Governor Charlie Baker’s office announced on Thursday that Massachusetts will advance to Step 2 of Phase III of the state’s reopening plan on Monday, March 1.
The same announcement included a plan to transition to Step 1 of Phase IV on Monday, March 22, if public health metric continued to trend in a positive direction.
Step 2 of Phase III includes the following:
- Indoor performance venues such as concert halls, theaters, and other indoor performance spaces will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity with no more than 500 persons
- Indoor recreational activities with greater potential for contact (laser tag, roller skating, trampolines, obstacle courses) will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity
- Capacity limits across all sectors with capacity limits will be raised to 50% and exclude employees
- Restaurants will no longer have a percent capacity limit and will be permitted to host musical performances; six-foot social distancing, limits of six people per table and 90 minute limits remain in place.
Residents must continue to wear masks and are encouraged to avoid contact outside of their immediate households. The Travel Advisory and other public health orders remain in effect.
If public health metrics continue to trend positively until March 22, Step 1 of Phase IV will allow indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas and ballparks will be able to open at 12% capacity.
Also in Step 1 of Phase IV, gathering limits for event venues and in public settings will increase to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards will remain at a maximum of 25 people, with indoor house gatherings remaining at 10 people.
The metrics analyzed to continue progress in the re-opening plan are drops in average daily COVID cases and hospitalizations and vaccination rates continuing to increase.
