Hospitality

For the first few weeks of the coronavirus-related shutdown of most businesses, Niche Hospitality Group in Worcester...

BirchTree Bread Co. will close for two weeks beginning Monday, the Green Street restaurant in Worcester announced in a Facebook post on Thursday, pointing to concerns about the projected peak period for coronavirus spread in the region.

When the coronavirus pandemic has forced business closures across Massachusetts and beyond, certain industries were hurt far more than others. But no industry has been untouched.

With events canceled across the state and most hospitality businesses considered non-essential, the Central Massachusetts tourism industry is anticipating major losses due to the efforts to stem the coronavirus pandemic.

Worcester's DCU Center will be turned into a 250-medical facility to treat less severe coronavirus cases as one of three planned such centers statewide, officials announced Tuesday.

It isn’t heavily dependent on tourism or conventions, and it has relatively few hotel rooms. It isn’t home to any casinos and doesn’t host headquarters for any major airlines, energy companies, automakers or cruise lines, among others who have been hardest hit.

The Public House Historic Inn in Sturbridge is closed until April 6 to keep employees and guests safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday morning, Gov. Charlie Baker ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses effective Tuesday, but restaurants are still able to provide takeout and delivery.

Citing more than 17,000 job losses since the coronavirus pandemic hit, Massachusetts hoteliers warned that "the bleeding isn't stopping" and that they need government help to stave off further damage to their businesses.

The Gov. Charlie Baker Administration announced on Wednesday measures to provide small tax relief focused on the hospitality sector, as dining rooms and gatherings of 25+ people have been banned in an effort to stem the impact of the coronavirus.