A COVID Change Is On Deck: The HUB

The HUB is a rundown of the stories people in Boston are talking about. Patch publishes the HUB every weekday.

Good morning, Boston! Today is Tuesday, April 27. We're talking a pot shop supermarket opening downtown, business people not ready to get back to business and the return of ferry service.

But first...

It's been 172 days since the outdoor mask requirement was declared by Gov. Charlie Baker. Could it be entering its final days?

Baker said during his Monday press conference to "stay tuned" for an announcement regarding the state's COVID-19 restrictions. It wasn't clear exactly what the announcement will be about, but his answer was in response to a question about the president reportedly ready to announce a change to the federal government's guidance on wearing masks.

Baker repeatedly said changes to the state's restrictions would be announced "this week."

Full disclosure: I was petrified in the early days of the pandemic whenever I passed someone on the street. But as we've learned more about the virus and how it spreads, it does appear it might be time to ease off an outdoor mask mandate as science shows there is an almost nonexistent risk of outdoor spread without prolonged close contact to someone.

The Atlantic's Derek Thompson recently posted a piece about how governments need to start easing people back into some semblance of normalcy by lifting outdoor mask mandates. It seems like the time might be at hand in Massachusetts.

Check it out

A pot shop supermarket could open downtown as early as this week. Meghan Ottolini at The Boston Herald reported last night that Ascend, one of America's biggest legal marijuana companies, is ready for a "soft opening" this Thursday. Ottolini writes the 16,000-square-foot dispensary would be on Friend Street across from TD Garden. It would instantly become the city's biggest dispensary.

The Boston Business Journal asked Boston business people: Are you ready for in-person events? More than two-thirds of respondents said they are not, and many said it's going to be months before they are. Boston businessfolk seem more hesitant to get back to it than those in other metro areas; The Business Journals surveyed more than 8,000 people across the country and half of them are ready to get back to in-person events.

Rejoice water-dwellers, ferry service is about to be back in a big way. The MBTA announced it will shift toward something resembling pre-pandemic service levels, bringing back full service on the Charlestown Ferry and other service to and from Boston. WCVB has the details on the bounceback, which takes effect late next month.

What I'm reading today: If there's Jasiel Correia news, you know I'm reading it. Jo C. Goode at The Herald News recaps the first day in the trial of the 29-year-old disgraced former mayor of Fall River. Correia faces a host of federal fraud, bribery and extortion charges. "Lying, cheating, stealing and shakedowns," the prosecution said. "That’s what this case is about." Oh boy.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Partly sunny, with a high near 67. West wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. At night — Scattered showers, mainly between 11pm and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Have a swell Tuesday.

You can email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com and follow me @PatchCarraggi.