Western Mass. expected to see busy summer for tourism, but picture more uncertain for Boston
Posted May 10, 2021
The Cox family of Plymouth view artwork at Springfield s George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum on May 5, 2021. From left are Rylee, 9, Bridget 6, mom Ashley and dad Cameron. (Don Treeger / The Republican)
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Yankee Candle
Camping.
There’s a sense of optimism in the tourism and hospitality industry in Western Massachusetts, said Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. Especially after a particularly strong April school vacation week for local attractions.
In a good year, tourism in the Pioneer Valley is almost a $1-billion industry.
Massachusetts enters next step of COVID reopening phase Monday; amusement parks, ballparks allowed to expand capacity
Posted May 10, 2021
Massachusetts entered the next stage of the state’s reopening plan on Monday.
This reopening follows previous restrictions loosening on March 22, expanding the gathering limits for event venues to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors.
In weeks since, COVID-19 cases have continued to decline and vaccinations continue to rise. COVID-19 cases have dropped by 45 percent, hospitalizations have dropped by 23 percent, and deaths have dropped by 69 percent since March 22.
Below are the expanded reopening plans that went into effect on Monday.
First allowed to reopen at 12 percent capacity, now arenas, ballparks and stadiums both indoors and outdoors can increase capacity to 25 percent. This shift comes a day prior to the WooSox Opening Day at Polar Park in Worcester.
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As virus activity continues to decline in Massachusetts and more COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Springfield lags behind.
Springfield is one of just 13 municipalities in Massachusetts that remain at high risk for coronavirus infection. Along with Chicopee these are the only two places in western Massachusetts that show up as red on the state health department’s map, which is updated weekly and is based on COVID-19 incidence and test positivity rates.
There are encouraging signs however in the latest data, said the city’s Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris. Springfield recorded 265 confirmed COVID-19 cases for the week of May 2nd – down by 160 from the week before. The city has seen new case totals decline for three straight weeks.
6 days ago in Local Photo: WHMP
(Undated) The state takes another step toward fully reopening today as certain outdoor Phase 4 industries will be allowed to resume operations or host larger crowds. Governor Baker has been criticized by some business industry advocates for holding to his August first complete re-opening, but he says that could happen faster if vaccination trends continue to be positive. As of today, large venues such as stadiums, arenas and ballparks including Fenway, are permitted to have 25-percent capacity. They’ve been operated at 12-percent since mid-March. Also today, amusement parks including Six Flags New England may operate at 50-percent capacity.
Massachusetts Expands Reopening Guidelines Starting Today
The Commonwealth enters the next stage of the reopening process today, May 10, as amusement parks can reopen, road races can return and Fenway Park, TD Garden, and Gillette Stadium can increase capacity.
As WWLP/22 News Springfield reports, today marks the beginning of Phase 4, Step 2, which brings more updates and expansions to health and safety guidelines.
Ballparks and sports arenas are now allowed to increase crowds to 25%. That s up from 12%. This will allow Fenway Park to give access to more than 9,000 fans. It also means that capacity at TD Garden will increase to approximately 4,500 spectators.