Baker Lowers MA Business Capacity Limits Amid Coronavirus Surge

BOSTON — Amid concerns of another holiday spike in coronavirus cases, and hopes that the federal relief bill could provide some urgent help to the state's struggling businesses, Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday announced additional statewide business and gathering restrictions beginning Saturday.

Capacity limits will be lowered to 25 percent for all businesses. Indoor gathering limits will be lowered to 10 people and outdoor limits will be lowered to 25 people. The restrictions will be in place for at least two weeks .

Baker said he understands the new measures will have "negative ramifications" for business and hopes the federal relief package passed this week will help mitigate the impact. He said the state will announce additional business relief programs Wednesday, in addition to $49 million in pandemic relief grants announced Monday.

The restrictions are based on "a number of studies" that significantly lowering business capacity helps contain the spread of the virus, Baker said. He added the restrictions are also meant to send "a pretty loud signal" to people to stay home when possible and not gather over the holidays.

"By limiting capacity we are sending a message that we would like to see people spend the next couple of weeks between Christmas and the week after New Year's with — as regularly as they possibly can — just with those they live with," he said. "If you need to go out and do something, go out, get it done and come home."

The state also announced the postponement of all nonessential elective procedures at hospitals unless the postponement could lead to additional medical complications.

"Together the intent of these restrictions is to pause activity," Baker said, noting that capacity limits do not apply to schools. "All school districts — including those with high infection rates — can and should bring students back to the classroom."

(How Latest Capacity Limits Will Affect MA Businesses: LIST)

Hospitals are under "significant pressure," Baker said, and it may only get worse after the holidays. He said prior to Thanksgiving, acute care beds at hospitals were at 67 percent occupancy. By Dec. 15, they were at 83 percent occupancy and have essentially stayed at that level the past week.

"We're heading toward another period, this holiday stretch, where we're likely to see another significant increase in cases and hospitalizations unless everybody plays a very different game than the one we all played at Thanksgiving," Baker said. "As a result, we think it's appropriate to take action now to slow that spread. And we must do so in a way that can avoid overriding our hospital system."

Baker said the average age of patients was lower at the start of the recent second wave of the virus but has since increased closer to the average during the first wave in the spring. Younger people are less likely to develop severe symptoms and die from the coronavirus.

"The most important thing we want out of this is to make absolutely clear to people that the best and most safe thing we can all do for the next few weeks is to spend as much time with those we live with as possible," he reiterated. "And to not treat the period between Christmas and New Year's the way we normally do.

"Which is a constant race to connect with, catch up with, hang out with, grab a drink with, grab a meal with all those people you haven't seen since the last time you saw them last year.

"I think we all get the fact that's a tough message. But it's the right message for the moment."

The gathering limit restrictions apply to private homes, event venues and public spaces.

The 25 percent capacity limit at restaurants applies separately to indoor and outdoor spaces and does not include employees.

Employees are also excluded from capacity restrictions at grocery and retail stores. Movie theaters are limited to 25 percent capacity with a maximum of 50 people allowed. The limits also apply to offices, health clubs, fitness centers, libraries, museums and other recreational business allowed to open under phase three of the state's reopening guidelines.

"It is our goal to keep these restrictions temporary," Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said as she asked residents to buy gift cards at local business to use when restrictions are loosened.

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Baker said the new limits are being implemented on Saturday so that residents can attend church services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

"It's perfectly possible to do that safely," he said. "We hope people would follow the rules, follow the guidance, do the things we've talked about if they choose to do that."

Secretary of Health and Humans Services Marylou Sudders said that while the nonessential surgeries are being postponed, health services such as emergency care, cancer screenings and in-patient medical appointments can continue as scheduled.

"To be clear — we are not shutting down health care," Sudders said.

She said the state still needs nurses and other patient services professionals for the Lowell field hospital.

Baker blamed the post-Thanksgiving spike in coronavirus cases on people not adhering to guidance to stay home. He said he doubted stronger travel restrictions ahead of Christmas would be heeded.

"I am not really sure at the end of the day we could drive people away from coming home who were planning to come anyway," Baker said. "I think (the temporary business capacity and gathering limit plan) is a much more appropriate way to deal with it rather than just lock everything down."

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