Cambridge City Manager and Commissioner of Public Health Issue Temporary Emergency Order on the Closure of Several Businesses and Activities

In the continued collective effort to halt the spread of COVID-19, Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale and Commissioner of Public Health Assaad J. Sayah, MD, today issued a temporary emergency order requiring the closure of private businesses and activities in the city, including:

• Tanning salons
• Nail salons
• Hair salons
• Barber shops
• Bodywork Therapy and massage establishments
• Tattoo and body piercing parlors
• Eyebrow threading establishments
• Martial Arts studios
• Group dance and group exercise activities
• Health clubs
• Spas
• Gyms
• Fitness clubs

“We understand the impact this temporary closure will have, not just on small business owners, but on the countless individuals in Cambridge who rely on these services and activities as part of their general wellbeing,” said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A, DePasquale in a joint statement. “Cambridge and other communities are taking this step to ensure we can effectively halt the spread of COVID-19, protect our community, and put us back on the path to normalcy as quickly as possible. We encourage people to continue to exercise. You can still take a walk and get fresh air, but please keep six feet between you and others.”

“As of today, Massachusetts is one of seven states in the U.S. experiencing widespread community spread of COVID-19,” said Claude Jacob, the City’s Chief Public Health Officer and Director of the Cambridge Public Health Department. “We are in a race against time to protect residents and frontline health care workers. The closures announced today reflect the gravity of the situation in our city and the state.”

View the full emergency declaration.  

The City of Cambridge and the Cambridge  Public Health Department continue to work closely together to identify resources to reinforce the City’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19