• Governor Baker unveils basic outline of proposed reopening
  • Safety standards that businesses must implement to reopen in Massachusetts
  • Lack of compliance with guidelines leads to positive tests in White House
  • Daycare providers unsure they can reopen
  • Rhode Island to allow restaurants to open for outdoor dining May 18
  • Survey: Essential workers don’t feel safe
  • Tuesday’s Silver Lining: Baseball is back! Well, sort of, kinda, almost

 

  1. Governor Charlie Baker announced a four-phase plan to reopen the economy. While Baker was short on details and a specific timeline has yet to be released, advancing through the phases of the plan entitled Start, Cautious, Vigilant and The New Normal, could take anywhere from three to four weeks to implement. The Governor said information will be released in the coming days regarding which businesses and activities can resume during the initial phase.

 

  1. The Baker Administration announced that, in addition to waiting until they are cleared according to the state protocol, workplaces must implement a series of safety measures in order to reopen. Organized by category, the standards include social distancing, hygiene, staffing and operations and cleaning protocols. They are mandatory for all businesses that are allowed open during Phase One.

 

  1. There’s an emerging outbreak of COVID-19 at the White House. A press aide to Vice President Mike Pence and a personal valet of President Trump have tested positive while Trump’s military adviser, General Joseph Lengyel, awaits test results. Several members of the White House COVID-19 taskforce are self-isolating after they came into contact with the infected aide, including CDC Director Robert Redfield FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

 

  1. As the Massachusetts economy begins to slowly reopen, daycare providers wonder if they will ever will. A lack of guidance and support from the state and federal government leaves many day care providers who are entirely dependent upon tuition to keep their doors open, evaluating their future. According to a new survey by Strategies for Children, 46 percent of parents would be unable to return to work without consistent childcare and, under Governor Baker’s current plan, daycares are to remain closed through June 29.

 

  1. Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo will allow restaurants to reopen outdoor dining beginning next Monday. The restaurants will be required to take reservations ahead of time, limit tables up to five customers and use disposable, digital or chalkboard menus to avoid customers sharing items.

 

  1. The University of Massachusetts Labor Center found that workers are unable to maintain social distancing at work, lack personal protective equipment and the opportunity for regular handwashing. Of the 1,600 respondents to the survey, 51 percent of the workers did not feel safe at work, including 67 percent of those working in grocery stores or retails, and just over half of those working in health care and manufacturing.

 

  1. TAKE ME OUT: Major League Baseball (MLB) owners gave the go ahead Monday for a proposal to be sent to the MLB player’s union that could result in the season beginning around the Fourth of July, albeit without fans in the stands.