Re-opening Phase I

What each and every business or non-profit must do to re-open when eligible:

• Meet mandatory safety standards for workplaces, including distancing, cleaning & disinfecting, staffing & operations, etc.
• You must write a COVID-19 Control Plan.  Here is a template in English that you should download.  
• Once you have completed your COVID-19 Control Plan, print this Compliance Attestation poster, check the boxes, sign it and put it in the window of your workplace.  
• Next, print and display the Employer Poster so you remember all the safety standards required for your workplace…those to which you have just promised your customers that you and your staff will adhere.
• Similarly, print out and display the Worker Poster to keep your employees attuned.
• Lastly, for all employers, source the masks, gloves, sanitizers, etc. that you will need to reopen your business or office.

What Can Reopen May 18 and what are the additional requirements for those industries?

• Places of worship with guidelines and outdoor services are encouraged

• Essential businesses, manufacturing and construction

• Hospitals and community health centers can start with high priority preventative care and treatment for high-risk patients

• Public transit riders on the MBTA will be required to wear masks

What Can Reopen May 25 and what are the additional requirements for those industries?

• Personal services – hair salons, barbershops, pet grooming (curbside drop off/pick up) – all by appointment only

• Car washes – exterior washing only

• Laboratories and life sciences facilities

• Offices (not in Boston) but must be less than 25% maximum occupancy; work from home strongly encouraged

• Retail for remote services and curbside pick up

• Beaches, parks, drive-in theaters, athletic fields and courts, outdoor adventure activities, most fishing, hunting and boating, along with outdoor gardens, zoos, reserves and public installations – all with guidelines

• Limited Day Care: Childcare operating at reduced capacity and on an emergency basis for children of workers with no safe alternative to group care

“During Phase One, the emergency childcare system we already have in place will be utilized to meet the needs of people with no alternative for care. We’re also encouraging families to continue to find any alternatives to group care, to help stem the spread of the virus.” Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said at Monday’s news conference.

Re-opening Phase II (date to be decided...no earlier than June 8)

• With restrictions and capacity limitations – retail businesses, restaurants, hotels, nail salons and day spas

• Less urgent preventative health services, procedures and care, like dental cleanings and elective procedures

• Day programs like adult day health and day habilitation

• MBTA increases services, the Blue line goes to full service and ferries resume limited service

• Youth sports in limited fashion

• Campgrounds, playgrounds, spray decks, public and community pools all with guidelines

• On a phased basis, recreational day camps with restrictions

“We are aware that summer camps serve an important purpose, not only for our children, for our families. BPH is partnering with local boards of health to develop health guidelines to be implemented in over 1,400 camps across our state to enable a safe reopening of those activities,” Polito said.

Re-opening Phase III (date to be decided...no earlier than June 29th)

• Gyms, bars, casinos and museums

• Youth sports with games and tournaments (limited crowd sizes)

• On a phased basis, residential camps with restrictions

• MBTA’s buses and Red, Orange and Green lines and ferries go to full service where staffing allows. Commuter rail moves to modified full schedule

Re-opening Phase IV (no date yet...full immersion in the "new normal")

• Large venues and nightclubs, not including professional sports

Fase I de la Reapertura 

Qué deben hacer todos de los negocios o organizaciones sin fines de lucro para volver a abrir cuando sean elegibles:

• Cumplir con las normas de seguridad obligatorias para los lugares de trabajo, incluidos distanciamiento, limpieza y desinfección, personal y operaciones, etc.
• Debe escribir un plan de control COVID-19.  Aqui es una plantilla en espanol que debe descargar.
• Cuando haya completado su plan de control COVID-19, debe imprimir este póster de certificación de cumplimiento, marcar las casillas, firmarlo y ponerlo en la ventana de su lugar de trabajo.
• Luego, imprima y muestre el guía del empleador para que recuerde todos los estándares de seguridad requeridos para su lugar de trabajo ... aquellos a los que acaba de prometer a sus clientes que usted y su personal se adherirán.
• Del mismo modo, imprima y muestre las Reglas para Mantenerte Seguroenel Trabajo para mantener a sus empleados en sintonía.
• Finalmente, para todos los empleadores, obtenga las máscaras, guantes, desinfectantes, etc. que necesitará para reabrir su negocio u oficina.

