Gov. Charlie Baker walks through the State House on July 27, 2020. State House News Service photo

Starting Monday, the state is letting certain communities with sustained low rates of COVID-19 transmission move into the next step of the state’s reopening plan.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday afternoon that any municipality that has not been in the “red” – the highest-risk classification under the state’s weekly rankings, representing more than 8 cases per 100,000 people over the last 14 days – can move to Step II of Phase III of the state’s reopening plan. In an announcement, the administration said it was making the move “based on sustained improvements in public health data.”

The new restrictions mean that, in the covered towns and cities:

• Indoor performance venues will be permitted to open with 50 percent capacity with a maximum of 250 people.
• Outdoor performance venue capacity will increase to 50 percent with a maximum of 250 people.
• For arcades and indoor and outdoor recreation businesses, additional Step II activities like trampolines, obstacle courses, roller rinks and laser tag will also be permitted to open and capacity will increase to 50 percent.
• Fitting rooms will be permitted to open in all types of retail stores.
• Gyms, museums, libraries and driving and flight schools will also be permitted to increase their capacity to 50 percent.

The governor also updated his executive order covering public gatherings:

• The limit for indoor gatherings remains at a maximum of 25 people for all communities.
• Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards will remain at a maximum of 50 people for all communities.
• Outdoor gatherings at event venues and in public settings will have a limit of 50 people in Step I communities, and a limit of 100 people in lower risk, Step II communities.

The most recent ranking of states in the “red zone” as of Sept. 23 include: Chelsea, Everett, Framingham, Hollistion, Lawrence, Lynn, Marlborough, Nantucket, New Bedford, Revere, Saugus, Tyngsborough, Winthrop, Worcester and Wrentham. The complete list is published every Wednesday by 6 p.m. at mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has said Boston, which is very near to being in the state’s “red zone,” will not be moving into Step II of Phase III.