"Mass., Boston to maintain mask requirements for now in wake of new CDC guidance"

"MASKS WILL STILL be required for now in all indoor public places, at all events, and outdoors when social distancing is not possible in Massachusetts, despite new guidance from the Centers from Disease Control advising fully vaccinated individuals that it’s safe in most cases to stop wearing a face covering.

Gov. Charlie Baker’s office issued a statement on Thursday night saying the governor welcomed the new health guidelines from the CDC and would be “updating Massachusetts’ COVID restrictions in the near future.”

“In the meantime, the current mask order remains in place. The Commonwealth is leading the nation in the vaccination effort and the Administration will continue to make vaccines available to everyone who lives, works or studies in Massachusetts,” press secretary Sarah Finlaw said in a statement."

Continue reading the article online  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/baker-doesnt-budge-yet-on-masks/

Boston Globe coverage (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/13/metro/experts-divided-cdcs-loosened-mask-reccomendations/

 

 Gov Baker's press conference link -> https://youtu.be/9MmucnVdD2Y

 

"Hynes vaccination site to administer 7,000 shots a day"

 

"AN EIGHT-WEEK federal-state pilot vaccine program at the Hynes Convention Center will begin administering 7,000 shots a day starting Wednesday and then next week begin diverting roughly 2,000 doses a day to mobile units that will administer shots in Chelsea, Revere, Boston, New Bedford, and Fall River.

At a press conference at the Hynes, Gov. Charlie Baker said the mass vaccination center at the Hynes (relocated from Fenway Park) will receive 1,000 doses a day from the state’s allocation of vaccine and 6,000 doses a day supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/hynes-vaccination-site-to-administer-7000-shots-a-day/

Boston Globe coverage (subscription may be required)  -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/30/metro/baker-cdc-director-walensky-tour-vaccination-site-hynes-convention-center/

Gov Baker Press conference video link:  https://youtu.be/neh7QDVeKhA

Climate change legislation signed by Gov Baker

 

"IT TOOK BASICALLY all of the last legislative session and the first three months of the new one to get major climate policy signed into law, but the real work begins now that Gov. Charlie Baker has put his signature on the law.

After it took a long, winding and sometimes contentious road, the governor on Friday afternoon signed the long-discussed legislation designed to commit Massachusetts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, establish interim emissions goals between now and the middle of the century, adopt energy efficiency standards for appliances, authorize another 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind power and address needs in environmental justice communities."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/environment/baker-signs-climate-change-bill-into-law/

 

Boston Globe coverage (subscription may be required)   = https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/26/science/baker-signs-climate-bill/

The legislation = https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S9

Gov Baker press release = https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-baker-signs-climate-legislation-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-protect-environmental-justice-communities

Press conference video = https://youtu.be/XAY2gmgoC2U

MA State News: Law signed to extend vote by mail to June; vaccine schedule for all released

"Gov. Baker signs law to extend pandemic-related voting changes"

"A law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker today provides a three-month extension for a number of changes to voting procedures that were enacted last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including early voting by mail."

Continue reading the article online

https://www.mma.org/gov-baker-signs-law-to-extend-pandemic-related-voting-changes/ 

"All Mass. adults eligible for vaccines April 19"

"ALL ADULTS LIVING in Massachusetts will become eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine beginning on April 19, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday. That does not mean, however, that everyone will be able to immediately get a shot, since getting a dose will depend on how much supply becomes available from the federal government.

“It will take time obviously for the vaccine to arrive here in Massachusetts and for everyone in these groups to get appointments and get vaccinated,” Baker said at a press conference Wednesday, after touring a vaccination site at the Shaw’s Center in Brockton."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/all-mass-adults-eligible-for-vaccines-april-19/

 

Gov Baker's press Conference: https://youtu.be/kGc034ngWJ4

 

CommonWealth Magazine: "Massachusetts unveils vaccine preregistration system to ease appointment frenzy"

 

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said on Wednesday that the state has the capacity to administer 2 million inoculations a month, but the federal government and  d vaccine manufacturers are providing only half that amount.

At a press conference at a West Bridgewater manufacturer of hospital-grade masks, Baker said the state could easily administer 1 million doses a month and could probably do 2 million. State officials say they only have 250,000 doses available to administer next week, and only 155,000 of those are first doses. That pace, which is not expected to change for the rest of March, would lead to 1 million total doses over a month.

The governor said the lack of vaccine supply and concerns about new variants of the coronavirus are the two key factors he would consider in deciding whether the state of emergency he declared exactly a year ago could be lifted."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/baker-we-could-do-2m-doses-a-month-but-getting-only-half-that/

 

Boston Globe coverage  (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/10/metro/baker-fighting-tears-reflects-year-covid-19-pandemic/

 

New registration system for vaccines

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/10/metro/massachusetts-announces-vaccine-preregistration-system-ease-appointment-frenzy/

Gov Baker's press conf  https://youtu.be/brwtZLUWpW8

"it will be hard to get through the current eligible universe before the end of March"

 

"ARE YOU A Massachusetts resident frustrated to be still waiting for your COVID shot? Gov. Charlie Baker has a message: blame the feds.

“I think it’s unfair that I can’t currently vaccinate everyone in Massachusetts who wants to get vaccinated, but it’s a fact. It’s a reality. Until there’s more vaccine we’re going to be playing this waiting game,” Baker said at a press conference Thursday after touring a Lawrence vaccination site for seniors.

Throughout the press conference, Baker repeatedly returned to the problem of a lack of vaccine supply. Baker said the state “could easily do twice the capacity we will do” if it received more vaccines. "

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/baker-continues-to-cite-constraints-in-vaccine-supply/

Gov Baker's press conference -> https://youtu.be/3spp9CUWPcw

What can reopen in MA beginning Monday, March 1

 

"In the clearest sign yet of confidence that the state is getting a handle on COVID, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a broad set of new reopening orders, including clearing the way for fans at Fenway Park for the Red Sox home opener on April 1. Perhaps not coincidentally, Baker’s headline-grabbing proclamation came less than an hour after he finished testifying at a Beacon Hill oversight hearing, where lawmakers ripped him over the troubled rollout of the state’s vaccine sign-up website.

Starting Monday, Baker said theaters and other performance venues can reopen with 50 percent capacity limits and restaurants will have no overall capacity limits as long they maintain six feet of distance between tables and have parties of no more than six people, who remain for no more than 90 minutes."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/baker-heralds-approach-of-next-normal/

 

Boston Globe coverage of the move to re-open and change restrictions 
(subscription may be required) https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/25/metro/baker-outlines-plans-ease-host-covid-19-restrictions-businesses-gatherings-starting-soon-monday/

 

What is authorized to re-open on Monday March 1

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/25/nation/heres-look-what-can-reopen-massachusetts-beginning-monday/

Gov Baker's press conference announcing the re-opening steps

https://youtu.be/FLHx3EfFOek

“I often hear people say stimulus. This is about stability”

 

"CASH-STRAPPED MASSACHUSETTS residents may need to hold on for at least another month until help comes from Washington. US Rep. Richard Neal, appearing at a State House briefing Monday afternoon with Gov. Charlie Baker, said the next federal COVID-19 relief package is expected to pass the House “in the second or third week of March.”

Neal joined Gov. Charlie Baker at a State House Press conference on Monday afternoon, and outlined the details of what he calls the “stability” bill.  

“I often hear people say stimulus. This is about stability,” said Neal, emphasizing how crucial the legislation will be to struggling families. "

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/economy/neal-touts-economic-stability-bill-in-appearance-with-baker/

 

 Gov Baker's press conference on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/esVcTQDBImA