Salem Officials To 'Evaluate' MA Coronavirus Reopening Timetable

SALEM, MA — With most state coronavirus-related restrictions now set to be eased or eliminated in the coming weeks and months, some cities — including possibly Salem — are choosing a more methodical path to the end of pandemic regulations.

Boston Mayor Kim Janey said on Tuesday that city will trail Gov. Charlie Baker's statewide timeline by three weeks in most cases. Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone has also held back in following the state's schedule throughout the reopening process.

And Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said the Witch City will take an "extremely cautious and thoughtful" approach to the final phases of reopening as well. She told Patch the city will talk with Board of Health members and local experts over the next several days to determine whether to make any adjustments to the schedule in Salem.

"We're encouraged by the positive trends in the public health data and the increasing numbers of vaccinated residents," Driscoll said. "Nevertheless, as a community that has a large visitor population, we want to be extremely cautious and thoughtful in our approach to reopening.

"Over the next several days our own local experts and Board of Health members will be reviewing the announced reopening procedures and evaluating which, if any, of our local health orders may be modified as a result."

Salem followed a similar pattern in September when it chose to limit table sizes at restaurants to six people when the state opened it to 10 people and held back on some capacity limit easing. Gov. Baker later in the fall went back to previous restriction levels at the beginning of what would be the late fall surge in coronavirus cases.

Statewide, beginning Friday, face coverings will no longer be required in most outdoor settings where social distancing is possible. The rarely enforced $300 fine for not wearing masks at indoor gatherings will also be eliminated.

The next round of reopening comes May 10, which will see large stadiums and ballparks that are already open at 12 percent capacity expand to 25 percent capacity. Amusement and theme parks will open to 50 percent. Road races and other organized athletic events will also be allowed after local boards of health sign off on a safety plan.

Indoor singing will be allowed with precautions.

On May 29, indoor gathering limits will be increased to 200 and outdoor gathering limits to 250. Bars and breweries can reopen without food service, though some restrictions will remain.

There will be 90-minute limits, no dance floors and no standing around. People might also be able to get alcohol without food and table sizes might increase to 10, depending on conditions.

Street festivals, parades and agricultural festivals can open to 50 percent of capacity, after submitting plans to local health officials.

And on Aug. 1, all businesses can fully reopen without restrictions or capacity limits. Gathering limits will be dropped.

Gov. Baker said the Aug. 1 target date for ending all business restrictions could be moved up if vaccination rates stay strong and coronavirus-related hospitalizations, deaths and positive test rate remain low.

"We need to continue to see the kind of momentum that we have seen on vaccinations going forward over the next six weeks — deep into the month of May (to move up the Aug. 1 date) — which I fully expect is possible," Baker said on Tuesday.

Salem is one of 10 North Shore cities and towns joining in the North Shore Coalition for a Safe Summer vaccination advocacy campaign and is helping coordinate the Salem State regional coronavirus vaccination site set to restart soon after getting state approval for supply on Tuesday.

"We continue to encourage visitors to Salem to follow all posted guidance, to wear masks and practice social distancing, and to be respectful of our local businesses and their employees," Driscoll said. "And, as always, we also encourage all residents to get the COVID vaccine as soon as possible.

"The more of us who are vaccinated, the faster we'll all be able to get back to normal."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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