What MA Businesses Could Reopen In Phase 1

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday announced a four-phase plan to reopen Massachusetts. The plan lacked details and a clear timeline, but Baker did lay out the general framework a week before the closure of nonessential businesses is set to expire.

Phase one of the plan is being dubbed the "Start," and could begin taking shape May 18 if health metrics continue trending in the right direction. According to materials provided at Baker's announcement, this first phase will allow "limited industries [to] resume operations with severe restrictions."

There were no further details on which industries fall under that umbrella, but Baker said it would include those that have limited face-to-face interaction. Last week, golf courses got the OK to reopen while other retail businesses were allowed to have some staff on site to fulfill phone and online orders.

A look at what some other hard-hit states have announced for their first phase of reopening could offer hints at what the Massachusetts reopening advisory board is considering.

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In parts of upstate New York, many retailers will open Friday for curbside pickup and delivery. That includes clothing stores, electronic and appliance stores, jewelry stores, shoe stores, hobby stores, book stores and many more. The key is these are stores that don't require a customer to be inside, even if traditionally that was how businesses was handled.

New York is also allowing certain manufacturing industries to begin opening. That includes apparel manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, furniture manufacturing, textile mills, wood product manufacturing and many more. Wholesale trade businesses will also be given the green light.

The rollout is similar to that of California, which last Friday started phasing in businesses that could provide curbside pickup and delivery. It also allowed construction companies, car dealers and other industries that can maintain proper social distancing to resume some activity.

In the above cases, businesses which necessitate proximity like salons or have large gatherings of people like malls are remaining closed. In-person offerings like sit-down restaurants or the reopening of churches are still off the table.

Whatever businesses get the go-ahead in Massachusetts, they will need to meet the state's new workplace safety standards, which include things like social distancing, cleaning and hygiene.