Inspectors found 47 COVID-19 violations at businesses in five high-risk communities, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday.
He didn’t name the businesses or elaborate on what types of businesses were cited for violations, but said the Division of Provisional Licensure conducted 92 inspections at funeral homes, nail salons, barber shops and other businesses.
Baker did not share any statewide figures Wednesday on COVID-19 workplace safety violations.
Massachusetts State Police is working with local police on COVID-19 enforcement.
Sixteen field teams were deployed to Chelsea, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn and Revere, five high-risk communities, to offer resources to residents and high-traffic businesses over Labor Day weekend. The volunteers also passed out 4,000 bottles of hand sanitizer at some locations.
While some business owners are frustrated with the pause in the state’s reopening, the Republican governor noted most of the state’s economy is open with restrictions and is following guidance based on public health experts.
"Unlike many states where the reopening led to a dramatic increase in both total cases per capita as well as big increases in their positive test rate and significant increases in their hospitalizations, here in Massachusetts the reopening happened, almost 1/2 million people came back to work at the same point in time that we significantly reduced both our positive test rate and the number of cases that were being discovered per capita and we dramatically ramped up our testing.
“I’m as frustrated as anybody about the fact that there’s still elements of our economy that for one reason or another aren’t open," Baker said, adding, “but anybody who watched what happened in the South and in the Midwest with respect to bars and nightclubs should understand why as much as those organizations are distressed and suffering under this current period in time, it’s pretty clear they played a significant role in significant outbreaks and cases in states where they were permitted to open.”
Bars and nightclubs aren’t allowed to reopen until Phase 4, which the state won’t enter until a vaccine is developed.
The state Department of Labor Services received more than 900 emails and calls through the COVID-19 hotline in its first week alone, which MassLive obtained in a record request. The reports ranged from employees raising the alarm about coworkers not quarantining to customers reporting workers who didn’t wear their masks over their noses — or in some cases, wear them at all — to opponents of the COVID-19 restrictions lambasting the governor.
Weeks later, the state continues to receive complaints alleging local businesses are not wearing masks, failing to socially distance or meeting other criteria to safely operate.
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