By Beth David, Editor
The phased re-opening of businesses in Massachusetts is underway, with houses of worship, hair salons, barbershops and pet groomers allowed to open this week. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced guidelines for those businesses to re-open last week.
This week, on Tuesday, 5/26/20, he announced that The Boston Hope Medical Center, a field hospital set up at the Boston Convention Center, would no longer need to accept COVID-19 patients. The sited treated more than 700 COVID patients, and served as a respite site for the homeless. It will remain open until all current patients are discharged. The facility will remain in place and the beds available throughout the summer in case they are needed.
The state has already closed two other field hospitals.
Explaining that the state’s numbers are going in the right direction, Gov. Baker said the surge “is now behind us.”
The state’s numbers are “trending in the right direction,” he said, adding that it was only possible “by everyone’s willingness to do their part,” by practicing social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing hands frequently.
“We all have a responsibility to keep doing these things,” said Gov. Baker. “The science on this is pretty clear: These things done together are highly effective.”
He said this is how we will fight the virus and re-open responsibly.
The state has had more than 93,000 cases of COVID-19, and more than 6,400 people in Massachusetts have died from the virus.
Gov. Baker said that the positive test rate has stayed at about nine percent; 2,179 people remained hospitalized as of Tuesday, a number, he said, was a significant decrease over the past few weeks.
On Tuesday, offices were also allowed to open up, but with restrictions on the number of people that can be inside at the same time.
State beaches opened, too, but beachgoers are asked to maintain at least six feet of distance from others, and wear masks if they cannot maintain that distance.
Charter boats have also been allowed to start operating again, with limitations, such as no more than 10 people, including crew, aboard any single vessel. Passengers and crew must wear face coverings.
Some retailers were also allowed to open this week, but most with curbside only service; others can be by appointment only; and others have to limit the number of people in the store.
The state’s plan includes four phases, with a minimum of three weeks apart for each.
In phase two, nail salons and day spas will be able to open with restrictions.
The governor also announced the implementation of a $56 million program announced last week to help the hungry, which includes sending food boxes that contain 30-35 meals each to regional food banks across the state.
The state has also increased access to SNAP benefits (food stamps) and WIC benefits (for infants). The state has seen a significant increase in applications for food programs, and food banks across the state have seen demand skyrocket.
The new program will also help local farmers and the fishing community.
The state is also ramping up testing by increasing testing sites, and sending out a call for bids to institute mobile testing sites. The governor said the state currently can conduct 30,000 tests per day and has 250 testing sites statewide. The state will be testing 45,000 per day by July and 75,00 by December.
For a list of businesses allowed to open in phase one, general guidelines and other information, visit https://www.mass.gov/doc/reopening-massachusetts-may-18-2020/download
For industry specific guidelines, including workplace protocols, sample posters, and a checklist, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts
For the new “Safer-at-Home-Advisory,” visit https://www.mass.gov/news/safer-at-home-advisory
Cases update
According to the state’s website, as of Tuesday, 5/26/20, Massachusetts has 93,693 confirmed cases of COVID-19; 545,481 individuals have been tested; 6,473 confirmed deaths; 57 deaths reported on Tuesday, 5/26, and 422 new cases.
Across the country, there are 1,662,414 confirmed cases, with 24,958 new cases on Tuesday, 5/26; 98,261 deaths, with 592 new deaths reported on Tuesday, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) website.
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