PRESS RELEASE: February 25, 2021
Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, and Secretary Kennealy made several announcements pertaining to the state’s reopening process and sector specific guidance. These include:
- Phase 3, Step 2: Effective March 1, 2021, the Commonwealth will move forward into Phase 3, Step 2. This will reopen:
- Indoor performance venues such as concert halls, theaters, and other indoor performance spaces
o Open at 50% capacity with 500 person maximum
- Indoor recreational activities with greater potential for contact: laser tag, roller skating, trampolines, obstacle courses
o Open at 50% capacity
- Updated Capacity Limits: Effective March 1, 2021, the following industries will increase to 50% capacity.
Employees will be exempt from capacity restrictions in all of these industries:
- Arcades & Other Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Businesses
- Close Contact Personal Services
- Driving and Flight Schools
- Fitness Centers and Health Clubs
- Golf Facilities (indoor)
- Libraries
- Operators of Lodging (common spaces)
- Museums, Cultural & Historic Facilities, Guided Tours
- Office Spaces
- Places of Worship
- Sectors not Otherwise Addressed
- Theaters and Performance Venues
- Relevant EEA Industries – Youth sports spectators etc.
- The following industries remain unaffected by capacity limits:
o Drive in movie theaters
o Construction
o Laboratories
o Manufacturing
- Additional Guidance Changes:
- Effective March 1, 2021, Restaurants will no longer be subject to a % seated capacity limit and their capacity is limited only by the requirement of 6 feet between tables
o Musical performances allowed in restaurants (with appropriate distancing)
o 90 minute time limit on tables stays in place
o Limit of no more than 6 per table stays in place
o Food courts remain closed
- Effective March 1, 2021, Fitting rooms may open in all retail businesses
- Gatherings Limit: Effective March 22, 2021, subject to public health data, the gatherings limit will increase for event venues and public settings, but will stay the same in private settings*:
- Event Venues and Public Settings:
o 100 indoors
o 150 outdoors
- *Private Settings (such as private residences):
o 10 indoors
o 25 outdoors
- Phase 4, Step 1: Effective March 22, 2021, subject to public health data, the Commonwealth will move into Phase 4, Step 1:
- Indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas and ballparks will reopen with a 12% capacity limit
o A large venue is defined as a having a capacity of 5,000 or more
o Venues with capacity under 5,000 are subject to the Indoor and Outdoor Performance Venue guidance
o Large venues will be required to submit a safety plan to the Department of Public Health
- Overnight Camps will be allowed to open for Summer 2021
- Exhibition and Convention Halls may reopen, subject to gathering limits and event rules
- Dance floors may open at weddings and events only
- All other Phase 4 industries will not be able to open until a future reopening step. Those include:
o Road races, street festivals, and parades, and fairs
o Amusement parks, theme parks, outdoor water parks
o Indoor water parks and indoor / outdoor ball pits
o Saunas, hot-tubs, steam rooms at fitness centers, health clubs, and other facilities
o Beer gardens / breweries / wineries / distilleries
o Bars, dance clubs, and nightclubs—venues offering entertainment, beverages, or dancing and not providing seated food service
Updated guidance can be found at www.mass.gov/reopening