Cambridge City Hall. Photo by Andrew Cosand | Flickr | CC BY 2.0

Cambridge officials Wednesday night issued a moratorium on all construction activity in the city “until further notice” to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“The decision to pause construction in the city is being made out of an abundance of caution. Our first priority is protecting the hard-working men and women who work in the construction industry in Cambridge,” Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale said in a statement. “In the coming week, I will be convening an advisory group comprised of business and developer leaders, contractors, public health officials, city staff and trade union officials to advise me on factors to consider in determining when the moratorium will be lifted.”

Any work during the ban will require the explicit approval of the Commissioner of Inspectional Services Ranjit Singanayagam, for building work, or Commissioner of Public Works Owen O’Riordan, for utility-related work. The city’s announcement says only work that is “essential or in response to an emergency” will be allowed. Examples in the order include repairing heating or electrical equipment in buildings, and work in buildings needed to respond to the coronavirus epidemic.

Under the moratorium, the city will not issue further building permits or licenses starting Thursday. Contractors are being given until the close of business Saturday, March 21 to wind down work on all job sites, after which point access to sites will only be allowed to make them “safe and secure.” Work to secure construction sites must be completed by the end of the day on March 26.

The city has 75 active building sites according to its weekly list of building permits, and over 2,000 active permits for lesser interior work on existing buildings.

Cambridge joins Boston as the only other municipality in which construction work has been paused due to the coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Charlie Baker said at a press conference Tuesday he had no current plans to issue a statewide moratorium on building work.

Boston’s construction ban has raised fears it could put some developments’ financing packages in jeopardy.

OSHA and the Associated General Contractors of America have both issued guidance for construction projects to use during the coronavirus emergency. Recommended provisions include using eye, face and hand protection and maintaining at least 6 feet of separation between workers on a job site.