Baker hits the brakes
Resurgent virus brings restrictions back
Gov. Charlie Baker announced the state will roll back the reopening of its economy, effective Sunday, as coronavirus cases again surge.
“This Sunday, the commonwealth will move every community in Massachusetts back to phase three, step one,” Baker said. “This will reduce indoor capacities across a broad range of sectors of the economy and tighten several other workplace restrictions.”
Baker said the statewide rollback to the first step of phase three means a reduction in indoor capacities to 40% and the closure of performance venues and of high-contact recreational businesses.
Outdoor gatherings must be reduced from 100 to 50. Restaurant party size will be capped at 6 per table — down from 10 and a 90-minute limit will be imposed for all dining, Baker said.
“There is no question that this will create hardship and difficulty for many small businesses and their families which is why these decisions are hard,” Baker said in announcing the detour in the coronavirus reopening.
The announcement comes a week after Baker hushed rumors of further closures,
saying no new restrictions were planned. Over the past weekend, state health officials reported more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases. Public health officials have raised the calls for a step back in the reopening as hospitalizations and cases have risen sharply following Thanksgiving.
“Charlie Baker made the decision to halt certain inpatient
medical care but is allowing casinos to remain open. Let that sink in,” Gus Bickford, Massachusetts Democratic Party chairman, said.
In the past four weeks COVID19 hospitalizations are up 150% and confirmed cases in the ICU are up 111%. Eleven hospitals have fewer than 10% of adult beds open and available, Baker said. Restrictions on elective surgeries and reopening two field hospitals will free up some beds, Baker said. “The rate that Massachusetts residents are getting in
fected and the rate at which they are needing medical care … is simply not sustainable.”
“There is hope on the horizon. We need to work really hard to get from where we are and to do so in a way that preserves our health care system, protects life and makes it possible to continue to be able to do essential things,” Baker said.
Limits on outdoor gatherings will be reduced to 50, from the current level of 100. Additionally, people hosting outdoor gatherings of over 25 people will be re
quired to notify local health authorities.
Outdoor theaters and performance venues will be limited to 25% capacity, and no more than 50 people, the governor said.
Movie theaters and places of worship will be allowed to remain open at 40% of normal capacity. Bob Luz of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association said that “while we would prefer less regulations, we do appreciate the governor’s support of restaurants and allowing us to remain open.”