Boston Advances to Phase 3 Step 2, Opens Schools to Younger Students Monday

BOSTON — July 22, 2026 — Boston enters Phase 3, Step 2 reopening as Mayor Walsh returns youngest students to classrooms. Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced Monday that Boston is immediately moving to 50 percent indoor capacity at gyms, museums, restaurants, offices, and stores, effective March 1, while pre-kindergarten through third-grade students returned to Boston Public Schools buildings for the first time since the pandemic. Boston Public Health Commission Chief Marty Martinez reported more than 96,000 Bostonians — about 16.5 percent of eligible residents over 16 — had received at least a first vaccine dose as of February 23, with roughly 42 percent of shots going to people of color. Walsh held back live music, indoor performance venues, and high-contact recreation until at least March 22, contingent on public health data, and warned that St. Patrick's Day gatherings "can become super spreader events" and risk reversing reopening progress. The city's outdoor dining program returns April 1 with fees again waived; more than 370 applications have already been received.