Massachusetts enters Phase 2 of reopening plan amid coronavirus: Here’s what can open as of Monday - MassLive.com

Massachusetts has now reached Phase 2 in Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening plan and now people will be able to go inside retail stores, children will be able to head to playgrounds and participate in sports programs while restaurants can serve people outside.

The decision to move to Phase 2 came as Baker felt the coronavirus statistics in Massachusetts showed a downward trajectory in terms of new cases and hospitalizations.

Many businesses were at a standstill after March 10 when Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baker has a four-phase reopening plan named, “Start," “Cautious,” “Vigilant” and "The New Normal,” respectively.

Each phase will last a least a minimum of three weeks, but Massachusetts could revert to a previous phase if health and state officials see a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Phase 2 has been divided into two parts. Beginning today, Monday, June 8, the following can reopen under certain restrictions:

• Childcare facilities and day camps
• Driving and flight school
• Funeral homes, with occupancy limits
• Higher education classes including post-secondary, vocational tech and occupation schools may allow students complete required courses for graduation.
• Historical spaces may reopen outdoor facilities. No guided tours allowed nor can they host functions or gatherings.
• Hotels and other lodgings, though they may not host events, functions or meetings
• Outdoor recreation including pools, playgrounds and driving ranges
• Personal services, such as home cleaning, window washing, education tutoring and career coaching, with social distancing mandated
• Restaurants, offering only outdoor dining and takeout
• Retail, with occupancy limits
• Sports: Professional teams may continue practices starting Monday, though no games or public admission is allowed. Youth sports and adult amateur leagues may resume as well.
• Warehouses and distribution centers

For restaurants, diners can only be served outdoors with table 6 feet apart and away from high foot traffic areas. Tables will be allowed to be closer together only if protective barriers are in place.

No more than six people can sit at a table. Take-out service will still be allowed with safety standards in place because of the allowance of outdoor dining.

Retails stores can open at 40% of maximum occupancy or at 8 people (including staff) per 1,000 square feet.

Markers must be placed outside stores to keep people waiting to go inside 6 feet apart. People must also be 6 feet apart while inside stores.

Stores need to install barriers at checkout stations where possible and place social distancing markers in places such as checkout lines or bathrooms.

Face coverings must be worn by all customers and workers. Sampling stations for items like makeup and perfume are not allowed and fitting rooms will remain closed.

After serving a customer, employees have to disinfect shared equipment with supplies provided by the employer. Disinfection and cleaning logs must also be kept showing the business is following protocols.

Health care providers can resume in-person services including annual visits, dental visits and vision care on Monday. Elective cosmetic procedures and in-person day programs will not be allowed until Phase 3.

State health officials urged all to consider tele-health options when possible.

Sports teams, ranging from professional to local youth leagues, can begin practicing.

Professional sports teams can hold practices but, at this time, no games or public admission are allowed.

Outdoor athletic facilities will open for youth and adult activities while indoor athletic facilities will reopen for sports programs only including sports camps for children under the age of 18. Adult and unsupervised youth activities are still not allowed. Locker rooms for indoor facilities will remain closed.

Including coaches and staff, participants can only be grouped into no more than 10 people.

Contact sports can only have no-contact drills and practices. Non-contact sports can hold games, but contact sports cannot have inter-team games, scrimmages, or tournaments.

Yoga, tai chi and outdoor workout classes where people do not share equipment or have physical contact are permitted with people wearing facial coverings and maintaining a distance of at least 12 feet and with no more than 10 people gathering.

Walking and biking on rail trails and yoga in the park is allowed with visitors maintaining a 6-foot distance between others and no more than 10 people in group activities. People must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer afterward.

Picnics and grill areas may also open, state officials said, noting people must adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Municipalities will reopen restrooms, recycling and trash disposal facilities. For facilities without recycling and trash receptacles, visitors should adhere to a “carry-in, carry-out” policy.

Dog parks will also open Monday, but shared water dishes, toys and other items should not be handled by dogs or people. Dog owners need to bring their own bags for waste and take it with them if trash bins are not available.

Spray parks and playgrounds are open with visitors required to wear face coverings or masks and follow social distancing guidelines. Face masks should not be worn in the water.

Parents and guardians are required to monitor children to ensure social distancing protocols are followed. Anyone feeling sick or recovering from an illness needs to stay home.

All outdoor public and semi-public (such as membership facilities) pools may open at 40% capacity with indoor facilities only reopening for supervised youth sports leagues and summer sports camps for participants under 18 years old.

Hot tubs and whirlpools must remain closed.

People in the water need to stay at least 6 feet apart. Masks need to be worn by visitors and staff while out of the water. Swimming lessons are still not allowed.

Locker rooms and changing areas will remain closed, though facilities must provide access to showers, either outdoor or indoor.

Shared furniture, lounge chairs and swimming devices need to be disinfected but personal flotation devices cannot be shared. Snorkels and googles cannot be rented or provided to people.

Outside equipment including toys, lounge furniture and inflatables cannot be brought to pools by people. There is an exemption for people with disabilities in need of specific equipment.

Towels provided to guests need to be laundered at the warmest appropriate water temperature and dried completely. If food service is offered, restaurant guidelines must be followed.

If a facility is visited by a sick person, it must be closed for 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting the facility.

Day camps and childcare facilities can open but this does not include overnight camps. Temperatures for children and staff need to be checked daily before entering facilities. Parents will also have to answer several questions about the child’s health and the health of people in a home.

Groups will be restricted to 10 with staff saying with the same group of children during the day. Children and staff members over the age of 2 are encouraged to wear face coverings or masks when 6 feet of social distancing is not possible.

Hotels and motels will also be allowed to open but under a series of conditions.

Phase 2 will be implemented in two steps, which include allowing restaurants to offer indoor service and for close-contact services, such as nail salons and tattoo parlors, to reopen.

Health officials will monitor statistics to determine when the second step of Phase 2 will occur.

These close-contact services will still remain closed:

• Hair removal and replacement
• Nail care
• Skincare
• Massage therapy
• Makeup salons and makeup application services
• Tanning salons
• Tattoo, piercing and body art services
• Personal training, with restrictions

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