David Wade at WBZ reports that around 7 p.m., Gov Baker sent out a press release about an order to activate up to 1,000 National Guard personnel "in the event that municipal leaders require their assistance" but did not get more specific.

A federal judge today dismissed lawsuits by health clubs against Gov. Baker's decision to shut them because of Covid-19, partly because the governor has since lifted the ban, partly because the governor acted responsibly to close the clubs as potential health risks in the middle of a deadly pandemic. Read more.

WGBH reports on the new order, which lets visitors escape quarantine with a recent negative Covid-19 test result. Of course, the devil is in the details, such as how it gets enforced. In any case, it applies to everybody coming into the state - including students and returning Massachusetts residents - from the rest of the country, save New England, New York, New Jersey and Hawaii.

Details from the state.

Boston Restaurant Talk reports Gov. Baker has signed a law that lets restaurants with the proper licenses offer cocktails to go with their meals in this pandemic age (no, of course you can't just get a whiskey sour to go all by itself).

The owner of Assembly Sports Club in Somerville yesterday sued Gov. Baker over the state's continued ban on health clubs, arguing the ban deprives it of its Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights and besides, Baker's just wrong because, as everybody knows, fitness clubs are too "essential," or at least as essential as the big-box stores Baker let stay open, except that it's even worse than that because all businesses are essential in our free-enterprise system. Read more.

Declaring that Covid-19 numbers in Massachusetts have been dropping dramatically in recent weeks, Gov. Baker and other state officials said restaurants and other retail establishments, as well as hotels, day camps, playgrounds and outdoor pools, can also start re-opening. Read more.

Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito today announced plans for letting restaurants and hotels re-open, but said exactly when that can happen will depend on Covid-19 numbers next week. Read more.

Gov. Baker this morning announced the first phase of re-opening the state: Starting today, factories and construction sites can re-open - provided they take steps to protect workers, such as social distancing and liberal dispensing of masks and access to sinks for frequent hand washing.. Houses of worship can also re-open with more limited seating. Read more.

The Massachusetts Municipal Association has gotten a copy of at least some of Gov. Baker's planned orders for easing pandemic restrictions, which he will announce tomorrow at his daily press conference. Read more.