Boston will keep its hightened COVID-19 precautions in place for three more weeks of the new year, Mayor Marty Walsh announced Tuesday.
Last month, Walsh reverted back to phase II of the state’s four-phased reopening plan in an effort to curb the rising COVID-19 caseload — fueled in large part by people disregarding the pleas of public health officials in order to celebrate the holidays with loved ones and extended family. Many other parts of the commonwealth are in Phase III.
The continued restrictions in Boston mean that many cultural and entertainment spaces like gyms, health clubs, movie theaters, museums and bowling alleys will remain closed. Office space, indoor dining, churches, retail businesses, outdoor theaters and performance spaces and hair and other personal service venues can operate at 25% capacity.
Speaking from Faneuil Hall, Walsh cast the step as unfortunate but necessary.
“Given the high numbers that we’re seeing today and in the last several weeks, we’re extending this pause for at least another three weeks until Jan. 27,” he said, pointing to the city’s 431 new cases and its 1,020 death toll as of Monday.
“I don’t want to be standing here as mayor at the beginning of the new year talking about shutting businesses down,” he said, expressing a desire to instead open the city back to its bustling normalcy. “But if we don’t take the precautions now, that will not happen.”
Walsh also warned, again, that if key numbers — positive cases, deaths and hospital capacity among them — continue to trend dangerously upward, more safety measures will be necessary.
“Ninety-three percent of adult, non-surgical [intensive care unit] beds are occupied," Walsh explained. "This is the highest that we’ve seen in quite some time here in the city. We just need to continue to remind people to do their part.”
Asked about the restrictions’ effectiveness, Walsh responded that he believes the rollback is working to lessen residents’ opportunities to spread the virus further. He attributed the current upward trend to people “unintentionally letting their guard down” and socializing with others they don’t live with.
Walsh said the city will reassess its key COVID-19 metrics in another three weeks. If the numbers show a sustained decline, the city could move forward with lifting restrictions.
The mayor also declined to address the rumors that President-elect Joe Biden is considering him for a cabinet post.
Asked, again, whether he’d been contacted by Biden’s vetting team, Walsh replied that he’s been focused on COVID-19.
“I’m going to stay focused on that," he said. "I’m going to stay focused on my State Of The City [Address], which is coming up next Tuesday. Whatever the speculation is, or whatever the talk is, I’m going to let that go."
