Page 24 - BusinessWest August 17, 2020
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A Temporary Setback
SGovernor Pauses Phase 3 of Reopening as Infections Tick Upward
everal weeks of good news about COVID- The number of active COVID-19 cases in Mas- CARES Act funding;
19 infections in Massachusetts were sachusetts rose nearly 25% between July 29 and • Potential restrictions or shutdowns for
no reason to party. In fact, parties were Aug. 5, and new COVID-19 infections are once parks, playgrounds, businesses, or other entities
probably a bad idea. again outpacing recoveries. As of last week, there believed to be contributing to COVID-19 spread
Citing a proliferation of large parties as one likely factor in Massachusetts’ recent uptick in infections, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a tem- porary pullback of the state’s reopening efforts.
On Aug. 7, the governor not only postponed the second stage of phase 3 — affecting a range of businesses that cater to groups of people — but called for increased enforcement efforts to crack down on violations of the state’s COVID-19 regulations.
Postponing the second stage of phase 3 means theaters and performance venues still can’t hold indoor shows, and activities like laser tag, roller skating, trampolining, and obstacle courses remain on hold as well. Businesses expecting to reopen in phase 4, such as bars, overnight camps, and arcades, will obviously remain closed as well.
Baker also signed an order reducing the limit on outdoor gatherings from 100 to 50 people, while the limit on indoor gatherings remains at 25 people. Face coverings are required at gather- ings where more than 10 people from different households will interact.
The local chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business called Baker’s decision to pause the state’s reopening “extremely disap- pointing,” adding that, “instead of delaying the opening of certain businesses, many taking every step imaginable to keep workers and customers safe, the administration should pursue the pri- vate gatherings that are causing the problems.”
have been 8,519 deaths and 112,673 cases report- ed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The percentage of coronavirus tests com- ing back positive, on average, is down slightly at 1.8%.
In other guidance, Baker reiterated that res- taurants may serve alcoholic beverages only for on-site consumption if accompanied by orders for food prepared on site. The administration will take measures to ensure that bars masquerading as restaurants will be closed.
The administration also announced a target- ed, cross-agency team responsible for ramping up enforcement statewide and coordinating local intervention efforts at the local level in higher- risk COVID-19 communities. Those supports will include:
• Targeted interventions and inspections by a range of member agencies;
• Cease-and-desist orders for businesses and organizations in violation of the COVID-19 orders;
• Support for local and state officials in exer- cising their authority to fine restaurants or sus- pend or cancel liquor licenses when restaurants do not comply with required safety measures;
• Targeted public messaging (like road signs and PSAs) to alert residents of higher-risk COVID communities;
• Technical support to local government offi- cials to support enhanced local COVID-19 pre- vention efforts, such as assistance in accessing
in higher-risk communities; and
• Additional public-health support, such as
testing, tracing, and quarantining. Additionally, previously announced free
COVID-19 testing in 17 communities, includ- ing Springfield and Agawam, has been extended through Sept. 12.
Finally, a travel order, which went into effect Aug. 1, stipulates that all visitors and residents returning to Massachusetts from high-risk areas must either quarantine for 14 days or produce negative COVID-19 test results upon return into the state.
Individuals who have not received test results prior to arrival are required to quarantine until they receive a negative test result. Violators may face a $500 fine per day.
States considered lower-risk, and thus exempt from the travel order, include Connecticut, Ver- mont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, New Jersey, and Hawaii. Other exemptions to the travel rules include people passing through, peo- ple who commute across state lines for work or school, and people coming to the state for medi- cal treatment or military purposes.
Rhode Island was initially exempt from the travel order, but is now considered a higher-risk state. Still, Baker said people on either side of the bor- der may make trips back and forth for errands or work. u
  Home
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protocols are in place.
These contractors told BusinessWest
that having people at home during ren- ovation projects was definitely a help and not a hindrance to the job. They all pointed out how much easier it is to discuss changes to a project while the owner is on site, rather than trying to reach them at work and waiting for a reply.
“We do a lot of customization, so it’s nice to have people there so they can tell us exactly what they want,” Ronan noted.
At a recent siding and window installation, Rudd added, the home- owner appreciated the details of the work and enjoyed seeing the job from start to finish. “We love people being home because they can see the crafts- manship and what goes into the invest- ment they’ve made with us.”
One trend developing as a result of so many couples working from home involves ‘his and her’ home-office spaces. Keiter, who builds new homes as well as additions, said he has not worked on such projects, but expects
he might get requests in the near future. Long before the work-at-home explosion, his clients have wanted home-office setups either for work or to stay in touch with distant family members online.
“Whether it’s a dedicated office space, flex space, or a study, many
“
who just had a swimming pool
installed. Because they are spending so
much time on their property, I think
people are reinvesting in their homes
SCOTT KEITER ” for their own enjoyment.
— Joseph Bednar
hairdressers, but you’re always going to take care of your home.”
Rudd said 2020 reminds him of the period right after 9/11 when people saw the home as a security blanket. Similar to that time, his clients are focused on ‘nesting’ in the safety of their home — so it’s not surprising his
business is up 32% over last year. “Anything related to the home is
booming,” he noted. “Friends of mine who are landscapers are having record years, too.”
Homeowners have long been advised to make renovations to their kitchens and bathrooms because money spent on those two rooms will provide the best return on investment if the house ever goes up for sale. While kitchen and bathroom renova- tions remain popular, Keiter said, he’s finding that people are investing in those spaces for a different reason:
quality of life.
“We’re staying at home because the
virus has made the world unpredict- able in so many ways,” he told Busi- nessWest. “With all this uncertainty, putting money into our homes seems like a pretty safe bet.” u
the other laptop and iPad use, I think we will be seeing more sophisticated wireless access points in the home.”
Security Blanket
Though business is booming now, Ronan predicts that the pent-up
 We’re doing a huge deck for a client
      plans call for one room in the house that’s being dedicated for computer use,” he explained, noting that the next trend in home offices will likely involve upgraded wireless infrastructure. “From parents working at home to kids trying to go to school online, and all
demand caused by COVID-19 will eventually dissipate, but won’t reduce business too much.
“You know the old adage of, no mat- ter how bad the recession might be, you’ll always get your haircut,” he said. “Well, we’re not quite up there with
 24 AUGUST 17, 2020
COVID-19
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