April 12.

All food establishments and essential retailers are required to ensure all members of the public are wearing some form of face mask when inside, according to the order in Beverly. The city also requires people in commercial or residential buildings to wear face masks in common areas.

In Revere, the mayor used a bullhorn to remind people about social distancing at the restaurants along Revere Beach Boulevard. The city ended up having the restaurants along the boulevard either close or offer delivery only.

The city also closed all on-street parking along the ocean side of Revere Beach Boulevard from Revere Street to the Lynnway and from Eliot Circle to Revere Street all on-street parking was closed.

Worcester orders wearing of masks

On April 13, Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. issued an order requiring employees of public-facing businesses to wear masks during the COVID-19 outbreak. The order will be in place within 48 hours, he said.

Most businesses in the city are already complying with the order, the city manager said.

The order is only for employees. It does not require customers to wear masks.

The order will include penalties for businesses that don’t comply. However, Augustus doesn’t anticipate any issues.

“There are mechanisms for fines, but we’re really trying to start by informing and asking people to comply,” Augustus said. “We’ll only go to the fines as a last resort.”

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