Movie Theaters, Outdoor Booze Set To Return In Somerville

SOMERVILLE, MA — Somerville will move to a modified version of Phase 4, Step 1 of reopening next week, as more residents and employees are now eligible to get vaccinated and COVID-19 case counts have dropped.

This phase includes movie theaters and bingo halls, which were previously closed under city-specific guidelines. It also allows bars and breweries to partner with restaurants to offer outdoor dining with alcoholic beverages, with the approval of the Licensing Commission.

What will change in Somerville starting May 7:

• With any additional guidance noted below, all businesses in categories included through the State’s Phase 4, Step 1 as well as houses of worship will be allowed to operate at up to 50% capacity with social distancing and with all sector-specific guidelines followed.
• Included in the above are movie theaters and bingo halls, previously closed in Somerville.
• Event capacity limits at private residences will remain at 10 people indoors and will increase to 25 people outdoors.
• Event capacity limits at public event venues or spaces will increase to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors with approved safety plans for social distancing, masking guidance, and other safety protocols.
• Singing (while masked) and woodwind/brass instrument performances will be allowed outdoors. As per State guidance, greater distancing requirements are required for wind and brass instruments and singing performances including at least 10 feet between performers and performers must be 25 feet from the audience for these performance categories.
• Indoor performances, subject to the 50% business capacity limits or event gathering limits above, will be allowed for all performance types except for singing and woodwind and brass instruments, which remain prohibited indoors until further notice.
• With the approval of the Somerville Licensing Commission, restaurants and bars or breweries can partner to offer outdoor dining with alcoholic beverages. All other regulations must be followed.

Businesses and other venues that wish to increase their capacity to the new limits above must submit revised Health and Safety Plans (HASP) to the Inspectional Services Division. Businesses licensed through CitizenServe should upload a revised HASP under their existing license in CitizenServe at somervillema.gov/citizenserve. Other businesses and venues should email their revised HASP to isd@somervillema.gov. For information on how to prepare a HASP visit www.somervillema.gov/HASP.

"We are making real progress in Massachusetts on reducing COVID-19 cases, and to keep that momentum going as reopening progresses, I strongly urge everyone to keep up the good work," Doug Kress, director of Health and Human Services, said in a statement. "If we all get the vaccine, wear our facemasks, keep our distance in public, stay home and get tested when feeling ill, and wash our hands frequently, we can keep one another safer as we work to drive down COVID-19 cases and strive for a great summer."