By JULIE CUNNINGHAM

(Boston, MA) Today Governor Charlie Baker announced a step forward in the COVID-19 reopening process. Despite the slight increase in COVID-19 positive cases documented by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, today Governor Charlie Baker announced that lower risk communities may move forward to Phase III Step II of the COVID-19 reopening plan, but higher risk communities that are marked as “red” in the COVID-19 reporting must pause for improved data before moving forward in the reopening process. The COVID-19 town-by-town data is released on Wednesday and will be updated on September 30. Phase III Step II will begin for lower risk communities on October 5. Lower risk communities are ones that have not been marked as a “red” community in the last three weeks on the state’s Department of Public Health map.

(Photo source: mass.gov)

To see the DPH’s updated COVID-19 community-level data interactive map, click here.

Any town that becomes red must return to the Phase III Step I reopening guidance and must remain with those restrictions until three consecutive weeks of improved public health data.

Baker said there is a the slight increase in COVID-19 cases over the past four days which is attributed to informal gatherings across the Commonwealth and the colder weather moving into the area. The seven day average for positive COVID-19 positive cases has been below 1% for the past 30 days.

Effective October 5, a limited number of sectors will be eligible to reopen, with restrictions, in Step II of Phase III for lower risk communities only:

  • Indoor performance venues will be permitted to open with 50% capacity with a maximum of 250 people.
  • Outdoor performance venue capacity will increase to 50% with a max of 250 people.
  • For arcades and indoor and outdoor recreation businesses, additional Step II activities like trampolines, obstacle courses, roller rinks and laser tag will also be permitted to open and capacity will increase to 50%.
  • Fitting rooms will be permitted to open in all types of retail stores.
  • Gyms, museums, libraries and driving and flight schools will also be permitted to increase their capacity to 50%.

Revised Gatherings Order:

  • The limit for indoor gatherings remains at a maximum of 25 people for all communities.
  • Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards will remain at a maximum of 50 people for all communities.
  • Outdoor gatherings at event venues and in public settings will have a limit of 50 people in Step I communities, and a limit of 100 people in lower risk, Step II communities.