Governor Charlie Baker has ordered all non-essential businesses to close. The order will be effective at noon on Tuesday, March 24.
The order will remain in effect through April 7.
While guidance will be issued by the state, the Governor said that grocery stores and pharmacies will always be allowed to remain open.
[UPDATE: As reported by ThisWeekInWorcester.com, in newly updated COVID-19 testing data released by the Department of Public Health for Monday, March 23, four more individuals in Massachusetts have died from a COVID-19 related illness.
A woman in her 70s became the first COVID-19 related death from Worcester County. Another woman in her 70s from Essex County, a man in his 80s from Norfolk County and a man in his 60s from Suffolk County are the other three reported deceased.
Nine people in Massachusetts have now died from COVID-19 related illness.]
Categories of COVID-19 Essential Services:
- Health Care & Public Health
- Law Enforcement
- Public Safety & First Responders
- Food & Agriculture
- Critical Manufacturing Transportation
- Energy Water & Wastewater
- Public Works
- Communications and Information Technology
- Financial Services
- Defense Industry
- Base Chemical Manufacturing & Hazardous Materials
- Other Designated Community Based Essential Function & Government Operations
- News Media
See the full description of essential services here.
