Businesses operating to provide essential services, as defined in the governor’s March 23 Executive Order, updated on March 31, April 28 and May 15, may remain open and have until May 25 to comply with these ​mandatory safety standards​. ​All businesses​ must meet these standards before reopening:

●  COVID-19 control plan template​ — Template that satisfies the written control plan requirement for self-certification
●  Compliance attestation poster​ — Poster that customer facing businesses are required to print, sign, and post in an area within the business premises that is visible to workers and visitors
●  Employer and worker posters​ — Posters that businesses can print and display within the business premises to describe the rules for maintaining social distancing, hygiene protocols, and cleaning and disinfecting.

Newly updated details regarding the four-phased reopening can be found here:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-four-phase-approach

Read the full Reopening Report here:
https://www.mass.gov/doc/reopening-massachusetts-may-18-2020/download

The entirety of information released can be viewed here:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts

Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) — ​NEW UPDATE
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is advising health providers about a serious inflammatory disease in children that may be linked to COVID-19. Nine suspected cases of Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) have been reported in Massachusetts hospitals. Health officials have issued guidance on what to look for to report and confirm possible cases.
http://www.massmed.org/Patient-Care/COVID-19/Mandatory-Reporting-of-Pediatric-Multisystem-Inflamm atory-Syndrome/

Youth Programs and Camps — ​NEW UPDATE
The CDC has released a ​Camp Decision Tree​ to help assist directors or administrators in making (re)opening decisions regarding youth programs and camps during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note this is a ​guideline​ per CDC, and is to be used i​n addition to​ any orders issued at the state or local level.

Hopkinton Public Schools — ​NEW UPDATE
District and building leaders are beginning the complex process of determining what brick and mortar schooling might look like (assuming it’s permitted at all) next fall. Health and government officials will determine whether or not we re-enter the schools; district and building administration will make decisions about schedules, physical plant structures, transportation, food service, and more. There is much work to do, but please know we are in the early stages of research and planning.

Hopkinton Public Library Collecting Reflections on Pandemic Experiences
The library is seeking to collect information about the experiences of individuals and families in our immediate community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although a wide variety of data about the pandemic will ultimately be recorded, personal stories from people who are living through the situation today will be important to give citizens in the future a sense of what day-to-day life was like during this historic time.

Please help us by filling out a quick survey at ​http://ow.ly/3mUU50zE4vy​. All questions are optional. Responses will be recorded for posterity and made available in a local history collection we are creating about the pandemic.