Hey, there! Log in / Register
Somerville delays relaxing coronavirus restrictions another week
By adamg on Sat, 07/11/2020 - 1:59pm
Somerville announced yesterday it will not be joining Boston in letting health clubs and theaters open next week.
Somerville is instead waiting until July 20 to get in sync with the state's "phase 3" reopening, which also calls for relaxing rules on how many people can gather in an outdoor event. Phase 3 went into effect in the rest of the state this past Monday.
Businesses in the Phase 3 Step 1 reopening include large indoor venues generally considered to be at high risk for viral spread without proper measures in place, such as movie theaters, cultural centers, and performance venues. Gyms, fitness centers such as yoga or spin studios, and outdoor performance venues, as well as indoor and outdoor gatherings are also included in this phase.
The Somerville Theatre has already announced it will not be reopening any time soon.
Neighborhoods:
Topics:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
Enough with this clown show, Joe
"Somerville" isn't doing this; it's the mayor, who has been on some weird quest to get noticed for doing something - anything - that sets him apart from other elected officials so that he gets noticed.
We noticed, Joe!
Noticed for being stupid.
Id say he’s the worst mayor in the entire USA
But NYC has DeBlasio.
Joe is right to be cautious
You might see it as grandstanding, but to me it looks more like real leadership. He's doing the right thing and risking serious blowback from idiots who think "caronavirus" is a hoax because they personally are not dead already. I'm a longtime Somerville resident and certainly have my disagreements with the mayor but he's sticking his neck out to try to keep our community safer.
Somerville is doing what
Somerville is doing what other municipalities + the state probably *should be* doing (but aren't).
They're allowing more time to see how the data looks to make sure there's not a rise from Phase II actions and the July 4 weekend... and they are working with businesses to ensure compliance with new regulations meant to increase employee and resident safety.
The public health and economic gains are massive from ensuring the virus count does not rise. The human and economic toll is massive if the virus surges again, which is more likely if we reopen poorly.
the only slack i'll give him
the only slack i'll give him is that somerville is one of the 10 densest citys in the country. social distancing will be a bit more challenging than the rest of boston.
Curtatone is doing the right thing for Somerville
Please tell us, with actual facts and reasons, why you think Curtatone is stupid.
I don't agree
I have to backtrack ..
I don't think the mayor is stupid. I don't think he's doing anything for political gain/loss; he believes he needs to do what he's doing. I say this because some social media types question my "motive" when I have none. I shouldn't question others' reasons for doing what they believe they should do.
I meant to say that there is nothing in the data that suggests there is a reason for Somerville to be more conservative in methods of fighting the disease than other municipalities, at least according to the public data.
Somerville has actually done very well in several ways compared to other municipalities: more people per capita have been tested, for example.
I hope everyone finds sources to rely on that show data they can see that allows them to make educated, independent decisions.
you don't pay much attention
Joe was "noticed" on a national level starting at least a few years back, is well-known for his positions and mayoral style - this isn't new from him and he doesn't really have a need to "be noticed".
He's being more cautious, but that's because we've seen the disastrous results of the hurried reopenings across the country as a result of political and business pressure. Pressure to which, as we have seen, Baker and Walsh are not immune.
You don't like having to wait to get back into the movie hall and pick-em-up-put-em-down-room? Fine, but don't ascribe motivations to someone out of spite.
Partial backtrack
Thanks for backtracking on calling Curtatone stupid. But you also called him a clown show, and said he was on a "weird quest" to get noticed. I didnt see you backtracking on those 2 statements.
You say there is nothing in the data to suggest that Curtatone should be more conservative in methods than others. I'll suggest that there is nothing in the data that suggests the Gov. Baker has all the answers either. With the politicization of the CDC , and the politicization of some of Baker's policies and decisions, it is fair that Curtatone makes his own decisions for Somerville.
