Reopening Massachusetts

Governor Baker announces the state's cautious, phased-in "reopening plan" with industry-specific guidelines.

The Commonwealth’s newly released “reopening” plan, which will begin Phase 1 tomorrow. It is because of your diligence that we find ourselves in a position to be able to begin taking measured, data-driven steps to reopen civic life in Massachusetts. While I generally agree with the Governor’s approach, I want to emphasize that it is still incumbent upon all of us to do our part in maintaining hygiene, observing social distance protocols, and wearing a mask when it is necessary to go out in public. We will get through this together, and now more than ever we must do our part to help our families, neighbors, and fellow citizens continue to fight the virus as we begin to restart our economy.

Earlier today, Governor Baker released Massachusetts’ four-phased approach to reopening, with each phase lasting a minimum of three weeks. The plan is centered around public health as the overarching priority and is fluid due to the unpredictable nature of the Coronavirus. Should an uptick in cases be observed, a specific region or even the Commonwealth as a whole may need to revert to a previous phase or phases as appropriate.

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In a very limited manner, Phase 1 begins tomorrow. This will allow the return of manufacturing, construction, and places of worship, all with restrictions, standards that need to be met, and capacity guidelines. However, those who are able to work from home and avoid public spaces should continue to do so. Remember, as our fight against COVID continues, we are all "safer at home." You can read the mandatory workplace safety standards here.

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You can find the complete reopening strategy at Reopening Massachusetts.

Although today marks the beginning of our journey to a “new normal,” stay vigilant and practice social distancing whenever possible. Please know that I will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves, and as always, don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance.