Today, Governor Baker announced the launch of free COVID-19 testing sites in eight communities from July 10 to August 14 to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This “Stop the Spread” initiative is a data-driven effort to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 in communities that are above the state average in total cases and positive…
As the Commonwealth moves into Phase III of the reopening plan, businesses should take care to stay in compliance with the Mandatory Safety Standards for Workplaces. These standards apply universally to all reopening workplaces, and are designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission to employees and customers during the first phase of reopening, and…
Last week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill that expands voter access and ensures voters have safe and secure voting options for all remaining 2020 elections, including the September 1, 2020 state primary and November 3, 2020 general election, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation was signed by Governor Baker…
Today, Governor Baker announced that on July 6, Phase III of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan will begin and updates on gatherings will be in effect. For the City of Boston, Phase III and the gatherings order will take effect on Monday, July 13. The Department of Public Health (DPH) also issued updated guidance to mitigate the…
Today, households facing difficulty making housing payments may apply to access a new $20 million, statewide rent and mortgage assistance fund. The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program will provide direct funding to eligible households who have suffered financial hardship during the State of Emergency put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19. ERMA will…
Last week, I voted with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass a supplemental budget to facilitate federal CARES Act funding to reimburse communities hard-hit by COVID-19. This bill follows the April passage in Congress of the Federal CARES Act, which requires states to expend funds on items related to COVID-19 for federal…
Today, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released initial guidance for school reopening this fall that prioritizes getting students safely back to school in person, following a comprehensive set of health and safety requirements. The Department is also requiring schools to create hybrid learning plans to teach students in-person and remotely on alternating schedules, and…
Today, Governor Baker announced that Step Two of Phase II of the Commonwealth’s four-phase reopening plan, Reopening Massachusetts, will begin on Monday, June 22 to allow additional industries to resume operations under sector-specific guidelines. Businesses and sectors set to begin operating in Step Two of Phase II are subject to compliance with all mandatory safety…
Phase II of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan begins today, as announced by Governor Baker this weekend. Businesses and sectors set to begin opening in Phase II are subject to compliance with all mandatory safety standards. On May 18, the Reopening Advisory Board released a four-phased plan to reopen the economy based on public health data,…
House leaders, including Gloucester’s Ann-Margaret Ferrante, are eyeing ways to provide oversight and support for industry viewed as critical to the success of the state’s economic recovery. “Access to safe and reliable childcare for working families is critical to getting our economy running as we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooperation and engagement…
