(Boston Orange 編譯)麻州政府2月25日宣佈，3月1日起跨入第3階段第2步驟開放，預定3月22日起跨入第4階段第1步驟。
麻州州長Charlie Baker希望盡快跨入第4階段開放。(視頻截圖)
麻州政府稱平均每日確診率，住院率持續下降，疫苗施打率持續增加，總體局勢項好發展，將繼續恢復經濟開放腳步。
麻州政府同時宣佈，麻州成長資本公司(MGCC)管理的新冠病毒紓困補助款，第8輪共發出4900萬元給1108家小企業。這次的發放準則，包括優先考量受創最嚴重地區及人口。
麻州在2020年5月18日訂定4階段重新開放經濟部驟。2020年10月時，跨入第3階段第2步驟，但是12月13日時，因為感恩節假日過後，新冠病毒感染率及住院率陡增，開放步驟也調整回第3階段第1步驟，全面縮減許多行業的營運場所使用率，加緊了限制。
今年初以來，包括新增確診個案，住院率等關鍵的公共健康數據，都有明顯下降的紀錄，麻州政府因此決定3月1日起，麻州內所有市鎮的開放程度恢復到第3階段第2步驟。
部分開放細節包括:
室內表演場所，諸如音樂廳，戲院，以及其他的室內表演空間，將可以50%的容量重新開放營運，人數上限為500。
室內娛樂活動，也將允許以50%的程度開放營運。例如激光標籤，滑輪溜冰，蹦床，障礙賽場等。
所有行業都可在員工除外的50%容納量營運。
餐館將不再有百分比的容量限制，而且可以安排音樂表演，但仍須保持6英尺的社交安全距離，每桌6人逗留90分鐘的限制。
居民仍需繼續戴口罩，以防止散佈新冠病毒。州政府也鼓勵民眾避免接觸非親近家人。其餘的旅遊勸告及公共安全命令仍然有效。
到3月22日，麻州內所有社區的重新開放，都可跨入第4階段第1步驟。原本因為營運量限制必須關門的許多行業將可逐步恢復營運。
下列行業向麻州公共衛生廳(DPH)遞交計劃書後，將可以12%的容量營運:
室內及戶外體育館，競技場，球場。
3月22日起，公開活動場所的聚會人數限制，將可放寬到室內100人，戶外150人。在私人住宅，或是私人後院等地方的聚會人數限制，仍為25人，在住宅內的室內聚會人數限制也保持為10人。
在婚禮，以及其他活動中可開放跳舞場地，今夏也可經營過夜的夏令營。在遵循人數限制及活動規定下，展覽及會議廳也可開始營運。屬於第4階段第2步驟中的行業，目前仍需保持關閉狀態。
麻州政府表示，截至2月25日止，麻州政府藉由小企業及特定行業補助項目，共發出5億6300萬元的直接金援，支持了12,320家企業，其中一半以上為餐館，酒吧，餐飲業，或者是髮廊，指甲店等個人服務行業。婦女及少數族裔經營的企業也佔了一半以上。
Baker-Polito
Administration Announces Plans for Continued Reopening
Massachusetts will advance to Step 2 of Phase III on March 1; Phase IV planned to start March 22
BOSTON—Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts would advance to Step 2 of Phase III of the state’s reopening plan on Monday, March 1, and also announced its plan to transition to Step 1 of Phase IV on Monday, March 22. With public health metrics continuing to trend in a positive direction, including drops in average daily COVID cases and hospitalizations, and vaccination rates continuing to increase, the Administration is taking steps to continue to reopen the Commonwealth’s economy.
The Administration also announced more than $49 million in awards to 1,108 additional small businesses in the eighth round of COVID-19 relief grants administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). These new awards are the result of work by MGCC to engage with applicants that meet sector and demographic priorities but are missing certain documents that are necessary to be considered for an award.
Phase III, Step 2:
On May 18, 2020, the Baker-Polito Administration released a four-phased plan to reopen the economy conditioned on sustained improvements in public health data. As of October, 2020, the reopening had proceeded to Step 2 of Phase III of the plan. On December 13, 2020, in response to an increase in new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations following the Thanksgiving holiday, the Commonwealth returned to Step 1 of Phase III, reducing capacities across a broad range of sectors and tightening several other workplace restrictions.
Since the beginning of this year, key public health data, such as new cases and hospitalizations, have been closely monitored and a significant decline has been documented, allowing for a return to Step 2 of Phase III, effective March 1 for all cities and towns. This includes the following updates to businesses, activities and capacities:
- Indoor performance venues such as concert halls, theaters, and other indoor performance spaces will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity with no more than 500 persons
- Indoor recreational activities with greater potential for contact (laser tag, roller skating, trampolines, obstacle courses) will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity
- Capacity limits across all sectors with capacity limits will be raised to 50% and exclude employees
- Restaurants will no longer have a percent capacity limit and will be permitted to host musical performances; six-foot social distancing, limits of six people per table and 90 minute limits remain in place
Residents must continue to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and are encouraged to avoid contact outside of their immediate households. The Travel Advisory and other public health orders remain in effect.
Gathering Changes and Phase IV Start
Provided public health metrics continue to improve, effective on 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 industries 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.
COVID-19 Business Relief Grants
Today, an additional 1,108 businesses are receiving COVID-19 relief grants totaling more than $49 million in awards to help with expenses like payroll, benefits, utilities and rent. To date, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded more than $563 million in direct financial support to 12,320 businesses impacted by the pandemic through the Small Business and Sector-Specific Grant Programs.
Each business meets sector and demographic priorities set for the two grant programs. More than half of grantees are restaurants, bars, caterers, operators of personal services like hair and nail salons, and independent retailers. Over half of the businesses receiving relief are women-and-minority-owned enterprises.
Today’s awards are the result of a process by MGCC to engage directly with applicants that met sector and demographic priorities but were missing documents necessary to be considered for an award. MGCC is continuing to work with business owners in targeted sectors and demographic groups to allow for applicants to submit necessary documents.
