New COVID rules in Massachusetts start Friday: What to know

New Massachusetts coronavirus rules that put a curfew on certain businesses and implement an overnight stay-at-home advisory for residents from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. start Friday, and feedback from local organizations will come into play.

“We’ve had several conversations with our colleagues in local government over the past few days about the advisory and the gathering order,” Baker said at a Thursday press conference in Haverhill.

Baker said he’ll be taking into account feedback from such organizations and offering clarification on the new measures over the coming days.

One part of the order, a revised stay-at-home advisory, instructs residents to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. except for those going to work, running critical errands, such as going to the grocery store, taking care of health needs and going for a walk.

Liquor stores, retail shops, in-person dining, pot shops, movie theaters, casinos, sports facilities, gyms and other businesses must close to the public at 9:30 p.m. according to the new regulations. Takeout and delivery can continue past that time.

Baker also signed an updated order that requires everyone to wear a face covering in all public spaces, even where they are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others.

Masks are encouraged but not required for kids 2-5 years old.

Under the new rules, indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people and outdoor gatherings are limited to 25 people.

All gatherings, no matter the size or location, must end by 9:30 p.m.

Local health and police departments will be enforcing the gatherings order and fines for violating it will be $500 for each person above the limit at a particular event.

The new coronavirus regulations do not impact schools, which will remain open. Baker said the measures prevent the need to roll back to Phase 1 or Phase 2 of the reopening plan.

On Thursday, Baker said, “People have raised a bunch of questions and we’re going to be responding. We’ve been responding to those, and we’ll continue to do so through the day today.”

The new regulations were announced on Monday, which Baker said allowed some time for people to ask questions and raise concerns about how things will work out before they go into effect on Friday.

The new measures came in response to rising COVID rates and hospitalizations across the state that health officials are looking to tamp down as we head into the cold winter months.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3mUXqu3