Framingham Has Issued $18K In Fines To Coronavirus Rule-Breakers

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A surge in coronavirus cases in Framingham this fall has coincided with a rise in fines issued to businesses and individuals for breaking coronavirus rules.

The Health Department has handed out just over $18,000 in fines in 32 cases, and a majority of those fines have been issued since Oct. 1, according to city records.

The bulk of the fines — about $15,500 — have been given to property owners violating social gathering orders.

The Halstead apartments — a multi-building complex along Route 9 near the Ashland line — has been visited four times by Framingham health inspectors since Sept. 11 for large gatherings, according to records. The single biggest fine in the city — $3,500 — was given to a Halstead resident on Nov. 17 for multiple rule violations, including having a gathering after 9:30 p.m. with more than 10 people who were not wearing masks.

Under Gov. Charlie Baker's COVID-19 order No. 54, indoor gatherings cannot exceed 10 people and must end before 9:30 p.m. Health officials can issue a fine of up to $500 for each person above the limit at gatherings that violate the order.

A building at 615 Concord St. with a basement that is sometimes used as an event space had the largest gathering on the list. Health inspectors visited the property on Oct. 28 for an event with about 250 people, but the city has so far been unable to deliver the $500 fine. Another $500 fine for a Sept. 24 gathering was also undeliverable, according to records.

The city handed out 12 smaller fines to local businesses since May 29 for violating the rules of the state's reopening plan. The businesses include a Chipotle, AutoZone and several convenience stores, according to records. Of those, only three have paid the fine, according to Health Department records.

Health officials have also been responding to more complaints from residents about rule violations. Health inspectors took over 150 complaints between Sept. 1 and Nov. 20, compared to about 200 complaints in the six months ending in August. The complaints run the gamut from employees at local grocery stores not wearing masks correctly to complaints about masks and crowds at a martial arts studio.

Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer and Health Director Dr. Samuel Wong in September announced that the city would begin issuing $500 fines to anyone caught violating social gathering rules. At the time, Framingham was seeing a notable uptick in cases, but cases in the city and statewide have continued to worsen.

Framingham reported 109 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the number of new cases since Nov. 27 to 225. The number of active COVID-19 cases hit 560 on Wednesday — a level not seen since the spring. Framingham also remains on the state's list of high-risk communities due to a high rate of new cases and positive test rates.