Boston is joining several area cities and towns in closing gyms, museums, private clubs and other businesses for three weeks in an effort to rein in the spread of COVID-19.

Boston, Arlington, Brockton, Lynn, Newton, Somerville, and Winthrop have collectively declared they are rolling back their reopening phase to Phase Two, Step Two of the state’s reopening framework. The change takes effect Wednesday, Dec. 16.

“Unfortunately, we are at the point where we need to take stronger action to control COVID-19 in Boston, and urgently, to ensure our health care workers have the capacity to care for everyone in need,” Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement. “We are hopeful that by reducing opportunities for transmission throughout the region, we will reduce the spread of this deadly virus and maintain our ability to keep critical services open. We continue to urge everyone to take personal responsibility and follow the public health guidelines while visiting any public space or business, and employers to allow their employees to work from home as much as possible. Together, we will be able to get this virus under control, save lives, and ultimately come back stronger.”

Boston, unlike many municipalities, had never advanced beyond Step One of Phase Three, which it entered in July.

Walsh’s office said the citywide positive test rate sat at 7.2 percent for the week ending on Dec. 6, up from 5.2 percent for the week before. The percentage of non-surge ICU beds at Boston hospitals occupied by adults sat at 90 percent as of Dec. 10.

The decision closes the following businesses for three weeks:

  • Indoor fitness centers and health clubs, including gyms using “alternative spaces” (one-on-one personal training sessions are allowed)
  • Movie theaters
  • Museums
  • Aquariums
  • Indoor recreational and athletic facilities for adults outside of professional or collegiate sports teams. Indoor pools may remain open, but are limited to one person per swim lane and swimmers must pre-register.
  • Sightseeing and other organized tours (bus tours, Duck Tours, harbor cruises and whale watching)
  • Indoor historical spaces and sites
  • Indoor event spaces (meeting rooms, ballrooms, private party rooms, social clubs)
  • Private social clubs may continue to operate, if they serve food, consistent with restaurant guidance.
  • Indoor and outdoor gaming arcades associated with gaming devices

In addition to the closures, several industries face new restrictions:

  • Office spaces remain open at 40 percent capacity
  • Indoor dining in restaurants remains allowed with a 90-minute limit on the time patrons spend inside, but with bar seating prohibited without express OK of the city Licensing Board.
  • Indoor non-athletic classes for adults may continue but continue to face a 10-person capacity limit.
  • Outdoor event spaces used for gatherings and celebrations may stay open but have a state-mandated 25-person capacity limit, including those in parks.
  • Outdoor theaters and outdoor performance venues may continue to operate within the 25-person capacity limit.

Officials in Boston will be hosting webinars on Tuesday to provide guidance and answer questions from business owners. All of the webinars will be available live on the city Office of Economic Development’s Facebook page. Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese simultaneous interpretation will be available for all of the webinars and small business conference calls:

Boston, Area Communities Roll Back Reopening to Phase Two

by Banker & Tradesman time to read: 2 min
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