5/11/2020 Press Conference on COVID-19 Updates

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On May 11th, Governor Baker gave a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update on Testing, Hospitalizations, PPE, The Reopening Advisory Board, Phases for Reopening the Economy, and Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards.

Here is the summary.

Testing

  • Yesterday, MA processed almost 12,000 tests which brings the total number of tests to 388,389.

    • There were 1,050 new cases of positive COVID-19 tests which represent 9% of the total tests conducted. 

Hospitalizations

  • The number of cases currently hospitalized is down to 4%. 

PPE

  • As of yesterday, MA has distributed 10 million pieces of personal protective equipment.

The Reopening Advisory Board

  • Since the Reopening Advisory Board started their work on April 28th, they have met with stakeholders from 44 different industries, associations, and community coalitions representing more than 110,000 businesses and more than 2 million workers across MA.

  • The Board has received written comments from more than 2,200 employers and organizations.

  • On May 18th, the Board will release a full report that will outline the plans for MA to reopen as safely as possible across the many different industries that make up the economy. The full report will include: 

    • The activities and industries that are safe to resume by phase

    • Mandatory workplace safety standards about distancing, personal protection, and cleaning protocols that all workplaces will need to follow upon reopening.

    • Sector-specific protocols for how different industries should operate when they reopen. 

  • Please remember that the state’s decisions and timing are influenced by the public health data that informs them about the spread of COVID-19. 

Phases for Reopening the Economy

  • MA will use this four-phase plan to reopen state businesses: 

    • Phase 1: Start - businesses that have little face to face contact open

      Phase 2: Cautious - businesses with more face to face operations open

    • Phase 3: Vigilant - loosening further if public health data show good trends

    • Phase 4: The New Normal

  • MA will continue to follow the data and the public health metrics to determine when Phase 1 starts and when it is safe to move on to phases after that. 

    • The goal is to begin this process around May 18th, but the data will continue to show if MA will be able to hit that goal. 

  • The public health metrics indicate that if a particular sector/industry is unexpectedly susceptible to spread, then that specific industry’s reopening may be delayed. 

Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards

  • These standards will be a large part of reopening MA’s economy and will include three levels of guidance for every sector, industry, and business.

    • First: Overall social guidance about how people should conduct themselves that are already in place. 

      • Limiting the size of social gatherings, face coverings/masks, and having people entering the state to quarantine for 14 days.

    • Second: Mandatory workplace safety standards that all businesses must adopt upon reopening. 

    • Third: Industry-specific protocols that MA will release and have more details on in the coming days. 

  • In Phase 1 of reopening, all workplaces in MA that are allowed to operate will be required to implement these mandatory workplace safety standards. The standards were developed by the Reopening Advisory Board working with the Department of Public Health and the COVID Command Center: 

    • Social Distancing: All persons including employees, customers, and vendors should remain at least 6 feet apart to the greatest extent possible, both inside and outside workplaces. Providing signage for social distancing as well. All employees are required to wear face coverings/masks.

    • Hygiene: Provide hand washing capabilities throughout the workplace, ensure frequent handwashing by employees and adequate supplies to do so. Provide regular sanitation to high touch areas. 

    • Staffing and Operations: Provide training for employees regarding social distancing and hygiene protocols. Employees who are displaying COVID-19 symptoms do not report to work. Establish a plan for employees getting ill from COVID-19 at work and a return to work plan. 

    • Cleaning and Disinfecting: Establish and maintain cleaning protocols specific to the business. When an active employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, cleaning and disinfecting must be performed. Disinfection of all common surfaces must take place in integrals appropriate to the workplace. 

It is more important than ever to continue to stay home when possible, wear masks/face coverings outdoors, and practice social distancing.  

Please find the Reopening: Four-Phase Approach here

Please find a copy of the presentation from today’s Governor Press Conference here