¿Qué puede reabrir el 18 de mayo?

• Lugares de adoración con pautas y servicios al aire libre se recomiendan
​• Negocios esenciales, fabricación y construcción
• Los hospitales y centros de salud comunitarios pueden comenzar con atención preventiva y tratamiento de alta prioridad para pacientes de alto riesgo.
• Los pasajeros de transporte público en la MBTA deberán usar máscaras

¿Qué puede reabrir el 25 de mayo?

• Servicios Personales - salones de belleza, peluquerías, aseo de mascotas (acera dejar / recoger) - todo con cita previa
• Lavado de autos - solo lavado exterior
• Laboratorios e instalaciones de ciencias de la vida.
• Oficinas (no en Boston) pero la ocupación máxima debe ser inferior al 25% del original; fuertemente alentado trabajar desde casa
• Tiendas minorista (servicios remotos y recogida en la acera)
• Playas, parques, cines, campos deportivos y canchas, actividades de aventura al aire libre, la mayoría de la pesca, caza y navegación, junto con jardines al aire libre, zoológicos, reservas e instalaciones públicas, todos con pautas.
• Guardería limitado: cuidado infantil que funciona a capacidad reducida y en caso de emergencia para hijos de trabajadores sin alternativa segura al cuidado grupal

Dijo la vicegobernadora Polito, "Durante la Fase Uno, el sistema de cuidado infantil de emergencia que ya tenemos en funcionamiento se utilizará para satisfacer las necesidades de las personas que no tienen otra alternativa de atención.  Además, favor de continuar buscando cualquier alternativa a la atención grupal para ayudar a detener la propagación del virus.

Fase II de la Reapertura (fecha no decidida ... no antes del 8 de junio)

• Con restricciones y limitaciones de capacidad: negocios minoristas, restaurantes, hoteles, salones de uñas y spas de día.
• Servicios de salud preventivos, procedimientos y atención menos urgentes, como limpiezas dentales y procedimientos electivos.
• Programas diurnos como la salud diurna para adultos y la habilitación diurna.
• MBTA aumenta los servicios, la línea azul pasa a servicio completo y los ferries reanudan un servicio limitado.
• Deportes juveniles, de manera limitada.
• Campamentos, parques infantiles, terrazas de rociado, piscinas públicas y comunitarias, todo con pautas.
• Por etapas, campamentos de día recreativos con restricciones.

“Somos conscientes de que los campamentos de verano tienen un propósito importante, no solo para nuestros hijos, sino también para nuestras familias. BPH se está asociando con las juntas de salud locales para desarrollar pautas de salud que se implementarán en más de 1,400 campamentos en todo nuestro estado para permitir una reapertura segura de esas actividades ", dijo Polito.

Reapertura de la Fase III (fecha por decidir ... no antes del 29 de junio)

• Gimnasios, bares, casinos y museos.
• Deportes juveniles con juegos y torneos (tamaños de público limitados)
• Por fases, campamentos residenciales con restricciones.
• Los autobuses de la MBTA y las líneas y transbordadores rojos, naranjas y verdes van al servicio completo donde el personal lo permite. El tren de cercanías se traslada al horario completo modificado.

Reapertura de la Fase IV (aún no hay fecha ... inmersión total en la "nueva normalidad")

• Grandes lugares y clubes nocturnos, sin incluir deportes profesionales.

