State House News – Massachusetts will likely receive thousands of doses of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week, a step that Gov. Charlie Baker praised Monday as a major turning point in the state’s fight against COVID-19, but significant quantities are not set to arrive until later in March. During a visit…

State House News – As Massachusetts enters the second month of March to be shaded by the coronavirus pandemic, the number of people here who have been fully vaccinated is roughly equal to the number of people who have been infected with COVID-19 over the last year. The equivalent of the population of Methuen — roughly…

WGBH – Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is pushing for more school districts to adopt in-house COVID-19 screening as they bring students back for classroom learning this spring. Baker appeared at the Nock-Molin Middle School in Newburyport to tour the school’s pool testing operation and reopened in-class learning Friday morning. Baker’s pool testing program, launched in January,…

Gov. Baker said Thursday, Feb. 25, that the state on Monday will move to Phase Three, Step Two of its economic reopening amid the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing indoor performance venues and indoor recreational activities to reopen and capacity limits across all sectors will increase to 50 percent. The state will then move to the next…

The Patch – The governor’s remarks came as he visited a pooled-testing program at a middle school in Newburyport, Boston 25 reported. Widespread vaccinations for teachers and school staff has been a sticking point in the fight over resuming in-person learning. The Massachusetts Teachers Association has advocated for the state to add teachers to the priority group…

WPRI – Starting March 1, some restrictions at restaurants and venues will ease up in Massachusetts. A few weeks later, on March 22, larger weddings will be allowed at venues. Perhaps you’ve seen the advertisements on 195 East, White’s of Westport is offering minimonies, wedding ceremonies of just 10 people or fewer. It’s one way they…

Boston Herald – Business owners are cautiously optimistic after nearly a year of pandemic-era shutdowns as Massachusetts takes a major step forward in reopening its economy on Monday, but public health leaders warn it’s still too soon to start easing restrictions. Concert halls and theaters that closed last March can reopen — with limited capacity —…

Boston Globe – Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced last Friday that Boston will delay the reopening of indoor performance spaces and recreational activity venues until March 22, taking a harder stance than the state, which said those spaces could open Monday. Governor Charlie Baker announced plans to lift several business restrictions last Thursday, most of which Boston is…

Boston Herald – Restrictions limiting restaurants and businesses begin to roll back on Monday, a “good sign,” Gov. Charlie Baker said, for the state’s economy that has been struggling under nearly a year of pandemic-era shutdowns. Here’s what changes started Monday, subject to local restrictions: Concert halls, theaters, and other indoor performance venues can reopen at…

Washington Post – The House on Saturday approved President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, marking a crucial step toward passage of the White House’s first major piece of legislation. Biden unveiled his proposal, the American Rescue Plan, last month, with hundreds of billions of dollars going to vaccination programs, expanded unemployment insurance, $1,400 stimulus checks, state and local governments,…