As Massachusetts prepares to turn the page on limiting what people can do during the coronavirus pandemic, the state is on track to meet its goal of vaccinating 4.1 million residents by the first week of June. On May 29, all remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted, including the state mask mandate. This means that all businesses will be able to reopen without restrictions and the face covering order will be replaced by new guidance from the CDC during Memorial Day weekend. Phase I (“Commencement”) of the plan began on and allowed for the reopening of manufacturing facilities, construction sites and places of worship. City of Boston Indoor Masking Mandate Lifted.
Public transportation, healthcare facilities, and congregational care centers are still subject to state and federal mask orders. This summer, a temporary pilot project will be launched to allow unprecedented access to Boston neighborhoods for food trucks. You can find essential businesses that have stayed open and dates when other businesses can start reopening. Find local restaurants that remain open for takeout and delivery. You can also add restaurants to our list.
You can find virtual arts and cultural events and programs organized by groups in the greater Boston area, or add your own event to. More indoor and outdoor spaces with greater capacity will be reopened after state health officials said COVID-19 cases have dropped by 20%, the lowest levels recorded since last summer. Starting Monday, May 10, capacity for large venues, such as indoor and outdoor stadiums, stadiums and baseball stadiums, will increase from 12 to 25%. Pending public health and vaccination data, maximum table size in restaurants will increase to 10 and guidance that alcohol should be served with food will be removed. However, businesses will continue to be encouraged to follow best practice guidance for public health safety precautions. Updates to Industry-Specific Protocols Released Throughout the Reopening of Massachusetts Economy.
Starting May 29, all remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted. Governor Charlie Baker has announced that on Saturday, May 29, the state will lift all remaining COVID restrictions for businesses and industries. That means the end of capacity limits, and any place that is still closed under the governor's orders can reopen. While the state's mask mandate will expire, keep in mind that some businesses, healthcare facilities, and public and private transportation will also require face coverings. According to Baker, Massachusetts will be “quite close to its goal of fully vaccinating 4.1 million people by May 29. More than 3.2 million people in Massachusetts are fully vaccinated and more than 4 million people, 75% of all adults, have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Monday's weather announcement came just one day before the first anniversary of when Massachusetts entered the first phase of the state's four-step reopening plan. So far, 3.2 million people in Massachusetts have received all required vaccine doses, and more than 4 million people, 75 percent of adults in the state have received at least one shot, Baker said Monday. The plan was developed by a 17-member Reopening Advisory Board, co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy, which included public health experts, city leaders, and members of the business community who represented many facets of the Massachusetts economy. Massachusetts moved to Phase 2 (“Cautious”) in June, allowing additional lower-risk businesses to reopen, including retailers, day care centers, restaurants (with outdoor table service only), hotels and other accommodations, personal services without close physical contact, youth and adult amateur sports, and driving and flight schools. For the tenth consecutive day, Massachusetts health officials announced fewer than 1,000 new cases of coronavirus Sunday, as the state Department of Public Health confirmed 494 more cases of COVID. Some disease experts have argued that states should keep indoor mask mandates in place for at least a few more weeks to allow time for the last group of adults who became eligible to be vaccinated on April 19 in Massachusetts to achieve full immunity which would not happen until next week at the earliest. Delayed Reopening Timeline Still Puts Massachusetts Roughly One Week Behind Some Neighboring States. Many of Massachusetts' COVID metrics including the average number of coronavirus cases the average coronavirus test positivity and the average number of confirmed deaths reported each day have been falling since the end of March according to trends published in the Department of Health's interactive coronavirus Public dashboard. With the latest update to the Massachusetts reopening plan all businesses will be able to reopen without restrictions and the face covering order will be replaced by new guidance from the CDC during Memorial Day weekend.
