Reopening Massachusetts

As of May 29, all remaining COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. Mask requirements remain in place in certain spaces.

Reopening Massachusetts was the four-phase approach to responsibly reopen the Massachusetts economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the phased reopening, based on public health guidance, was progressively to allow businesses, services, and activities to resume, while protecting public health and limiting a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases. The plan centered around Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards that applied across all sectors and enterprises as well as sector-specific protocols tailored to individual sectors and activities. Each phase of the reopening was guided by public health data and key indicators that were continually monitored for progress and were used to determine advancement to future phases. Industries, sectors, and activities that presented lower risk were allowed to reopen in earlier phases. Those that presented greater risk opened in later phases. In order to reopen, businesses were required to develop a written COVID-19 Control Plan outlining plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among workers and patrons.  Read more.

News & Insights

The Real Estate Cycle: Where We Are and What It Means

February 21, 2026 | Author:  David J. Murphy The Four Phases Commercial real estate moves through four generally recognized phases: recovery, expansion, hypersupply, and recession. JPMorgan Chase provides a useful overview of this framework (jpmorgan.com). During recovery, occupancy improves from its low point, but new...

Commercial Real Estate Sentiment Steady in Q1 2026 as Debt Availability Improves

February 20, 2026 | Author:  David J. Murphy The Real Estate Roundtable released its Q1 2026 Sentiment Index on February 20 (full report at rer.org). The overall index registered 66, down one point from the prior quarter. Senior CRE executives describe a market in the...

Preferred Equity Investment in a 188-Unit Multifamily Acquisition in Covington, Georgia

February 18, 2026-Murphy PC represented a Boston-based preferred equity investor who partnered with a sponsor in the acquisition of a 188-unit apartment community on 16.78 acres in Covington, Georgia. The transaction included the assignment and assumption of an existing Fannie Mae loan. Murphy PC negotiated...