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| 麻州長查理貝克(州長辦公室檔案照片)。 |
查理貝克辦公室在聲明中表示，將尋求展延至6月15日以後的命令，包括容許公眾會議遠距舉行，餐廳擴展戶外用餐的特別許可，以及新冠病人的付帳保護等。
根據該聲明，展延這些命令，需要議會通過。
查理貝克表示，麻州施打疫苗的成績在全美名列前茅，而那樣的進展使得麻州可以恢復正常。這些臨時辦法可在過渡期幫助企業及居民。
該聲明稱，命令將禁止供應商向因新冠病毒獲得急救及住院服務的病人，收取超過保險公司給付額度的費用。查理貝克希望把這禁止限期展延至2022年1月1日，聯邦政府對急救及非急救個案的保護都開始生效時為止。
在查理貝克的法案中，戶外用餐將一直展延至2021年11月29日。地方市鎮可加快發給新臨時許可的過程。
政府官員指出，麻州已將近有400萬居民在間隔2週中，注射過二劑輝瑞或Moderna疫苗，或是一濟強生(J&J)疫苗了，截至週一，麻州共有340萬人完整注射了疫苗。
Governor Baker Files Legislation to Extend Certain COVID-19 Emergency Measures
BOSTON — Today, Governor Charlie Baker will file legislation to extend certain emergency measures currently in place via executive orders that are set to expire on June 15 when the State of Emergency will be rescinded. Most restrictions, including limitations placed on businesses, will be rescinded effective May 29 as Massachusetts nears the goal of vaccinating four million residents.
This legislation proposes to extend measures providing for a temporary suspension of certain open meeting law requirements, special permits for expanded outside dining at restaurants, and billing protections for COVID-19 patients. When the State of Emergency ends, these orders will expire, and temporarily extending these measures will allow for time to transition. Extending these measures, which were instituted by executive order, requires legislation.
To allow public bodies to safely meet during the pandemic and ensure public access to meetings, Governor Baker issued an Executive Order in March 2020 allowing these bodies to meet quorum requirements even if meetings were held remotely through electronic means as long as measures were taken to ensure the public with electronic access to the proceedings. The bill filed by Governor Baker today will extend these provisions related to the Commonwealth’s Open Meeting Law until September 1, 2021, which will allow additional time to consider possible permanent changes to the open meeting law to provide for greater flexibility in conducting open meetings through reliance on electronic streaming and similar measures.
The bill will also grant municipalities authority to extend special permits for restaurants offering outdoor dining issued under the State of Emergency through November 29, 2021. Under an Executive Order issued in 2020, municipalities were permitted to use an expedited process to approve temporary permits for new or expanded outdoor dining and alcohol service. Without a legislative extension, special permits granted under the Governor’s Order will expire 60 days after the end of the State of Emergency.
The legislation will also extend a protection adopted in an executive order that prohibits medical providers from billing patients who have received COVID-related emergency and inpatient services for charges in excess of costs paid by their insurers. As filed, the protection would extend until January 1, 2022, at which time recently passed federal legislation that included protections for both emergency and non-emergency cases will become effective. Earlier this year, Governor Baker signed legislation establishing surprise billing protections for patients for non-emergency services.
“Massachusetts is leading the nation in the vaccination effort and that progress is enabling the Commonwealth to return to normal,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These temporary measures will help businesses and residents in this transition period, and I look forward to working on these and other issues in the week ahead with our partners in the Legislature.”
Last week, Governor Baker announced that on May 29, all industries will be permitted to open.
With the exception of remaining face-covering requirements for masks in public and private transportation systems, hospitals and other facilities housing vulnerable populations, all industry restrictions will be lifted at that time, and capacity will increase to 100% for all industries. The gathering limit will be rescinded.
Before June 15, the administration plans to take additional steps that will permit the continuation of targeted public health measures beyond the end of the State of Emergency, including the mask requirements announced last week.
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