BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston is joining the state in moving to the next step of reopening on Monday -- but the city will still remain cautious with some guidelines until case numbers look better.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh made the announcement as the state is moving into Phase 4, Step 1 -- which means venues like stadiums and arenas will be able to operate at 12 percent capacity.
"The case numbers have stayed below our threshold of concern for about a month now and we are ready to move forward with reopening," Walsh said. "So we're happy in the trend we're going -- we're obviously not where we completely want to be -- but we're getting to a better place."
Walsh said those updated guidelines include city sports venues like Fenway Park and TD Garden. He said those locations must submit Covid-19 safety plans to the Boston Licensing Board before opening their doors.
Along with sports venues, indoor performance venues, like concert halls and theaters, can open at 50 percent capacity with a 500-person maximum limit.
However when it comes to public and private gatherings -- the city is staying behind in it's current phase.
"In Boston, all private gatherings and events will remain subject to current capacity limits of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors," a statement read. "Public gatherings in Boston may increase to 60 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, lower than the Commonwealth's limits of 100 and 150 people, respectively."
Mayor Walsh said officials are still sticking to those restrictions until the city can sustain a low positivity rate for an extended period of time.
"We can move to those limits in a faster way if we get under a 2.75 [virus] positivity rate for two consecutive weeks," Walsh said. "So when we hit that goal of 2.75 hopefully over the course of the next couple weeks here, we keep it consistent for two weeks, then we will go up to the state number."
WBZ NewsRadio's Mike Macklin (@mikemacklinwbz) reports.
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Written by Rachel Armany
(Photo: Getty Images)