Gov. Baker Visits Watertown Life Science Company to Celebrate Apprenticeship Program

Charlie BreitroseGov. Charlie Baker speaks to one of the apprentices in a new program where she is being trained to work for Watertown-based life science company Arranta Bio. Gov. Charlie Baker visited one of Watertown’s life science companies which is doing its part to train workers to participate in the creation of treatments for infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases and cancer through a new apprenticeship program partially funded by the state. Baker visited Arranta Bio on Pleasant Street on Tuesday to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. He was joined by, among others, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta, and Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney from Watertown. During the event, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $2.7 million in new grant funding for 19 organizations to support apprenticeship programs across Massachusetts.

New State Restrictions Reducing Restaurant, Retail Capacities; Impacts Gatherings, Surgeries

Gov. Charlie Baker, with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. Massachusetts will have a post-Christmas tightening of COVID-19 restrictions that will reduce capacities of restaurants, businesses and other places, as well as cutting the size of allowed gatherings and stopping elective surgeries. The new set of COVID-19 restrictions will take effect on Dec. 26, 2020, Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Tuesday. The new order cuts the capacity of many businesses to 25 percent, including restaurants, retail, offices, health and fitness, theaters and indoor recreation.

State Announces Plans for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

The following announcement was sent out by the Governor’s Office:

The Baker-Polito Administration announced allocation and distribution plans for the first round of COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Massachusetts set to begin around December 15. The state’s first shipment of 59,475 doses of the Pfizer vaccine was ordered from the federal government this past Friday and will be delivered directly to 21 hospitals across 8 counties, as well as to the Department of Public Health Immunization lab. Doses will then be redistributed for access to 74 hospitals across all 14 counties for front line medical workers. The next 40,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine will be allocated to the Federal Pharmacy Program to begin vaccinating staff and residents of skilled nursing facilities, rest homes and assisted living residences. Vaccine is being prioritized for these groups to maximize life preservation and to support the health care system.

Rising COVID-19 Cases Concerns Watertown Health Director

An upturn in the new COVID-19 cases concerns Watertown Health Director Larry Ramdin, who worries that the state may go back into more strict shutdown rules if the trend gets worse. During the first week of August, Watertown had its first COVID fatality reported since the second week of May, bringing the total to 24. For the first time in several weeks, the number of new positive COVID-19 cases is into the double digits in Watertown, and the state numbers are growing by around 2,000 a week. “People are going on vacation, it is summer, there is a little complacency,” Ramdin said. “People are going to social gatherings, they are not social distancing, not wearing face coverings, expose themselves.”

Gov. Approves Opening of Gyms, Museums, Cinemas & More in Phase 3 of COVID Reopening

Gov. Charlie Baker, with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. Beginning Monday, July 6, gyms, movie theaters and museums will be allowed to reopen as part of Phase 3 of Massachusetts’ COVID-19 reopening plan. Also allowed will be weddings and professional sporting events, but both have significant limitations. Gov. Charlie Baker announced the beginning of Phase 3 Thursday afternoon, and said residents of the state have done a good job slowing the spread of COVID-19. He added that Phase 3 will not start in the City of Boston until Monday, July 13.

Massachusetts’ Tax Free Weekend Will be in Late August

A lot of money was raised and spent on the 2015 Watertown Election. Gov. Charlie Baker announced that the sales-tax free weekend will take place on Aug. 29 and 30, 2020. In 2018, Baker signed a law making the tax holiday an annual event. “The annual sales tax holiday is an opportunity for us to support small businesses and consumers, and this year, it’s a great way to support our economy that’s been impacted by COVID-19,” Baker said.

Gov. Allows Start of Limited Indoor Dining, Nail, Tanning & Other Businesses

Gov. Charlie Baker, with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. On Monday, June 22, diners will be able to grab a meal inside Massachusetts restaurants, and beauty and personal services such as nail salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors and personal trainers will be allowed to reopen from the state’s COVID-19 shutdown. Friday afternoon, Gov. Charlie Baker announced the beginning of Phase 2, Step 2 in the four phase reopening plan. The First Step started on June 8, which included outdoor dining and retail stores. Restaurant capacity will be limited due to social distancing requirements.

Governor, Sports Stars & Celebrities Taking Part in Televised Class of 2020 Celebration

The following piece was provided by WGBH:

In partnership with WGBH, Governor Charlie Baker will deliver a commencement address to the Class of 2020 as part of a celebration for graduating seniors from 668 public and private schools across the Commonwealth, to be aired in a special broadcast at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9. 

Massachusetts Commencement 2020 will feature congratulatory remarks from Jason and Devin McCourty of the New England Patriots, members of the Red Sox and the Boston Celtics, and a number of celebrities with Massachusetts ties, including singer Rachel Platten, actor Steve Carell and more. In a special premiere performance, members of the legendary Boston Pops Orchestra, with Keith Lockhart conducting, will provide the traditional graduation march ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ for the ceremony. Students from around the Commonwealth will give valedictorian-type speeches to their classmates. WGBH will broadcast the program, Massachusetts Commencement 2020, across the Commonwealth, on WGBH 2 in Greater Boston, and on its partner station WGBY/New England Public Media in western Massachusetts. Both stations will stream the program on their website and social media platforms. WGBH also will make the program available to other television stations in Massachusetts, including community access channels.