Dear <<First Name>>,
Today is the beginning of Step Two of Phase II of the Commonwealth’s four-phase reopening plan, Reopening Massachusetts, which will allow additional industries to resume operations under sector-specific guidelines.
Businesses and sectors set to begin operating today are subject to compliance with all mandatory safety standards.
On May 18, the Reopening Advisory Board released a four-phased plan to reopen the economy based on public health data, spending at least three weeks in each phase. Key public health data, such as new cases and hospitalizations, has been closely monitored and has seen a significant decline, allowing for Step Two of Phase II to begin today.
The following are now eligible to reopen:
- Indoor table service at restaurants
- Close-contact personal services, with restrictions
- Retail dressing rooms, by appointment only
- Offices, at 50 percent capacity
The full list, along with safety protocols, is available at mass.gov/reopening.
In order to give Step 2 businesses time to prepare, the Commonwealth has previously released sector-specific guidance in advance of Phase II for industries including restaurants, close-contact personal services and sectors not otherwise addressed:
Before these sectors can resume operations under the guidelines, businesses must meet all safety standards, create a COVID-19 control plan, and complete a self-certification.
Please read on below for new, updated, and important information surrounding the COVID-19 crisis and see our past newsletters if you haven't had a chance to read them already for more relevant guidance and directives following Governor Baker's declaration of a state of emergency on March 10th. Visit Mass.gov for complete information, check the municipal websites for Gloucester, Rockport, and Essex for local guidance, and text "COVIDMA" to 888-777 to receive COVID-19 text message alerts straight to your phone.
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How to Safely Cover Your Face Outside of Home
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Social distancing and staying at home are the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But if you must go out, be sure to cover your face. Here's how.
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The Registry of Motor Vehicles is encouraging all eligible individuals to renew their standard Massachusetts driver’s license or Massachusetts ID card online at Mass.gov/RMV any time between now and August 12, 2020, in order to qualify for a free upgrade to a REAL ID credential in 2021.
This limited offer is available to most individuals who have an expired or expiring license or ID card dated between March 2020 and August 2021, as renewals are allowed up to two years after expiration, or up to a year in advance of the expiration date printed on their license or ID.
Obtaining an initial federally-compliant REAL ID requires all customers to visit a Service Center in-person to present verifying documents. Qualifying individuals who complete their renewal online prior to August 12th and wish to upgrade to a REAL ID for free, will have to wait until at least February 2021 to visit an RMV Service Center.
Please visit the RMV website for additional details and to find information on over 40 transactions that can be conducted online, by phone, or by mail. For the latest Registry updates and information, follow @MassRMV on Twitter.
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New and Revised Forgiveness Applications for the Paycheck Protection Program
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The U.S. Small Business Administration has posted a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act of 2020, signed into law on June 5, 2020. In addition to revising the full forgiveness application, SBA also published a new EZ version of the forgiveness application that applies to borrowers that:
- Are self-employed and have no employees; OR
- Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees; OR
- Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to COVID-19, and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%.
The EZ application requires fewer calculations and less documentation for eligible borrowers. Details regarding the applicability of these provisions are available in the instructions to the new EZ application form.
Both applications give borrowers the option of using the original 8-week covered period, if their loan was made before June 5, 2020, or an extended 24-week covered period. These changes will result in a more efficient process and make it easier for businesses to realize full forgiveness of their PPP loan.
You can find the EZ Forgiveness Application and the Full Forgiveness Application on the SBA website.
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Sector Reopening Webinar Series
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The North Shore Chamber of Commerce is hosting another webinar series on the reopening process, bringing together specific industry sectors to discuss their reopening strategies, challenges, and best practices. Attendees will benefit from hearing the goals and ideas of particiapnts and peers in their industry.
- Tuesday, June 23rd at 10 AM - PR/Communications Sector
The webinars are free, but attendees must pre-register.
Additionally, recordings of the first round of webinars are now available for viewing. They can be found on the North Shore Chamber of Commerce message board.
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Unemployment Virtual Town Halls
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In order to better meet the needs of residents whose employment has been affected by COVID-19, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Unemployment Assistance will be hosting virtual town hall meetings. They will take all who sign up through a step by step process of achieving a successful unemployment claim and will be taking questions from applicants across the Commonwealth.
The following town halls are currently scheduled:
- Tuesday, June 23 at 2:30 PM
- Wednesday, June 24 at 2:30 PM (in Spanish)
- Thursday, June 25 at 2:30 PM
Sign up now to attend a virtual town hall meeting.
The Department of Unemployment Assistance has made specific web page updates that include the latest COVID-19 guidance for employee qualifications. To learn more about unemployment insurance and how to apply, visit the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance website.
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