3月22日起麻州第四階段開放

(Boston Orange編譯)麻州政府今(18)日宣佈，由公共衛生指標持續向正確方向發展，麻州開放腳步也將向前再邁進一步，3月22日起進入第四階段第一步驟。同日起，麻州的旅行禁令也將改為旅行忠告。

人們聚會的人數限制，也將放寬為室內100人，戶外150人。在私人住宅的戶外或後院聚會的人數限制，將維持為限25人，室內的住宅聚會也維持限10人的規定。

麻州政府同時宣佈，麻州成長資本公司(MGCC)撥發第10輪新冠病毒(COVID-19)紓困補助約3100萬元給710家小企業，

關於第四階段第一步驟，以及聚會改變:

             3月1日起，麻州放寬幾種產業的容納量限制，並推進到第三步驟第二階段。那之後，住院率下降了20%，死亡率下降了24%。在長照機構的新增確診案7天平均率也下降了53%，病毒確診率已有好幾星期維持在2%已下了，新增確診個案的7天平均率也下降了7%。

             基於以上的疫情改善，麻州政府宣佈州內所有社區從3月22日起跨入重新開放計畫的第四階段第一步驟。大型運動、娛樂場，例如室內及戶外體育館，舞台，球場等，向麻州公共衛生廳遞交計畫後，將可以12%的容納量營運。

             人們聚會的人數限制，也將放寬為室內100人，戶外150人。

             跳舞池將只准在婚禮或其他活動使用，過夜的夏令營將可於今下舉辦。遵循人數限制及活動規範的展覽及會議廳也可以開始營運。其他的第四階段行業仍將維持關閉狀態。

             在旅行方面的規定，3月22日起，旅行禁令將由旅行忠告取代。新的旅行忠告將鼓勵所有進入麻州人士，包括回麻州的居民，如果在外州逗留時間超過24小時，抵達麻州後應檢疫10天。

             14天前已打過兩劑輝瑞或Mordena疫苗，或者打過一劑強生(J&J)疫苗者，將不受限制。

             麻州政府鼓勵旅行者諮詢並遵循聯邦疾病防治中心的旅行相關指導原則及規定。

             在新冠病毒紓困小企業濟助上。MGCC再撥款3100萬元給710家小企業。迄今麻州已撥發6億6330萬元直接資助14,056家企業。這第10輪撥款中有327家少數族裔企業，293家婦女經營企業獲得資助。240家獲得撥款者坐落在門戶城市內，245家之前沒有收到過補助。

             MGCC很快將會宣佈為小企業提供技術援助及社區發展的新一輪資金。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Transition to Phase IV of Reopening Plan

Massachusetts will advance to Step 1 of Phase IV on March 22; Replaces Travel Order with Travel Advisory

BOSTON — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts will advance to Step 1 of Phase IV of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan on Monday, March 22. The Administration continues to take steps to reopen the Commonwealth's economy with public health metrics continuing to trend in a positive direction. This includes drops in average daily COVID cases and hospitalizations. Massachusetts also continues to be a national leader in vaccination rates. The Administration also replaced the Massachusetts Travel Order originally issued in July 2020 with a Travel Advisory, effective March 22. 

In addition, the Administration also announced nearly $31 million in awards to 710 additional small businesses in the tenth round of COVID-19 relief grants administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). 

Phase IV, Step 1 and Gathering Changes:

On March 1, Massachusetts loosened capacity restrictions for several industries and advanced to Step 2 of Phase III of the reopening plan. Since then, hospitalizations dropped by 20% and deaths dropped by 24%. The seven day average of new cases in long-term care facilities dropped by 53%. The positive test rate remains below 2% and has been for several weeks now. The seven day average of new cases is also down over this time by 7%. 

Effective Monday, March 22, all communities in Massachusetts will move into Step 1 of Phase IV of the state’s reopening plan. This will open a range of previously closed business sectors under tight capacity restrictions that are expected to be adjusted over time if favorable trends in the public health data continue. Effective on the planned advancement to Step 1 of Phase IV, the following large capacity sports and entertainment venues will be permitted to operate at a strict 12% capacity limit after submitting a plan to the Department of Public Health (DPH):

• Indoor and outdoor stadiums

• Arenas

• Ballparks

Also effective on March 22, gathering limits for event venues and in public settings will increase to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards will remain at a maximum of 25 people, with indoor house gatherings remaining at 10 people.

Additionally, dance floors will be permitted at weddings and other events only, and overnight summer camps will be allowed to operate this coming summer. Exhibition and convention halls may also begin to operate, following gatherings limits and event protocols. Other Phase IV sectors must continue to remain closed.

Travel Order: 

Effective Monday, March 22, the Massachusetts Travel Order will be replaced with a Travel Advisory. 

The new travel advisory will urge all persons entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, are advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival if they have been out of the state for 24 hours or more. 

The advisory does not apply to anyone in the following categories:

• Anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after an absence of fewer than 24 hours. 

• Travelers who have a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts. 

• Workers who enter Massachusetts to perform critical infrastructure functions (as specified by the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) while they are commuting to or from or while at work.

• Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago and who do not have symptoms). 

Travelers are additionally encouraged to consult and follow the CDC’s guidelines and requirements for travel. 

COVID-19 Business Relief Grants:

Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced approximately $31 million in awards for 710 additional businesses in the tenth round of COVID relief grants administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). As in prior rounds, each grant recipient meets sector or demographic priorities set for the grant programs administered by MGCC. 

With the addition of this round of grants, the Administration has awarded over $633 million in direct financial support to 14,056 businesses across the Commonwealth. 
Grants for this round were awarded to 327 minority-owned, and 293 women-owned, businesses; 240 recipients are located in Gateway Cities, and 245 businesses awarded grants have not received any prior aid.

Additionally, MGCC will soon be announcing the availability of funding to support small business technical assistance and community development financial institutions.