Charlie Baker

It would be "incredibly irresponsible" to send everyone back to work at the same time, Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday, pushing back against critics who have accused him of moving too slowly to restart the state's economy as he simultaneously tries to steer the state through the COVID-19 crisis.

A federal judge will temporarily lift a Gov. Charlie Baker executive order requiring firearm retailers to close their physical businesses during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

The administration updated a COVID-19 essential services webpage Thursday morning and said that while golf courses are not considered essential businesses, "private operators of golf courses may permit individuals access to the property so long as there are no gatherings of any kind..."

The advisory board figuring out how Massachusetts businesses might be able to reopen has already filed interim reports with the governor and is expected to make additional suggestions ahead of its May 18 deadline, Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday, though the governor also further elaborated on what conditions must be met before he will allow businesses to reopen.

Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday gave florists, as well as many other "non-essential" businesses, a green thumbs up to bring back a limited number of employees to fulfill online and phone orders for delivery, as long as they follow proper safety measures and keep the doors locked to customers.

Gov. Charlie Baker took a step toward preparing the public for what he said life might look like in Massachusetts when this period of staying at home to avoid infection ends, ordering all citizens to wear masks or facial coverings in public if they can't socially distance.

Forced economic shutdowns and social distancing in Massachusetts have contained the coronavirus to the point where an infected person is now, on average, spreading the virus to less than one other person, business leaders said Friday, and that metric will be a key part of any economic re-opening.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday his administration would be making $130 million in additional funding available by the end of the week for nursing homes to pay for additional staff, cleaning and personal protective equipment.

In the midst of five straight weeks of surging unemployment claims, Gov. Charlie Baker asked the federal government for a $1.2 billion loan to help Massachusetts meet unprecedented needs and ensure that people do not suffer through payless paydays.

Gov. Charlie Baker hinted Tuesday he plans to convene a group of public health, academic and business leaders to assemble a thoughtful framework for how Massachusetts might be able to resume more normal economic and social life once the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.