With the news that Boston will return its coronavirus reopening plan to a modified version of Phase 2, Step 2 starting Wednesday, many local businesses and cultural institutions learned Monday that they should close their doors for at least three weeks.
Among the companies and cultural institutions affected by the setback: museums; movie theaters; aquariums; sightseeing and other organized tours; interior historic spaces and places; fitness centers, health clubs and gyms; bowling; beating cages; and rock climbing facilities.
At a news conference Monday, Mayor Marty Walsh said the setback did not mean the city was necessarily targeted at those businesses and the city would be re-evaluated in three weeks.
“I want to be clear: it’s not about targeting specific sectors that cause the virus,” Walsh said. “This is an effort to reduce global activity away from home through the mechanisms offered by the state’s reopening plan.”
Some museums, including the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Boston Children’s Museum, pre-emptively closed their doors before Walsh’s announcement. The ICA closed voluntarily on December 7, while the Children’s Museum announced it would cease operations until at least January 7 on Sunday.
“We have been very attentive to the data provided by the city and the state as COVID cases continue to increase and we have heard calls from the governor and mayor for us all to stay home and do our part to limit the spread of the virus, “ICA director Jill Medvedow wrote in a Dec. 7 statement to Boston.com. “With this in mind, we decided to voluntarily close the museum to the public to ensure the health and safety of our staff, visitors and community. At this time, we do not have a reopening date planned, but we will continue to follow the data and advice of public health experts. “
This is what other Boston museums are saying about the impending closures.
Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
“We appreciate the mayor’s efforts to keep the Bostonians safe and we are committed to doing our part. Museums and cultural institutions understand the need to take meaningful action to curb rising infection rates, and we have helped keep our communities safe by overcoming public health guidelines. As we move to reopening the new year, we know that museums will provide a welcoming space throughout Boston for a long time to come. ”
Vikki N. Spruill, President and CEO, New England Aquarium
“The New England Aquarium has prioritized safety throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so during this temporary public closure. Above all, we put the health of visitors, staff and animals first. Although we have no evidence of community broadcast between visitors or Aquarium staff, we must do our part to help curb the spread.Our team will closely follow the directions of the city of Boston.Although our doors are closed to visitors , our staff will continue to provide dedicated care to our animals on a daily basis.We encourage our followers to visit us from afar with a wide variety of virtual programming opportunities available and to consider a donation to the Mission Forward Fund, which directly supports the needs most urgent issues of the institution “.
Science Museum, Boston
“We have been in close communication with Mayor Walsh’s staff, as community transmission rates have risen to alarming levels. During this time, the museum has maintained a safe experience for everyone by reducing operational capabilities, strict cleaning and safety protocols, and compliance with health guidelines.We do not know of any transmission to the Museum.However, we support the effort to take all possible measures at this critical time.Although the Museum will be closed to the public, our work and mission will continue.We will continue to work on various on-site projects and expand our service to the community through our digital efforts at MOS at Home and MOS at School.We have a unique opportunity to help the This is another setback for our fragile cultural community, especially during the holidays, but we are working to get out of this global pandemic. s stronger than ever in the service of our community “.
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