Governor Baker Issues Third Revised Order Regulating Gatherings In Northborough

Press release from the Town of Northborough:

August 10, 2020

As has been reported, the numbers of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts are rising. To address an increase in cases, Governor Baker announced that he is postponing indefinitely the time period for entering Step II of Phase III of his reopening plan. Moreover, he issued COVID-19 Order No. 46: Third Revised Order Regulating Gatherings Throughout the Commonwealth. The following mandates are addressed in Order No. 46:

• This Order becomes effective on August 11, 2020, and further reduces the limit on outdoor gatherings from 100 to 50 people (indoor gatherings will remain limited at 8 persons per 1,000 square feet of accessible floor space with an outer limit of 25 people in a single, enclosed indoor space).
• Gathering limits will apply to all types of gatherings, on both public and private property. The Order expressly specifies that it applies both to private homes and backyards, as well as parks, athletic fields and parking lots.
• All participants in indoor and outdoor gatherings must maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from every other gathering participant, unless individuals are from the same household.
• Furthermore, the Order requires face coverings where more than 10 people from different households will be attending, whether indoors or outdoors, at both gatherings in public spaces and private homes, including backyards, parks, athletic fields and parking lots. As with the current face covering order(s), children two years old and younger, and individuals with medical or disabling conditions that prevent mask wearing, are excused from this requirement.
• Notably, this Executive Order exempts polling places, which had not been exempted under previous Executive Orders, and continues to exempt municipal legislative bodies.
• The Order adds enforcement mechanisms to allow the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) or any local licensing authority to, after notice and a hearing, suspend, revoke or cancel a license for the sale of alcoholic beverages in the event a violation occurs.
• Entities designated as a Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III enterprises allowed to operate under prior Orders are not subject to the revised gathering limits, per se, but will remain subject to sector specific rules and guidance.
• Outdoor gatherings for political expression and religious activities are not subject to the revised gathering limits. Indoor gatherings for political expression will be subject to the revised gathering limits, while indoor gatherings for religious services will remain subject to the capacity limitations set forth in sector specific guidance.

As a reminder, the Town of Northborough has created a dedicated Covid-19 webpage. The webpage contains a variety of support and resources for individuals and businesses, including a Community Resource Guide and CDC guidance on coping with Covid related stress.

This press release was produced by the Town of Northborough. The views expressed here are the author’s own.