Governor Charlie Baker today indefinitely postponed the next step of the Massachusetts re-opening plan and lowered the limit on outdoor gatherings as COVID-19 cases continue to edge up throughout the commonwealth.

The announcement means that indoor theaters, performance venues and recreational areas scheduled to open in Step 2 of Phase 3 re-opening will have to wait indefinitely to open their doors.

Effective next Tuesday, the limit on outside gatherings will be reduced from 100 people to 50 per site while the limit on inside gatherings will remain at 25. The limits will apply to all types of gatherings, on both public and private property. Face coverings where more than 10 people from different households will be mixing. The Revised Gatherings Order can be found here.

Meanwhile, the state is ramping up enforcement of both the gathering limits and compliance by businesses with sector-specific safety guidance, especially in communities with high rates of COVID infections.

The governor has authorized state and local police to enforce gathering limits and fine event hosts who violate gathering rules. He is also forming a cross-agency COVID Enforcement and Intervention Team to deal with enforcement.

The state is updating restaurant guidance to ensure that only restaurants serving food on the premises may serve serving alcohol. The revised Sector Specific Workplace Safety Standards For Restaurants To Address Covid-19 can be found here

The governor signaled last week that changes were imminent when he warned that recent large gatherings in communities throughout the state were a “recipe for disaster” in potentially spreading the coronavirus, and told residents that “we’re going to have to make some changes” if the positive test rate continues to move up.

AIM members may contact Brad MacDougall, bmacdougall@aimnet.org, or Beth Yohai, byohai@aimnet.org for more information.