Boston extends tougher indoor Covid-19 restrictions for three more weeks

Mayor Walsh announced today that because of a citywide Covid-19 positive test rate of 8.8% and an ICU bed occupancy rate of 93%, the city will be extending bans on gyms, bowling alleys and museums - along with reduced capacity limits for restaurants, offices and houses of worship, until Jan. 27.

The move comes two week after Walsh first announced the re-opening rollback (more specifics).

"I don't think businesses can last a lot longer," particularly small businesses like restaurants and corner shops, so mask up and cut it out with the parties, the mayor implored.

Walsh said he and other officials will evaluate what to do about the restrictions in three weeks and that they will decide to lift them only if they see five or six straight days of declines in numbers.

Walsh said the bans on certain gathering spots and 25% maximum capacity on offices, restaurants and houses of worship is not because of specific outbreaks linked to them but to simply try to reduce the odds people will come into contact with each other.

Walsh repeatedly emphasized that residents have to get their guard back up and do their part. Too many people going to dinner with people outside their bubble, table hop, so stop that, he said: If you're going out for indoor dining, only go with your bubble, don't mingle with others.

Walsh added that next week, the city will have 1,500 shots available for its first responders at Tufts Medical Center next week. He said the state is working on a plan to turn Fenway Park into a mass-vaccination site and that Boston is looking at similar, smaller mass-vaccine sites in city neighborhoods.