CDC Activities and Initiatives Supporting the COVID-19 Response and the President’s Plan for Opening America Up Again

***SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness Application***

***Chelsea Restaurant List:  Who's doing take-out, who's doing delivery, and who is closed***

• Beth Israel Deaconess Health Care:  Respiratory Emergent Evaluation Service at 1000 Broadway, Chelsea
  Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) with Forgivable Loan Advance ?  Or both?  Rundown of the SBA's small business relief plans.
• ​Overview of PPP.  PPP application (PDF).  Know what they ask before you find a lender.
• ​EIDL vs. PPP:  a good article to break them down.
• List of SBA-approved lenders nearby (from SBA website).  NOTE:  Not every SBA-approved lender will or must participate in PPP.​
• Online application for SBA EIDL.  Remember to request the Loan Advance to be received in just days.
• SBA Announces "Express Bridge Loan Program" to Bridge Long-Term Financing.
  The Small Business Administration is offering an Express Bridge Loan Program to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. This program authorizes SBA Express Lenders to provide expedited SBA-guaranteed bridge loan financing on an emergency basis in amounts up to $25,000 for disaster-related purposes to small businesses who have applied for and await long-term financing (including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program).  Small businesses who are already working with an SBA Express Lender may be eligible to apply to this streamlined program. Read general information about this program here; guidance is available here. 

Interested businesses can use the SBA’s Lender Match Tool to find an Express Bridge Loan Lender and apply.

• ​COVID-19 Resources for Restaurant and Hospitality Owners and Employees​
  • "Considerations for Restaurants" webinar (3/25/2020) from the City of Somerville's Economic Development Department
• Gov. Baker Orders All Non-Essential Businesses To Cease In Person Operation
• What Businesses are Essential?  Essential Services List.
• Spanish-language training on how to apply for unemployment benefits.
• English-language training on how to apply for unemployment benefits.

• District Impact Study:  Executive Summary and full report.  Compiled by the Central Square Business Improvement District, the East Cambridge Business Association, and Union Square Main Streets.

• The Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What Employers Need to Know, from WilmerHale

• Apply for up to $2 million from SBA EIDL
• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) slide deck (presentation).
• Questions answered for employers, from WilmerHale.
• COVID-19 Response Command Center Update - March 18, 2020
• Stay tuned on:  Federal Stimulus Package to include up to $300 billion for small business and could total over $1 trillion
• Baker-Polito Administration Announces $10M Small Business Recovery Loan Fund
• Unemployment Insurance Updates:  Yesterday, Governor Baker submitted amendments to the unemployment insurance law to waive the one-week waiting period to apply for benefits.  Also, anyone who has been separated from work as a result of any circumstance related to COVID-19 is entitled to make a claim.  Read the full proposed legislation.
  • Information on Unemployment and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  •   Apply for unemployment benefits.
• The Commonwealth's WorkShare program.  WorkShare is a program that offers a smart alternative to layoffs. Employees work reduced hours while collecting unemployment benefits to supplement their lower wages.
• The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' guidance and resources for business in response to COVID-19.  (Updated frequently)

• Visit the City of Chelsea coronavirus update page (updated daily)
  • Sign up for Chelsea's emergency notification system (and other important news updates)
  • March 13th Letter to establishments that serve food from Inspector Richie Zullo in Chelsea Inspectional Services
• Visit the MA Dept. of Public Health coronavirus update page
• Visit the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation's resource page for coronavirus
• Visit the US Chamber of Commerce's "Combating Coronavirus" page (yes, it is different than the one preceeding it)
  • Download the US Chamber's "Guidance for Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus" PDF
• See details from the U.S. Small Business Administration
  • SBA To Provide Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) Up to $2 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans
  • ​SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus
• Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).  MEMA has a dedicated private sector desk at its State Emergency Operations Center.  For all private sector business questions related to the COVID-19 emergency, call 508-820-2094, M-F, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Click here for the Center for Disease Control (CDC)'s coronavirus website
• Visit the World Health Organization (WHO)'s coronavirus page
• Click to view Beth Israel Lahey Health's "Monitoring COVID-19" page
• Visit Mass. General Hospital's news and information page for coronavirus
• COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Information from CHA: Cambridge Health Alliance