Boston mayor orders shut down of construction sites due to coronavirus

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has ordered that all construction projects in the city be suspended in response to the spread of the coronavirus.

Walsh’s move comes after the postponement of the Boston Marathon, cancellation of the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston, and the closure of all schools, restaurants, and bars in Massachusetts. The Bay State had a reported 164 cases of the virus on Sunday.

The shutdown is effective Tuesday. Companies will be allowed to maintain the crews necessary to make sure their sites are safe and secure until Monday, March 23, according to a report in the Boston Globe. Skeleton crews would be allowed thereafter to ensure site safety.

Walsh urged construction employers not to fire workers, pointing out that the construction market in the city is robust and will require workers again after a return to normalcy. He suggested that workers be laid off, if necessary, the Globe reported.