FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 22, 2020
Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced a temporary Executive Order and revised COVID-19 measures to reduce the spread of the virus in Massachusetts.
The temporary Executive Order will outline the following measures that will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, December 26, 2020 and will continue until Sunday, January 10, 2021, with a possibility of an extension of another week based upon available data.
This pause will reduce allowable occupancy from current capacity levels of 40% to 25% in multiple sectors.
- Notably, this capacity limit will now apply to restaurants. Capacity will be set at 25% of pre-COVID seating capacity and distancing between tables and other requirements will remain in place. Indoor and Outdoor seating capacity must be calculated separately (rather than combining them).
- Small spaces (such as personal services) and other spaces without clear occupancy standards may use 5 people / 1000 square feet as an alternative to the 25% occupancy.
- Employees/staff are exempted from the capacity count
- Limits at indoor event venues are being reduced to 10 people.
- Limits at outdoor event venues are being reduced to 25 people.
- Current limits at private residences remain the same (10 indoors and 25 outdoors)
- Limits outdoor performance venues will remain 25% (with the max number reduced to 25 from 50).
- Office spaces will be required to reduce capacity to 25%, but there will continue to be allowances for offices with “critical services”, such as public safety, public health, and other critical services. There is no approval required for these exemptions.
- K-12 schools continue to be exempted from these capacity limits and will need to follow DESE standards and guidelines.
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