Last month, Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order for a four-phase approach to reopen the Massachusetts economy based on public health guidance concerning the coronavirus, with Phase 2 allowing restaurants to initially open outdoor dining areas and later, indoor dining areas. At the time, the earliest possible day for Phase 2 to commence was June 8, and thanks to public health metrics moving in the right direction, this is indeed its starting date, which is good news for some restaurants right off the bat.Based on the details given for the first step of Phase 2, outdoor dining areas in the Boston area and elsewhere in Massachusetts will be allowed to open (with restrictions) starting on Monday, June 8, with Step 2 of Phase 2 allowing indoor spaces to reopen. An exact date for Step 2 has not been given as of yet, as it depends on how much progress has been made on the COVID-19 pandemic; once that date has been given, an update will be posted here.
Each phase of the reopening plan lasts for at least three weeks, so if all goes well, indoor dining spots could be opening sometime within the three weeks. As far as bars are concerned, those that do not have kitchens will not be allowed to reopen until Phase 4, though it appears that bars with kitchens and outdoor sections will be able to open their outdoor areas on Monday as part of Phase 2, as will breweries, beer gardens, wineries, and distilleries.]
[Earlier Article]
Guidelines Set in Place for Reopening of Restaurants and Bars in Massachusetts
by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)
[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]
