Walsh declares weekend heat emergency for Hub
With scorching temperatures expected to arrive late this weekend, Mayor Martin Walsh is declaring a heat emergency in Boston and opening cooling centers Sunday through Tuesday.
“We are opening our cooling centers for all residents to have the option to come in and cool off in air conditioning. In addition, we’ll have two outdoor pools open that are open for Boston residents,” Walsh said in a statement Friday.
But the mayor urged those seeking relief from the heat to keep following public health guidelines — including mask wearing and social distancing — as coronavirus continues to grip the city.
“I want to remind everyone that COVID-19 is still a threat,” Walsh said. “Everyone needs to keep doing their part to avoid large crowds and wear your face covering, unless you’re in the water.”
Temperatures are expected to reach the mid- to upper 90s between Sunday and Tuesday, with “real feel” upwards of 100 degrees.
The city will have 21 Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) community centers open to the public as cooling centers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Residents are asked to call before visiting to help adhere to pandemic occupancy limits, and will be screened prior to entry and be required to wear a face covering. People must also bring their own water bottles and must limit belongings to one small bag.
The city’s two outdoor pools, BCYF Clougherty Pool in Charlestown and the BCYF Mirabella Pool in the North End, will be open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visitors must register for a swim time slot and capacity is less than 40%. Tot sprays are also open at city playgrounds, with restrictions.