MA Reopening Plan: What We Know And Don't Know

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker is set to announce the plan for reopening the Massachusetts economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

So far, Baker has been mum on the details of which businesses are part of the state's four-phase plan. But details are expected Monday when the reopening advisory board releases a report outlining details for specific industries.

Here's everything we know so far about the state's plan to reach "the new normal."

1. Stay at home advisory has short delay

Baker extended the order requiring the closure of nonessential businesses for one day from Monday to Tuesday. The advisory board in charge of reopening Massachusetts is still expected to release its plan Monday.

"To be clear, this is just a technical extension," Baker said. "It doesn't change anything. It just allows us to move to the next step, which we'll be outlining to you all on Monday."

2. Reopening will come in phases

Reopening the Massachusetts economy will happen gradually over four phases. There's no timeline for these phases; they will be contingent on public health data progress. Baker also said the phases can be pulled back depending on cases, hospitalization rates and other important factors.

"We have to ensure that when taking one step forward we don't take two steps back," Baker said.
The new phases are as follows, with descriptions via materials from the announcement:

Phase 1: Start — Limited industries resume operations with severe restrictions.

Phase 2: Cautious — Additional industries resume operations with restrictions and capacity limits.

Phase 3: Vigilant — Additional industries resume operations with guidance.

Phase 4: The New Normal — Development of vaccine and/or therapy enables resumption of "new normal."

3. Remote work an important part of Phase 1

Any reopening plan will urge businesses to allow employees to work from home whenever possible. Baker said he's involved executives at Blue Cross Blue Shield, Raytheon and other large Massachusetts companies in this decision and applauded them for putting the time in to make remote work a reality. As of Friday, Baker said 98 percent of Blue Cross Blue Shield employees are working remotely.

"We know there's no one-size-fits-all approach for this," Baker said. "We know that's not possible for every company."

4. Mandatory workplace safety standards required

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced mandatory workplace safety standards that every business must follow. The standards are as follows:

• Social distancing
  • All persons, including employees, customers, and vendors should remain at least 6 feet apart to the greatest extent possible, both inside and outside workplaces.
  • Establish protocols to ensure that employees can practice adequate social distancing.
  • Provide signage for safe social distancing.
  • Require face coverings or masks for all employees.
• Hygiene protocols
  • Provide hand washing capabilities throughout the workplace.
  • Ensure frequent hand washing by employees and adequate supplies to do so.
  • Provide regular sanitization of high touch areas, such as workplaces, equipment, screens, doorknobs, restrooms throughout work site.
• Staffing and protocols
  • Provide training for employees regarding the social distancing and hygiene protocols.
  • Employees who are displaying COVID-19-like symptoms do not report to work.
  • Establish a plan for employees getting ill from COVID-19 at work, and a return-to-work plan.
• Cleaning and disinfecting
  • Establish and maintain cleaning protocols specific to the business.
  • When an active employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, cleaning and disinfecting must be performed.
  • Disinfection of all common surfaces must take place at intervals appropriate to said workplace.

What We Don't Know

1. What businesses?

Baker hasn't said which businesses will be part of the four phases of re-opening. Details, at least on the first phase, are expected to be announced Monday.

Baker said the businesses that will be allowed to reopen will be ones that are best positioned to limit face-to-face interactions and avoid the spread of the coronavirus. The process, he said, will continue to be a slow one.

2. Timeline

Other than the announcement Monday, Baker and state officials have given no indication of when the phases are expected to begin. Baker said public health data, which has generally been trending in a positive direction in recent weeks, is going a long way in influencing the state's decisions.

Baker said the reason for the phased reopening is to look ahead where the state wants to be months from now, not where the state wants to be tomorrow.

"When we reopen we're going to want to be able to sustain that reopening over time," he said.