Business capacity limits increasing to 40% on Monday, Baker says

BOSTON — Businesses in Massachusetts will be allowed to increase their capacity, according to Governor Charlie Baker.

The announcement was made during a Thursday afternoon COVID-19 briefing.

Effective Monday, February 8, 2021, at 5 a.m. businesses can increase capacity to 40% due to improvements in the state’s COVID-19 data. It also includes:

• Arcades and recreational businesses
• Driving and flight schools
• Gyms and health clubs
• Libraries
• Museums
• Retail
• Offices
• Places of Worship
• Lodging (common areas)
• Golf (indoor areas)
• Movie Theaters (No more than 50 people per theater)

Restaurants and close contact personal services can also increase to 40% capacity and that number does not include workers and staff.

Indoor performance venues and indoor recreation businesses remain closed.

On Wednesday, the state’s Department of Public Health announced that the seven-day weighted average of positive molecular tests dropped to 3.3%.

In January, Baker announced adjustments to the state’s reopening plan lifting the stay-at-home advisory and business curfew.

The state will remain in Phase 3, Step 1 of the reopening plan. Indoor gatherings will remain limited to 10 people and outdoor gatherings will have a limit of 25 people.

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