Gov. Charlie Baker extended the state’s stay-at-home advisory and non-essential business closure to May 18 as the death toll from the coronavirus rises in Massachusetts. The advisory was set to expire on May 4. "I know pushing these dates back a couple of weeks is not what many want to hear," Baker said. "We all look forward to stepping in front of this podium and saying, 'We are open for business,' and we will get there soon."The governor also extended the ban on gatherings of 10 or more people.Baker announced the formation of a 17-member advisory board that will develop a plan to reopen the state on a "phased basis." The board will meet with key stakeholders and solicit input from a variety of constituencies to develop a report by May 18 that will include DPH-approved workplace safety standards, industry frameworks and customer protocols and guidelines, Baker said. The governor said it appears Massachusetts has flattened the curve and is in a plateau depending upon which parts of the state you're in. He said in Western Massachusetts it appears to be trending downward.The state reported Monday that there have been more than 56,000 cases of COVID-19 in the state with more than 3,000 deaths.New modeling from Massachusetts General Hospital shows lifting the stay-at-home order at the end of May -- in four weeks -- could result in more than 40,000 deaths by the end of the summer. The prediction is much lower if it's lifted in eight weeks, with about 5,600 deaths. PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+

Gov. Charlie Baker extended the state’s stay-at-home advisory and non-essential business closure to May 18 as the death toll from the coronavirus rises in Massachusetts. The advisory was set to expire on May 4.

"I know pushing these dates back a couple of weeks is not what many want to hear," Baker said. "We all look forward to stepping in front of this podium and saying, 'We are open for business,' and we will get there soon."


The governor also extended the ban on gatherings of 10 or more people.

Baker announced the formation of a 17-member advisory board that will develop a plan to reopen the state on a "phased basis."

The board will meet with key stakeholders and solicit input from a variety of constituencies to develop a report by May 18 that will include DPH-approved workplace safety standards, industry frameworks and customer protocols and guidelines, Baker said.

The governor said it appears Massachusetts has flattened the curve and is in a plateau depending upon which parts of the state you're in. He said in Western Massachusetts it appears to be trending downward.

The state reported Monday that there have been more than 56,000 cases of COVID-19 in the state with more than 3,000 deaths.

New modeling from Massachusetts General Hospital shows lifting the stay-at-home order at the end of May -- in four weeks -- could result in more than 40,000 deaths by the end of the summer. The prediction is much lower if it's lifted in eight weeks, with about 5,600 deaths.