Mass. to allow indoor dining, personal care services to resume Monday

Photo | Grant Welker Volturno, a restaurant on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, has begun serving patrons in an expanded outdoor seating area.

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By Monica Benevides

Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Friday step two of the second phase of the Massachusetts economy reopening plan will begin on Monday.

Among the sectors allowed to reopen in the second half of phase two are close-contact personal services, indoor dining service at restaurants, retail dressing rooms and offices at 50% capacity.

All sectors reopening will have to adhere to social distancing and sanitization guidance.

Before resuming operations, all businesses included in phase two must create a COVID-19 control plan and complete a self-certification, according to the report.

The first half of phase II began on June 8 and allowed operations to resume at hotels, retail shops and restaurants with outdoor dining capabilities.

The four-phase state reopening plan began on May 18. At the time, the Baker Administration said there would be at least three weeks between the start of each phase, depending on coronavirus-related public health data. Although it's not clear yet when it will begin, phase three is set to include bars, casinos, gyms and museums. Nightclubs and large venues will not reopen until the final phase.

More information about the state's reopening timeline is available online.