Print
Share page with AddThis

Reopening Resources

Reopening Resources

As our Commonwealth and Town move through the four-phase approach to reopening outlined by Governor Baker, this portal will be updated regularly with important information and links.  Please check back frequently. 

Baker-Polito Administration to Lift COVID Restrictions May 29, State to Meet Vaccination Goal by Beginning of June - NEW

https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-to-lift-covid-restrictions-may-29-state-to-meet-vaccination-goal-by-beginning-of-june

Commonwealth to move to Phase IV, Step 2 of The Reopening Plan - April 27, 2021 NEW 

Phase IV, Step 2 Industries and Gathering Changes:

  • On March 22, Massachusetts loosened capacity restrictions and advanced to Step 1 of Phase IV of the reopening plan. Since then, case rates dropped by 20%. The positivity rate has dropped to the lowest levels recorded since last summer. 

Effective Monday, May 10th:

  • Large venues such as indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas and ballparks currently open as part of Phase 4, Step 1 at 12% will be permitted to increase capacity to 25%.
  • The Commonwealth will reopen some outdoor Phase 4, Step 2 industries including amusement parks, theme parks and outdoor water parks that will be permitted to operate at a 50% capacity after submitting safety plans to the Department of Public Health.
  • Road races and other large, outdoor organized amateur or professional group athletic events will be permitted to take place with staggered starts after submitting safety plans to a local board of health or the DPH.
  • Youth and adult amateur sports tournaments will be allowed for moderate and high risk sports.
  • Singing will also be permitted indoors with strict distancing requirements at performance venues, restaurants, event venues and other businesses.

Effective May 29th:

  • Subject to public health and vaccination data, gathering limits will increase to 200 people indoors and 250 people outdoors for event venues, public settings and private settings.
  • Subject to public health and vaccination data, additional Phase 4, Step 2 industries will be permitted to open including:
  • Street festivals, parades and agricultural festivals, at 50% of their previous capacity and after submitting safety plans to the local board of health.
  • Bars, beer gardens, breweries, wineries and distilleries, will be subject to restaurant rules with seated service only, a 90 minute limit and no dance floors.
  • Subject to public health and vaccination data, the restaurant guidance will be updated to eliminate the requirement that food be served with alcohol and to increase the maximum table size to 10.

Effective August 1st:

  • Subject to public health and vaccination data, remaining industries will be permitted to open including:
  • Dance clubs, and nightclubs
  • Saunas, hot-tubs, steam rooms at fitness centers, health clubs and other facilities
  • Indoor water parks
  • Ball pits
  • All industry restrictions will be lifted at that time, and capacity will increase to 100% for all industries, with businesses encouraged to continue following best practices. The gathering limit will be rescinded.
  • Depending on vaccine distribution and public health data, the Administration may consider re-evaluating the August 1st date.
  • The Department of Public Health will also continue to issue guidance as needed, including guidance to still require masks indoors.

Face Coverings Order: 

  • Effective April 30th, the Face Coverings Order will be relaxed for some outdoor settings.
  • Face coverings will only be required outside in public when it is not possible to socially distance, and at other times required by sector-specific guidance.
  • Face coverings will still be required at all times in indoor public places. Face coverings will also continue to be required at all times at events, whether held indoors or outdoors and whether held in a public space or private home, except for when eating or drinking.
  • At smaller gatherings in private homes, face coverings are recommended but not required. The $300 fine as an enforcement mechanism will be eliminated.

For more information, visit mass.gov/reopening. 

