Some Businesses Could Reopen In 'Limited Fashion' May 18: Baker

Gov. Charlie Baker said the intention is for some businesses to reopen May 18 when the closure of nonessential business is lifted, but the state will need see "sustained downward trends" in health metrics for that to happen.

"Our goal starting on May 18 is to begin reopening certain types of businesses in a limited fashion, where it can be done more safely than under normal operations," Baker said Wednesday in front of Gillette Stadium, where he attended a swearing-in ceremony for a class of State Troopers.

Baker said the reopening will still rely on health data, such as the rate of positive coronavirus test rates, hospitalizations and deaths, moving in the right direction.

Baker said this week May 18 will not be an abrupt reopening of the state's businesses, but rather the beginning of a phased reopen that will take months. The reopening advisory board is scheduled to release on May 18 its report on how to safely accomplish a phased reopening.

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce last Friday told the reopening board a report should be released this coming Friday to provide businesses and employees time to prepare for heading back to work, the State House News Service reported.

Baker also said Massachusetts is "still very much in the fight" against the coronavirus, despite some recent encouraging trends.

On Tuesday, the number of tests performed fell to its lowest number in over a week and the positive rate increased to 13 percent after back-to-back days of decline. Still, the seven-day average for confirmed cases and deaths continued to move downward.

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