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LIVES OF JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN MASSACHUSETTS. >> I’M ORDERING A THREE WEE SUSPENSION OF SCHOOL OPERATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AT AL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TODD GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER SAYS : CLOSING SCHOOLS AROUND THE STATE IS NOW NECESSARY TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AFTER COMMUNITY-LEVEL TRANSMISSION OF THE CORONAVIRUS HAS NOW BEEN DETECTED IN SEVEN COUNTIES IN MASSACHUSETT SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE TUESDAY FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS. DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE TONIGHT, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HE’S ORDERING MORE CLOSURES. >> I AM ORDERING THAT ANY RESTAURANT, BAR, O ESTABLISHMENT THAT OFFERS FOOD OR DRINK SHALL NOT PERMIT ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTIO THESE ESTABLISHMENTS M CONTINUE TO OFFER FOOD FOR TAKEOUT AND FOR DELIVERY. TODD THAT ORDER WILL BE IN : EFFECT FOR ONE MONTH BEGINNING TUESDAY. MAJOR CHANGES ARE ALSO COMING TO NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS. >> WE WILL BE PROHIBITING LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES AND NURSING HOMES FROM ALLOWING ANY VISITORS AND REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO SCREEN VISITORS AND RESTRICT VISITATION. TODD GOVERNOR BAKER TONIGHT ALSO : ANNOUNCED HE’S REDUCING THE SIZE OF ANY LARGE ASSEMBLY. GATHERINGS WILL BE LIMITED TO 25 PEOPLE. THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO GROCERY STORES OR PHARMACIES. BUT FOR ALL THE NEW RESTRICTIO THE GOVERNOR IS INSTITUTING, THERE IS ONE BIG ONE THAT HE IS NOT. >> WE ARE NOT PLANNING ANY FORCED SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDERS. TODD TO RECAP, SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE FOR THREE WEEKS BEGINNING TUESDAY. ALSO STARTING TUESDAY, RESTAURANTS WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO CELL FOOD FOR TAKEOUT OR -- FOR PICKUP OR DELIVERY. THAT LASTS FOR THREE WEEKS. AND THE CAP ON LARGE GATHERING

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Gov. Charlie Baker said there are currently no plans for a statewide shelter-in-place order, but he has put a number of unprecedented measures in place across Massachusetts.Just after 6:20 p.m. Sunday, Baker ordered a more restrictive public gathering plan, banning all gatherings of 25 or more people. The governor's initial ban was on gatherings of 250 or more people, which was put into place on Friday."These gatherings include all community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based events, sporting events with spectators, concerts, conventions and any similar event or activity that brings together 25 or more people in single room or a single space at the same time. This includes venues like fitness centers, private clubs and theaters," Baker said.Baker also banned bars and restaurants from serving food and drinks on site, but will allow them to serve food via takeout and delivery services. The on-site service ban begins Tuesday and is scheduled to last until April 7."This order doesn't apply to grocery stores or pharmacies. This is about bars and restaurants and those places that people do not absolutely have to go," Baker said. "I realize these measures are unprecedented, but we're asking our residents to take a deep breath and understand the rationale behind this guidance."In addition, all K-12 public schools in Massachusetts will close Tuesday and suspend operations for the next three weeks through April 7."Unless your district isn't already closed, school is on tomorrow but not Tuesday," Baker said.Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said all nursing homes and rest homes in Massachusetts have been ordered to ban visitors.Dr. Monica Bharel, the commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, said there is community spread in seven counties in the state: Berkshire, Essex, Hampden, Norfolk, Middlesex, Suffolk and Worcester."Please take seriously the social distancing measures that you heard the governor speak about," Bharel said. "Social distancing is our collective opportunity to influence the course of this illness and flatten the curve. Each of us needs to do our part."Baker initially dispelled rumors of a statewide shelter-in-place order Sunday morning during an appearance on WCVB's "On the Record", and backed that up Sunday evening.Before Baker's order, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh declared a public health emergency for the city and ordered bars and restaurants to reduce capacity by 50% while authorizing all establishments to offer take-out options.Boston, and many other communities, also announced school closures before Baker suspended school operations statewide. The DPH added 26 new COVID-19 cases to the state's total Sunday afternoon.The total number of presumptive and confirmed COVID-19 cases rose from 138 on Saturday to a new total of 164.Among the new cases are the first cases for Hampden and Plymouth counties.The number of patients tested for COVID-19 has increased to 969, thanks to results from Food and Drug Administration-approved testing at labs outside the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory. Under updated testing protocols handed down by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state health officials said they were able to double testing capacity in the state lab. Clinicians now only need to submit one nasal swab for testing, rather than the previous requirement to submit both nasal and throat swabs.With this change in protocol, the testing capacity at the state lab will increase to approximately 400 patients per day. Baker announced Saturday the creation of a COVID-19 response command center in the wake of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Massachusetts.The command center consists of a team of experts who will focus solely on pushing back against the spread of COVID-19 and responding to the needs of the state's communities and residents.More information from the DPH on COVID-19 can be found by clicking this link.PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+