By JEFF TIRRELL
(BOSTON) — The Commonwealth of Massachusetts plans to begin reopening its economy in one week. Governor Charlie Baker on Monday announced details of a four-phase plan that is on target to begin next Monday. The plan is being finalized in a report to be released next Monday by the state Reopening Advisory Board.
The first phase is called “START”, where industries and businesses that have little face-to-face contact and interaction with customers will be allowed to reopen, with mandatory social distancing and workplace hygiene and safety standards in place. Phase 2 is called “CAUTIOUS”, and would see other industries and businesses which have more face-to-face interaction being allowed to reopen, with those same restrictions. Phase 3 is called “VIGILANT”, and will feature a gradual loosening of the current restrictions. The fourth and final phase, “NEW NORMAL”, will be rolled out once effective treatments and a vaccine for Covid 19 has become a reality.
Baker said any and all decisions on this reopening plan, and the time frame between phases, will be based on the trajectory of the public health data, which will be monitored and assessed daily. The governor said if the numbers at any time begin to trend in a negative direction, then the next phase will be delayed, and perhaps reconsidered altogether. Baker said some industries and businesses that tend to be more susceptible to the virus may see a delay in the lifting of the current restrictions.
Baker said he will continue to work closely and in a coordinated way with his fellow governors in the northeast part of the country on the reopening. Massachusetts has been under a State of Emergency since mid-March, at which time all non-essential businesses were ordered closed at their physical location.