 

Today at 1:00 PM, Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito and Secretary Kennealy made several announcements pertaining to the state’s reopening process and sector-specific guidance. These include:

  1. Phase 3, Step 2: Effective March 1st, the Commonwealth will move forward into Phase 3, Step 2. This will reopen:
    • Indoor performance venues such as concert halls, theaters, and other indoor performance spaces
  • Open at 50% capacity with 500 person max
  • Indoor recreational activities with greater potential for contact: laser tag, roller skating, trampolines, obstacle courses
  • Open at 50% capacity
  1. Updated Capacity Limits: Effective March 1st the following industries will increase to 50% capacity. Employees will be exempt from capacity restrictions in all of these industries:
    • Arcades & Other Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Businesses
    • Close Contact Personal Services
    • Driving and Flight Schools
    • Fitness Centers and Health Clubs
    • Golf Facilities (indoor)
    • Libraries
    • Operators of Lodging (common spaces)
    • Museums, Cultural & Historic Facilities, Guided Tours
    • Office Spaces
    • Places of Worship
    • Sectors not Otherwise Addressed
    • Theaters and Performance Venues
    • Relevant EEA Industries – Youth sports spectators etc.
    • The following industries remain unaffected by capacity limits:
  •  Drive-in movie theaters
  •  Construction
  •  Laboratories
  •  Manufacturing
  1. Additional Guidance Changes:
    • Effective March 1st, Restaurants will no longer be subject to a % seated capacity limit and their capacity is limited only by the requirement of 6 feet between tables
  •  Musical performances allowed in restaurants (with appropriate distancing)
  •  90-minute time limit on tables stays in place
  •  Limit of no more than 6 per table stays in place
  •  Food courts remain closed
  • Effective March 1st, Fitting rooms may open in all retail businesses
  1. Gatherings Limit: Effective March 22nd, subject to public health data, the gatherings limit will increase for event venues and public settings, but will stay the same in private settings:
    • Event Venues and Public Settings:
  • 100 indoor
  • 150 outdoor
  • Private Settings (such as private residences):
  • 10 indoors
  • 25 outdoors
  1. Phase 4, Step 1: Effective March 22nd, subject to public health data, the Commonwealth will move into Phase 4, Step 1:
    • Indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas and ballparks will reopen with a 12% capacity limit
  •  A large venue is defined as a having a capacity of 5,000 or more
  •  Venues with capacity under 5,000 are subject to the Indoor and Outdoor Performance Venue guidance
  • Large venues will be required to submit a safety plan to the Department of Public Health
  • Overnight Camps will be allowed to open for Summer 2021
  • Exhibition and Convention Halls may reopen, subject to gathering limits and event rules
  • Dance floors may open at weddings and events only
  • All other Phase 4 industries will not be able to open until a future reopening step. Those include:
  • Road races, street festivals, and parades, and fairs
  • Amusement parks, theme parks, outdoor water parks
  • Indoor water parks and indoor/outdoor ball pits
  • Saunas, hot-tubs, steam rooms at fitness centers, health clubs, and other facilities
  • Beer gardens/ breweries/ wineries/ distilleries
  • Bars, dance clubs, and nightclubs—venues offering entertainment, beverages, or dancing and not providing seated food service

Updated guidance can be found at www.mass.gov/reopening.

 

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Statewide Rollback to Phase Three, Step One, Additional Restrictions Effective December 13th https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-statewide-rollback-to-phase-three-step-one-additional

The following documents detail the minimum requirements necessary for reopening. Please review the Mandatory Safety Standards for Workplaces. The Compliance Attestation Checklist must be reviewed, signed and a copy must be kept in your place of business at all times. For the latest information, please visit the Governor's Reopening website here https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts

PHASE 3/ Step 1 began on Monday, July 6th. Find guidance below:

Governor Baker announced the Start of Phase 3. https://www.mass.gov/news/reopening-massachusetts-baker-polito-administration-initiates-transition-to-third-phase-of

PHASE 2

Governor Baker announced that Phase 2/Step 2 will begin on Monday, June 22, 2020.  Find guidance below:

Governor Baker announced that Phase 2/ Step 1 will begin on Monday, June 8th, 2020.  Find guidance for this below.

PHASE 1

Once the above Mandatory Safety standards and Compliance Attestation checklist are completed, the following business categories are allowed to reopen as of Monday, May 18th:

Beginning  May 25th, the following business categories and activities will be allowed to resume, once mandatory safety standards and industry-specific guidelines have been met.