Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Baker-Polito Administration Extends Non-Essential Business Closures to May 18th, Announces Reopening Advisory Board
Baker-Polito Administration Extends Non-Essential
Business Closures to May 18th, Announces Reopening Advisory Board
Gatherings of 10 or more prohibited until May 18th, Stay at Home Advisory Remains in Effect
Gatherings of 10 or more prohibited until May 18th, Stay at Home Advisory Remains in Effect
BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration extended the
essential services emergency order to May 18th and launched a
Reopening Advisory Board that will produce a plan to the Governor by May 18th.
The Administration also announced that the Department of Public Health’s Stay
At Home Advisory remains in effect and gatherings of 10 or more people remain
prohibited until May 18th.
Essential Services Order: Governor Charlie Baker’s emergency order requiring
that all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential
Services” close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers
and the public will be extended until May 18th. Businesses and organizations
not on the list of essential services are encouraged to continue operations
through remote means that do not require workers, customers, or the public to
enter or appear at the brick-and-mortar premises closed by the order. This
order also extends the existing ban on gatherings of more than 10 people until
May 18th.
Stay at Home Advisory: Governor Charlie Baker announced that the Department
of Public Health’s stay-at-home advisory will remain in effect. Residents are
strongly urged to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel and other unnecessary
person to person contact during this time period. Residents who are
considered at high risk when exposed to COVID-19 should limit social
interactions with other people as much as possible.
Executive Branch Employee
Guidance: The Baker-Polito
Administration today also extended the guidance issued to Executive Branch
employees on protocol during the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure state government
can continue to provide key services while protecting the health and safety of
the public and the Executive Branch workforce. Under the guidance, all
employees performing non-core functions who are able to work remotely should
continue to do so until May 18th.
Reopening Advisory
Board: Today, Governor Baker
announced the formation of the Reopening Advisory Board, which will be
Co-Chaired by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Housing and Economic Development
Secretary Mike Kennealy. The Board brings public health officials together with
leaders from the business community and municipal government from across the
Commonwealth. This group is charged with advising the administration on
strategies to reopen the economy in phases based on health and safety metrics.
It will meet with key stakeholders and solicit input from a variety of
constituencies over the next three weeks to develop a report by May 18th
that will include DPH approved workplace safety standards, industry frameworks
and customer protocols and guidelines, including enforcement mechanisms and coordination
with municipal leaders. This report is due on the 18th, but the
administration has made clear that public health data and guidance from health
care experts will dictate the timeline of the re-opening process.
The 17-member Advisory
Board is composed of three public health officials, including Department of
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel, three municipal officials, and
eleven leaders from the business community, including MassDOT Secretary and CEO
Stephanie Pollack. Members of the Advisory Board bring a range of perspectives
to the table, such as an understanding of workplaces and workforces and
insights into key areas like financial markets, education, manufacturing and
transportation.
Reopening Advisory
Board Members:
·
Aron Ain, CEO,
Kronos Inc & Ultimate Software
·
Carlo Zaffanella,
Vice President and General Manager, Maritime & Strategic Systems, General
Dynamics Mission Systems
·
Corey Thomas,
CEO, Rapid 7
·
Daniel Rivera,
Mayor, City of Lawrence
·
Rochelle
Walensky, MD, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital
·
Girish Navani,
CEO and Co-Founder, eClinicalWorks
·
Joe Bahena,
Senior Vice President, Joseph Abboud Manufacturing
·
Kathryn Burton,
Chief of Staff, City of Boston
·
Laurie Leshin,
Ph.D., President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
·
Linda Markham,
President, Cape Air
·
Mark Keroack,
President & CEO, Baystate Health
·
Monica Bharel,
Ph.D., Commissioner, Department of Public Health
·
Nicole
LaChapelle, Mayor, City of Easthampton
·
Pamela Everhart,
Head of Regional Public Affairs and Community Relations, Fidelity
Investments
·
Stephanie
Pollack, Transportation Secretary and CEO
·
Steve DiFillippo,
CEO, Davios Restaurants
·
Wendy Hudson,
Owner, Nantucket Book Partners
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