As Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker limits gatherings of 25 or more people, workers ask what that means for their workplaces, daycares

MASSLIVE.COM ^ | 3/15/2020 | steve stolis

[bitt]

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement Sunday night banning gatherings of 25 or more people sent workers scrambling to find out what that means for their jobs, their children’s daycare facilities and preschools.

The executive order on gatherings — one of several issued Sunday to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus — prohibited “without limitation, community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, sporting events with spectators, concerts, conventions, fundraisers, parades, fairs, festivals and any similar event or activity that brings 25 or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time.” Those spaces include auditoriums, stadiums, large conferences, fitness centers and theaters, to name a few.

Workers across the state initially questioned whether the restriction applies to workplaces in industries that aren’t explicitly mentioned in the order. The state Department of Public Health issued guidance Sunday night clarifying that the ban doesn’t apply to many offices and factories.

“The order does not apply to typical office environments, government buildings or factories where large numbers of people are present, but it is unusual for them to be within arm’s length of one another,” the DPH guidance states.

The DPH guidance also says the order doesn’t ban normal operations at airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls, pharmacies, grocery stores and other spaces where large groups aren’t congregated.

The distinction lies in the language used in the guidance: the restrictions apply to any event or activity that draws 25 or more people to a “confined indoor or outdoor space," but not any location where “25 or more persons may be in transit.”

[bgill]

We have heard from them. Turn the tv on.

[lodi90]

This hysteria is beyond out of control.

They are going to do their best to destroy our economy and blame Trump for any and everything related to Wuhan-19. This is their last hope to prevent him from being re-elected.

---

Agree. And after they have crated the economy the panic inducing Wu Flu pumpers will want thanks for their handiwork. Yeah, no.

[Snowybear]

Our CEO was initially under the impression that this applied to the work place so I came back home. I’m going to WFH anyway just because I can and do at least two or three days every week anyway in a normal situaton.

I stopped at a grocery store (central MA outside of Worcester) on my way home as my wife asked me to pick some hot dogs because we were out. The paper goods, bread, eggs and frozen veggies were completely barren, not one to be had. They were just coming to restock the bread when I went by the aisle. They had plenty of drinking water.

For eggs we have chickens and a well for free great tasting water so we’re good there. I thought this announcement would make people panic buy even worse but it apparently hasn’t at least in my neck of the woods. I got a parking space right up front and there were plenty.

-SB

[bitt]

Cuomo was just on fox pontificating and being all folksy/dictatorial..droning on and on..

[GOPJ]

Places of business and schools are exempt - well that’s what I heard.

[Brown Deer]

Yes. Catholic archdiocese in Boston already had banned masses...

but can the government ban them?

[raccoonradio]

They can ban gatherings over a
certain amount of people.So they say.
Restaurants cannot allow patrons
to dine there now.They can be fined.

Freedom of religion, freedom of
assembly but they can enforce
emergency measures.During some
blizzards non essential workers
were told not to drive and they
could be fined. In April of 2013
the city of Boston and surrounding
areas were closed down during the manhunt for the terrorist Tsarnaev
brothers.

[raccoonradio]

While work is not banned people are
being told not to gather more than
10 in a room.I work for the Postal
Service helping to dispatch truckers
with trailers and will report for work
today at noon as usual.