COVID leave bill on Baker’s desk

The Legislature sent Gov. Charlie Baker a bill Monday extending the state’s COVID-19 emergency paid leave program until April 1.

The program was launched early this summer to offer workers up to a week off to quarantine, recover from the illness, get vaccinated or help a sick family member.

The $75 million program is scheduled to expire this week and the bill now before Baker extends a law that was heralded as a benefit to help workers and their families to recover from the virus and prevent it from spreading further.