Six New Bedford bars fined for violating COVID-19 orders to protect residents

New Bedford, Massachusetts– The New Bedford Health Department has issued fines to six New Bedford businesses for failure to comply with the City’s COVID-19 regulations and protections for residents.

Whiskey Lounge at 1669 Acushnet Avenue, and Sebastian’s at 110 Country Street, were each fined $300 for failure to comply with mask-wearing regulations.

Legends at 78 Covell Street was fined twice, $300 and $600, for violations on two consecutive days, for failure to comply with mask-wearing regulations and social distancing.

New Bedford Bar & Grill at 116 County Street, and The Bar at 266 Dartmouth Street were each fined $600 for violations of the social distancing and mask-wearing regulations.

Freddie’s Café at 175 Sawyer Street was fined $600 for failure to comply with mask-wearing regulations and for permitting dancing at its establishment, which is not permitted under COVID-19 safety regulations.

Violation orders were issued November 20 after inspections by the New Bedford Health Department. Businesses and employees are reminded to comply with mask-wearing to keep themselves and others safe.

Earlier this year, Mayor Jon Mitchell and the Board of Health announced emergency orders to keep employees safe at their place of work, and to outline reporting requirements of COVID-19 in the workplace. The orders include strong measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces

Businesses will be subject to fines for failure to comply with the City’s orders, including failure to protect employees and failure to notify the Health Department of an outbreaks. The orders can be found on New Bedford’s COVID-19 webpage: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/health-department/coronavirus/.