Newton Rolls Back Coronavirus Rules: What Will Close

NEWTON, MA — Newton announced Monday it will roll back its reopening plan to a modified version of Phase 2, Step 2 amid warnings that the United States has entered a record-breaking period of high-level spread of the coronavirus. Changes will take effect on Friday, Dec. 18 and remain in place for at least three weeks.

Newton is joining Boston, Somerville and several other communities in the rollback that goes further than the restrictions Gov. Charlie Baker instituted this week. The main businesses affected will be gyms, bars and indoor recreational facilities.

"Boston is rolling back on Wednesday, but I wanted to give our businesses, non-profits, employees and residents sufficient time to implement the changes," Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said in her announcement Monday night.

As of Dec. 13, some 1,845 people in Newton had tested positive for the coronavirus and as of Dec. 9, 157 of those had died. And according to state data, the two weeks ending on Dec. 10 the city's incidence rate went up to 23.6 cases per 100,000, from 20.2 during the previous reporting period.

"While this is a difficult decision to make for those impacted businesses and employees, we urgently need to ensure our health care workers in Newton and regional facilities have the capacity to care for everyone in need," said Fuller in a statement. I have also made this decision, in part, to help keep our schools open for in-person learning opportunities by working to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our community."

Closing Dec. 18:

• Movie theaters
• Fitness centers and health clubs, including gyms using alternative spaces (except for those younger than 18)
  • One-on-one personal training sessions are allowed with protocols
• Indoor recreational and athletic facilities (except for youth 18 and under)
  • This does not apply to collegiate or professional sports, which are regulated by the State
  • Indoor pools may remain open for all ages under preregistration format structure limited to one person per swim lane
• Indoor event spaces (meeting rooms, ballrooms, private party rooms, and social clubs)
  • Private social clubs may continue to operate, if they serve food, consistent with restaurant guidance
  • Higher education institutions may continue to utilize indoor event spaces as classroom space
• Indoor historical spaces and sites

Open, but with restrictions:

• Indoor dining in restaurants may remain in operation with restricted bar seating. Ancillary activities such as pool tables, darts, trivia etc. are prohibited.
  • Bar seating may be permitted only with written approval by Newton’s Board of License Commissioners. Licensees must submit a Bar Seating Plan that protects both employees and others seated at the bar for review and approval.
  • Face coverings are mandatory at all times unless the patron is eating or drinking even if maintaining six (6) feet of social distance from the server, bartender, or other parties or patrons.
• Office spaces may remain open at 40 percent capacity.
• Non-athletic instructional classes in arts, education and life sciences for persons 18 years and older are allowed for groups of ten or under.

In a statement issued Monday night Fuller said Newton was part of a porous region, and it would take collaboration to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

"The City of Boston is Newton’s largest neighbor and where many residents of our city work, visit various institutions like museums and the aquarium, and patronize businesses and restaurants," she said. "While Newton has better numbers than some other communities, we are part of a region dealing with a surge of this pandemic."

Phase 2, Step 2 was last in place on June 10 in Newton. In addition to Boston and Somerville, Arlington, Brockton, Lynn and Winthrop are also planning rollbacks.

Newton-Needham Regional Chamber president Greg Reibman praised Newton's rollbacks.

"Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller is wise to collaborate with other mayors in the region on steps to curtail the regional rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations," he said in a statement. "Otherwise, we’re left with a confusing quilt of policies that can literally vary from one block to the next."

Related: Newton-Wellesley Hospital To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Tuesday

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.