4/28/2020 Press Conference on COVID-19 Updates

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On April 28th, Governor Baker gave a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update on extending the essential services order as well as the stay at home advisory until May 18th and the new Reopening Advisory Board.

Here is the summary.

Essential Services Order

  • Governor Baker’s emergency order requiring that all businesses and organizations that do not provide ‘COVID-19 Essential Services’ close their physical workplaces and facilities will be extended until May 18th.

  • Businesses and organizations not on the list of essential services are still encouraged to continue operations in a way that follows social distancing protocols. 

Stay At Home Advisory

  • Governor Baker  announced that the Department of Public Health’s Stay At Home Advisory will remain in effect and gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited until May 18th. 

  • Please stay home and avoid unnecessary travel as well as unnecessary person to person contact during this time period. 

Executive Branch Employee Guidance

  • MA has extended the guidance issued to Executive Branch employees. Under the guidance, all employees performing non-core functions who are able to work remotely should continue doing so until May 18th. 

Reopening Advisory Board

  • Today, Governor Baker introduced the new Reopening Advisory Board. The Board will be Co-Chaired by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and the Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy and have 17 members in total.

  • What will the Board do?

    • The Board will bring public health officials together with leaders from the business community and municipal government from across MA. 

    • The Board will advise the administration on strategies to reopen the economy in phases based on health and safety metrics. 

    • The Board will meet with key stakeholders and solicit input from a variety of constituencies to develop a report by May 18th.

  • What will the report include?

    • The report will include DPH approved workplace safety standards, industry frameworks and customer protocols and guidelines, including enforcement mechanisms and coordination with municipal leaders.

  • Important information to remember

    • The report is due on May 18th, but please keep in mind that public health data and guidance from health care experts will be the ones to dictate the timeline of the re-opening process.