Mass. to start four-phase reopening on May 18 and complete it when vaccine is developed
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Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito
Gov. Charlie Baker announced a highly-anticipated four-phase reopening plan for Massachusetts during a press briefing Monday afternoon.
The outline prioritizes social distancing and general cleanliness to inhibit any future spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, among both employees and any customers they might interact with. Unless public health data takes a turn for the worse, Baker indicated the phased reopening will begin on May 18, when the current iteration of the economic lockdown is set to expire.
The four phases, in order, are: 1) Start, 2) Cautious, 3) Vigilant and 4) New Normal.
During the first phase — Start — industries naturally set up to have few face-to-face interactions, as well as those who can easily decrease face-to-face interactions will be allowed to resume business.
Phase two — Cautious — will be marked by reopening industries with more face-to-face interactions, which will be allowed to resume operations under conditions and according to guidelines meant to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Phase three — Vigilant — will loosen some of the restrictions put into place in the first two phases, dependent upon public health data related to COVID-19 transmission rates.
The final phase — New Normal — will begin once a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, and/or related therapies.
Baker repeatedly underscored timeframes are subject to change, dependent on public health data and indicated it is currently unclear how long it will take to move from one phase to the next.
"We've been one of the hardest hit states, with almost 5,000 deaths and nearly 78,000 confirmed cases," Baker said. "That means we have to be flexible and honest about the fact that the timing and the details of these phases could change depending on the track the virus takes as we go forward."
If certain sectors turn out to be more susceptible to spreading the virus, he said, then the opening timeline for those sectors may be delayed. Baker said industry-specific reopening guidelines will be made public in the coming days.
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito presented basic workplace safety guidelines to be in effect for every industry and every business in the state. The guidelines are largely in-line with the types of measures and rules that Mass. residents have been following for the last two months.
According to Polito, all workplaces will have to institute social distancing measures to keep employees six feet apart, to the greatest extent possible, both inside and outside the workplace. Employers will have to post social distancing signage and require face masks for all employees.
Employers will also be required to make sure the workplace is conducive to frequent handwashing and that high-touch areas are frequently sanitized.
All business owners will need to implement training for employees regarding safety protocols, and those who are sick will be asked to stay home from work. Employers will also need to have a plan for how to respond to workers who contract COVID-19, as well as a plan for how they return to work.
Finally, employers will need to establish and maintain cleaning protocols specific to the business, and in the event that someone contracts COVID-19, the workplace must be thoroughly cleaned.
Baker acknowledged the last two months have been trying for business owners and residents, both economically and socially, but said it was possible to present a reopening plan because cooperation with social distancing and hygiene guidance has helped flatten the curve. Polito said additional guidance will be released in the coming days.
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