Density matters
Somerville is very densely populated, maybe even more so now that everyone is not working in Boston and is instead at home. It makes sense for them to be a bit more cautious than most.
don't "backtrack"
instead own up to what you said, explain what motivated it, and explain how and why you would like to come to a different conclusion.
because...
is clearly false. if that's what "you meant to say" then you were really, really far off in your initial statement, which had nothing to do with science or numbers but was simply an attack on the Mayor for ... what exactly?
you should also own up to being a part of the arglebargle of voices pushing for reopening at all costs (including human lives, buddy!), simply because you find it inconvenient for your own interests.
Good on ya, Somerville
I wish other communities were smart enough to recognize the uptick in MA (R_0 > 1.0, net hospitalization numbers worsening) and also push back on Baker's overeagerness.
You’re half right
R0 is at 1, but hospitalizations are stagnant at a low level (roughly 650.)
3/4 right?
The trend had been that net hospitalization was decreasing by 50 people per day. Including yesterday, we've only had -50 three times in the last month.
The "derivative" of the net hospitalization curve is worsening...
Looking at the dashboard
Net hospitalizations is stagnant. Given that numbers have values, the hospitalization curve is not worsening.
Somerville is the most
Somerville is the most densely populated city in New England. We know that this virus loves density.
It doesn't exactly love
It doesn't exactly love density. It loves crowded indoor spaces, which isn't exactly the same thing.
For example, the densest NYC neighborhoods, measured in residents per square mile, we're not hit that badly.
The neighborhoods that suffered the worst had fewer highrises, so fewer people overall since they weren't stacked vertically, but more crowded apartments since they were poorer. Also more people who had to keep going to work in person.
When Boston theaters open you
When Boston theaters open you'll need to use a mask right? All props to the Somerville Theater but your content has been lacking. The last thing I went to was the Looney Tunes festival.
Still pretty damned risky...
The problem is, you're sitting in a room with people you don't know whose masks may not fit well. Unless that room is an air tunnel, or everyone has to wear N95s and face shields, 90-150 minutes is pretty much guaranteed to expose one to any asymptomatic spreader.
Personally, I'm not setting foot into a theater or aircraft until 2021.
From what I understand, there'll be limiting of people who
can enter movie theatres when they re-open, people will be required to wear face masks, and the social distancing of 6 ft or more from each other will be required, also.
social distancing does nothing in a room with circulated air
Social distancing is not going to do anything in a theater. Six feet is an arbitrary distance, and if virus-loaded droplets get in the air in an enclosed space like that, being six feet apart won't matter at all. The masks will help prevent it from getting in the air, but it's still a risk that doesn't seem worth taking.
At least a seat between
At least a seat between patrons anyway.
"Lacking"
The Somerville Theatre was plenty crowded the last few times I went there to see "Us" "Uncut Gems" Drive By Truckers live, the 70mm festival, etc. etc. But you stay home and watch your Marvel movies, they won't miss you.
How many theaters and health clubs in Somerville
Somerville Theater wasn't opening regardless. There's the AMC(?) in Assembly. Are there others?
The problem with town by town restrictions in MA is that most towns are tiny, geographically speaking. Of people in Somerville with gym memberships, I'd guess at least 1/2 go to gyms in neighboring towns. So this order is symbolic at best unless most Eastern MA towns inact the same policy.
Theatres and performance venues in Somerville
Somerville Theatre and AMC Assembly Row are the only movie theatres. Somerville Theatre is also a live stage. Down the road from the Somerville is another smaller live stage, The Rockwell.
We also have two large performance halls: Arts at the Armory and ONCE, both on Highland Avenue. And a couple of amateur theatre groups that rent out Unity Church on College Avenue for small stage shows. I do not know of anyone currently wanting to rent these spaces who would be inconvenienced by another week's delay.
A few restaurants and bars have smaller live music stages: The Burren, Bull McCabe's, Sally O'Brien's, the place that used to be called PA's Lounge (I don't remember its current name), Thunder Road, Aeronaut Brewery, and maybe one or two others I've forgotten right now.