6/1/2020 Press Conference on COVID-19 Updates

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On June 1st, Governor Baker gave a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update on the Executive Order on Reopening he signed today and the Command Center.

Here is the summary.

Executive Order on Reopening

  • Today, Governor Baker signed an executive order that clarifies which businesses and sectors fall into Phase II of the reopening strategy. Please find the full list at mass.gov/reopening 

    • The executive order also contains more information on the sectors that fall under Phases III and IV. 

    • Today, the Administration also released guidance on retail stores. Please find it here.

    • Today, the Administration also released guidance for child care, recreational summer camps, and youth programs. These programs can reopen in Phase II after they submit specific plans to EEC to ensure health and safety parameters for screenings and sanitization. 

      • The requirements also include safety protocols around transportation and food safety.

      • Please find the full details and guidance here.

  • Effective today, businesses and organizations listed in Phase II will be permitted to enter their establishments to start preparing for their reopening, while still remaining closed to the public.

  • The Administration will be carefully monitoring the public health data from today and June 6th and then will make an announcement on the decision about Phase II on June 6th.

Command Center

  • Over the weekend, the Command Center submitted the details for MA’s expanded testing proposal to the federal government. 

  • By utilizing $374 million in federal funding, MA plans to increase lab testing capacity to 45,000 tests a day by the end of July. Including: 

    • Ensuring on-demand access to testing for all symptomatic individuals, their close contacts, and high-risk populations.

    • Prepare a testing infrastructure for a potential second surge in the fall.

    • Continue to operate the contact tracing program.

  • The Command Center will make more information on this proposal available at mass.gov/covid-19. 

The Governor also covered the demonstrations that took place on May 31st in the City of Boston and racial injustice here: