Mass Biz Easing Due To Positive Virus Trends

Shops, restaurants, gyms and other businesses will be able to welcome more patrons into their spaces starting Monday after Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday announced he’ll ease the capacity restrictions he imposed in hopes of tamping down COVID-19 spread during the holiday season.

Restaurants, close-contact personal services, movie theaters, casinos, office spaces, places of worship, retailers, driving and flight schools, libraries, arcades, fitness centers and museums have all been operating at a maximum capacity of 25 percent since Dec. 26.

Citing positive trends in COVID-19 data since the start of 2021, Baker said those limits will increase to 40 percent at 5 a.m. Monday. For businesses without a recorded capacity allowance, the limit will rise from five people per 1,000 feet to eight people per 1,000 feet.

Gathering limits, which are not part of the business restrictions, will remain at 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors, Baker said, and indoor performance venues and recreational businesses will remain closed until there is further “sustained improvement” in public health data.

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