BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Baker administration announced additional capacity and gathering restrictions on Tuesday, in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Massachusetts.
New restrictions will take effect on Saturday, Dec. 26 and will stay in place until 12 p.m. on Jan. 10, 2021. Baker said that the Saturday start date was to accommodate people who want to attend religious services on the Christmas holiday, which he says can be done safely.
The updated capacity restrictions include a 25 percent limit for places like restaurants, retail businesses, personal services, theatres, casinos and other indoor recreational activities. The limit also includes office spaces, places of worship, libraries, museums and gyms and fitness facilities.
Indoor gatherings will also be capped at 10 people, while outdoor gatherings will be capped at 25 people. The updated gathering limits apply to private homes, events and all public spaces.
Baker said that as of Saturday, hospitals will also be directed to postpone or cancel all nonessential inpatient elective procedures to maintain hospital capacity.
This comes as just over two thousand patients are hospitalized for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, with 412 of those in the intensive care unit.
Amid the continued surge in cases across the state, Governor Baker is urging all residents to celebrate the holidays with their immediate households only.
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