Reopening Massachusetts: Baker-Polito Administration Initiates Transition to Step Two of Second Phase of Four-Phase Approach

Consistent with Public Health Data and Trends, Step Two of Phase II of Reopening Massachusetts Set to Begin on June 22

Today (Friday, June 19, 2020), the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Step Two of Phase II of the Commonwealth’s four-phase reopening plan, Reopening Massachusetts, will begin on Monday, June 22 to allow additional industries to resume operations under sector-specific guidelines.

Businesses and sectors set to begin operating in Step Two of Phase II are subject to compliance with all mandatory safety standards.

On May 18, the Administration released a four-phased plan to reopen the economy based on public health data, spending at least three weeks in each phase. Key public health data, such as new cases and hospitalizations, has been closely monitored and seen a significant decline allowing for Step Two of Phase II to begin on June 22.

The following will be eligible to reopen in Step Two of Phase II on Monday, June 22:

• Indoor table service at restaurants;
• Close-contact personal services, with restrictions;
• Retail dressing rooms, by appointment only;
• Offices, at 50 percent capacity

Full list and safety protocols available at www.mass.gov/reopening.

In order to give Step 2 businesses time to prepare, the Administration had previously released sector-specific guidance in advance of Phase II for industries including restaurants, close-contact personal services and sectors not otherwise addressed:

• Guidance for Restaurants  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safety-standards-and-checklist-restaurants
• Guidance for Close-Contact Personal Services  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safety-standards-and-checklist-close-contact-personal-services
• Guidance for Other Industries  https://www.mass.gov/resource/reopening-sector-specific-protocols-and-best-practices
• Guidance for Sectors Not Otherwise Addressed  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safety-standards-and-checklist-sectors-not-otherwise-addressed

Before these sectors can resume operations under the guidelines, businesses must meet all safety standards, create a COVID-19 control plan, and complete a self-certification.

VIEW THE FULL REPORT  https://www.mass.gov/doc/reopening-massachusetts

VIEW GOVERNOR BAKER’S PHASE II EXECUTIVE ORDER  https://www.mass.gov/doc/june-6-2020-phase-ii-reopening

Video update link for June 19, 2020 = https://youtu.be/jT5dDSQIHUU