Franklin Matters: "The future is going to be what it’s going to be”

Thursday, May 7, 2020

"The future is going to be what it’s going to be”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The advisory board figuring out how Massachusetts businesses might be able to reopen has already filed interim reports with the governor and is expected to make additional suggestions ahead of its May 18 deadline, Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday. The governor also further elaborated on what conditions must be met before he will allow businesses to reopen.

Speaking outside Gillette Stadium after swearing in the latest class of Massachusetts State Police recruits, Baker said “the trends over the course of the last six to eight days have been reasonably positive” but added that the data still does not support a reopening of the economy.

“We’re still very much in this fight with COVID-19, but it is encouraging to see some positive progress. As we come through the other side of this and determine our next steps for a path forward, we need to see those numbers continue to drop,” he said. “Our goal, starting on May 18, is to begin re-opening certain types of businesses in a limited fashion where it can be done more safely than under normal operations. But this phased-in process can’t begin until we see sustained downward trends in many of the data elements that we talk about every day.”

Baker said the reopening panel led by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy has already “made several” reports on potential strategies. “They’re planning to make what I would describe as interim reports along the way here between now and the 18th, absolutely,” he said."