Contractors and builders in Boston, Massachusetts have been notified to shut down all work on construction sites, although “skeleton crews” will be maintained to secure materials and monitor the sites. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced the shutdown in a press conference Tuesday, marking the first city-wide construction halt in the US.
According to local media, Walsh estimated the shutdown order could throw “tens of thousands” of ironworkers, carpenters, electricians and others out of work.
“It is a difficult decision to make,” Walsh added. “Construction is at the core of our economy here in Boston.”
The shutdown order will be revisited in two weeks, Walsh said, however he cautioned that the coronavirus crisis is changing day-by-day, making it hard to predict an end date to the halt.
As of Tuesday, the number of identified coronavirus cases in Boston totaled 33; Walsh said he expects those numbers to climb. Already, bars, restaurants, and schools in the city are closed. During the construction shutdown, only emergency street and utility work will be permitted.