By JEFF TIRRELL
(BOSTON) — Governor Charlie Baker has announced a series of executive orders dealing with the coronavirus, including a curfew for businesses, reduction of gathering limits, and a tighter face mask mandate.
A stay-at-home advisory will be put into place from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday. Between those hours, residents should stay home with exceptions like going to work or the grocery store or pharmacy. Indoor recreation facilities, theaters, casinos, and other entertainment venues to close at 9:30 p.m. Restaurants will be required to stop providing table service at 9:30 p.m., but can provide takeout.
The limit for indoor gatherings at private homes has been reduced to 10 people. The outdoor gathering limit has been set at 25 people. Indoor and outdoor events at homes or event venues must end by 9:30 p.m.
Massachusetts is also updating its face covering order to require everyone above the age of five years old to wear a face covering in public, even if social distancing can be maintained.
“Our message here is very simple. We can’t afford to continue to do what are we doing,” Baker said. “We want to do everything in our power to avoid reverting back to Phase 1 or Phase 2 of our reopening plan, but that requires us all to step up and make some changes.”
121 communities in Massachusetts are “in the red”; that is to say, that they are considered high risk for coronavirus transmission. Since Labor Day, the state has seen a 300% increase in coronavirus cases, and hospitalizations are up 145%.