Baker Administration Announces Further Restrictions To The State's Reopening Plan

Brookline MA

24 December, 2020

8:35 AM

Description

Press release from the Town of Brookline: December 22, 2020 Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced further restrictions to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, including new capacity and gathering limits. These measures will go into effect on Saturday, December 26 and will remain in effect until noon on January 10, 2021. Read a summary of the restrictions here. Read the emergency order here. Capacity Limits Effective Saturday, December 26, most industries in Massachusetts will be subject to a 25% capacity limit including: Restaurants (based on permitted seating capacity) Close Contact Personal Services Theatres and Performance Venues Casinos Office Spaces Places of Worship Retail Businesses Driving and Flight Schools Golf Facilities (for indoor spaces) Libraries Lodging (for common areas) Arcades and Indoor Recreation Businesses Fitness Centers and Health Clubs Museums, Cultural Facilities and Guided Tours Workers and staff will not count towards the occupancy count for restaurants, places of worship, close contact personal services, and retail businesses. All other rules and restrictions in each sector-specific guidance will remain in effect. Gatherings Limit Effective Saturday, December 26, the gatherings limits will be updated. Indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people. Outdoor gatherings will be limited to 25 people outside. The gatherings limit applies to private homes, event venues and public spaces. Elective Surgeries The Department of Public Health released updated guidance to hospitals around nonessential, elective invasive procedures. To preserve health care personnel resources, effective 12:01am on December 26, all hospitals are directed to postpone or cancel all nonessential inpatient elective invasive procedures in order to maintain and increase inpatient capacity. Hospitals shall make every effort to preserve their inpatient capacity by cancelling nonessential electives and redeploying staff. Patients are reminded to still seek necessary care at their hospital or from their health care provider. This press release was produced by the Town of Brookline. The views expressed here are the author's own.