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Low-Risk Communities in MA to Move to Next Reopening Step

By Tom Marino | September 29, 2020
Last Updated: July 8, 2021

Governor Charlie Baker’s officer announced on Tuesday, September 29, that communities rated lower risk for COVID-19 will be permitted to move into Step II of Phase III of the Massachusetts Reopening Plan.

Lower risk communities are those not rated “red” in the community-level COVID-19 reporting.

The City of Worcester is currently the only community in Worcester County rated “red” for higher-risk.

In lower-risk communities the restrictions on businesses will have the following changes:

  • Indoor and outdoor performance venues will be permitted to open with 50% capacity and a maximum of 250 people.
  • Arcades and indoor and outdoor recreation businesses, additional Step II activities like trampolines, obstacle courses, roller rinks and laser tag will also be permitted to open and capacity will increase to 50%.
  • Fitting rooms will be permitted to open in all types of retail stores
  • Gyms, museums, libraries and driving and flight schools will also be permitted to increase their capacity to 50%

For the gatherings order has been revised to the following:

  • The limit for indoor gatherings remains at a maximum of 25 people for all communities.
  • Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards will remain at a maximum of 50 people for all communities.
  • Outdoor gatherings at event venues and in public settings will have a limit of 50 people in high-risk communities (Worcester)
  • A limit of 100 people in lower risk, Step II communities (all other Worcester County communities)

Image Credit: Hsin Ju HSU, Massachusetts Statehouse, CC BY-SA 3.0

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