Boston, state officials order party cruise company to ‘cease and desist’ following viral photos of crowded boat

A Boston cruise company has been issued a cease-and-desist order by city and state officials after photos of maskless revelers crowding the boat’s decks went viral on Saturday night.

The state Division of Labor Standards and the Boston Public Health Commission sent the cease-and-desist order to Bay State Cruise Company Monday, two days after the photos — which were shared thousands of times on Twitter — drew scrutiny and complaints.

“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,” Mayor Martin Walsh said in a statement.

“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,” Walsh added, “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.”

City Councilor Ed Flynn — whose district includes Pier 4 in Boston Harbor where the boat was docked — said he received many complaints and worried it could trigger a “superspreading event.”

Bay State Cruise Company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

On Sunday, Julie Pagano of Bay State Cruise Company said the vessel capped capacity at 33% — fewer passengers than what she said the company is currently permitted under state guidelines. She also said passengers had the “benefit of a constant breeze across the decks.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2P7l07P