Gov. Charlie Baker is indefinitely postponing the next step of the state's reopening in response to the uptick in COVID-19 cases that Massachusetts has seen in recent weeks.
The governor said the second step of Phase 3 of the state's reopening plan will be put on hold and the outdoor gathering limit will decrease from 100 to 50, effective Tuesday. He said he was authorizing all state and local police to enforce the orders, and that people who host events -- even on private property -- that exceed gathering limits will be subject to fines.
Baker authorized all state and local police to enforce the order and said the hosts of events that violate the orders will be subject to fines or cease and desist orders.
The governor announced the creation of a COVID-19 enforcement and intervention team, which will be coordinated by the Executive Office and Public Safety and Security and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. The team will be assigned to lead statewide enforcement efforts and coordinate with local officials. The team will ramp up enforcement efforts and coordinate intervention efforts in yet-to-be-named high-risk communities.
"We have to work hard, always, harder in some respects than ever, to contain COVID-19 and keep our economy open for business," Baker said. "We also want to keep this virus out of our communities as we head into the fall so we can give our kids a chance to get back to school."
Movie theaters, gyms, casinos, museums and more were allowed to reopen in early July as part of Phase 3. The Baker administration referred to it as "Step One of Phase III" but did not fully detail what would be included in the second step of Phase 3. On the state's reopening website, it lists indoor theater or concert hall performances, and laser tag, roller skating, trampolines and obstacle courses as the activities that would be allowed to reopen in step two of Phase 3.
Restaurant rules are also being updated, Baker announced. He said the rules will target bars that are "masquerading" as restaurants by requiring that alcoholic beverages may only be served for on-site consumption if accompanied by orders for food prepared on-site.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Thursday reported an additional 162 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state.
State health officials also confirmed 32 new COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the confirmed coronavirus death toll in Massachusetts to 8,470.
In addition to the total of 111,533 confirmed cases in Massachusetts, state health officials also reported 69 new probable cases for a total of 8.341 probable cases.
With reports from WCVB