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Baker Orders New Enforcement, Gathering Size Limit to Fight Virus Spread

Gov. Charlie Baker wears his face mask during a visit to Assawompset Pond on Friday afternoon. (Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Pool)
Gov. Charlie Baker wears his face mask during a visit to Assawompset Pond on Friday afternoon. (Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Pool)

Gov. Charlie Baker is "indefinitely" postponing the next step of the state's reopening in response to the uptick in COVID-19 cases that Massachusetts has seen in recent weeks.

The governor said the second step of phase three of the state's reopening plan will be put on hold and the outdoor gathering limit will decrease from 100 to 50, effective Tuesday. He said he was authorizing all state and local police to enforce the orders, and that people who host events — even on private property — that exceed gathering limits will be subject to fines.

Amid reports of large parties and unauthorized gatherings, Baker said "some residents feel a bit too relaxed about the seriousness of this virus." He also announced the creation of a COVID Enforcement and Intervention Team that will ramp up enforcement efforts and coordinate intervention efforts in yet-to-be-named high-risk communities.

"We have to work hard, always, harder in some respects than ever, to contain COVID-19 and keep our economy open for business," Baker said. "We also want to keep this virus out of our communities as we head into the fall so we can give our kids a chance to get back to school."

Movie theaters, gyms, casinos, museums and more were allowed to reopen in early July as part of phase three. The Baker administration referred to it as "step one" of phase three, but did not fully detail what would be included in the second step of phase three.

On the state's reopening website, it lists indoor theater or concert hall performances, and laser tag, roller skating, trampolines and obstacle courses as the activities that would be allowed to reopen in step two of phase three.

Baker said the gathering limit for any outdoor event will be reduced to 50 as of Tuesday, but the limit on indoor gatherings will remain at 25. He said the limits apply to all types of locations on public or private property. He also said he was updating restaurant guidance to make clear that alcohol may only be served for on-site consumption if it is accompanied by food prepared on-site.

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