- A cruise company has been ordered to stop operating after a photo showed crowds of people on a ship on Boston Harbor Saturday night went viral.
- The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards issued a cease and desist to the Bay State Cruise Company Monday.
- The company has been under scrutiny after the photo was shared on social media.
- Effective immediately, the company is not allowed to operate under the state’s COVID-19 orders, according to the order.
A recent news from NBC Boston deals with stopping of cruise ship from operation following the viral photo shared on social media. Adequate action has been taken against the company for the untimely action during this pandemic.
Statement issued by the Boston Mayor
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh issued a statement Monday evening explaining why the order was issued:
“This weekend’s mass gathering on a boat in the harbor represents a serious threat to public health, which is why today the Boston Public Health Commission together with the state’s Department of Labor Standards issued a cease-and-desist order to Bay State Cruise Company.”
“We’ve made great sacrifices and worked hard over the last few months to stop the very real and very dangerous spread of COVID-19, and it’s vital every person and every business take this public health emergency seriously, and do their part to keep their families, neighbors and communities safe.”
Cruise ship company responds
Michael Glasfield, a manager with Bay State Cruise Company, said in an email earlier Monday that the cruise had sailed at just 33% capacity, falling within the company’s COVID-19 operating limits of 44%.
“Clearly, this is a situation where the public’s view is far more important than whether or not we are conducting activities in accordance with regulations,” Glasfeld said.
“We value our reputation as being a company that does the right thing, and we are working with the City of Boston’s Dept of Health this week to further work on what needs working on.”
Precautionary measures taken by the company
Bay State Cruise Company has set out a number of other measures in its control plan.
- It includes barriers at boarding lines, screens at serving counters, reduced sail times and nightly sanitization with anti-microbial spray machines.
- Hand sanitizer dispensers set at doorways, common touch areas disinfected every 20 minutes and face masks provided to employees, to be worn when near passengers or other crew members.
- Employees should not report to work if they exhibit COVID-19-like symptoms, and will provide two weeks paid leave for employees to stay at home if they contract COVID-19.
“It is very concerning to see crowds of people gathering in large groups, putting themselves, everyone around them, and every person they come into contact with at risk,” Walsh said in a Monday morning statement.
The state labor office said all charter boat operators must adhere to issued mandates, including a 50-percent capacity restriction and specific protocols for social distancing, hygiene, staffing and operations, and cleaning and disinfecting.
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Source: NBC Boston
