Published May 6, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield native and Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse CEO Steve DiFillippo was appointed to the state’s Reopening Advisory Board last week.
Gov. Charlie Baker created the new panel after his administration announced on April 28 that non-essential businesses will remain closed until May 18 due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s stay-at-home advisory also remains in effect and gatherings of 10 or more people remain prohibited until May 18.
The Reopening Advisory Board will be developing a plan to help the state reopen after COVID-19 forced the commonwealth to go into lockdown as part of a multi-prong effort to contain the virus. The board brings public health officials together with leaders from the business community and municipal government from across Massachusetts.
This group is charged with advising the administration on strategies to reopen the economy in phases based on health and safety metrics.
“We all look forward to stepping in front of this podium and tell you that we are starting to open for business,” Baker said during an April 28 press conference. “I know we will get there soon, but we have to be smart about how we do it and recognize and understand that there are risks associated with going back too soon. This Reopening Advisory Board is a step in the right direction. They will do incredible work over the next few weeks so that when the data shows us that we are getting ahead of this terrible virus, we can take swift, smart and appropriate action.”
Lt. Gov. Karen Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy serve as the 17-member Reopening Advisory Board’s co-chairs.
“We will develop the planning tool that will be the roadmap for reopening in a phased, smart and safe manner,” Polito said during an April 28 news conference. “The top priority remains the health and safety of Massachusetts residents, and our plan to reopen will include guidance for things like sanitized shared spaces, realistic social distancing protocols for customers and employees, and expanded access to testing.”
In addition to DiFillippo, the Reopening Advisory Board features three public health officials, including Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel, as well as three municipal officials and 10 other business community representatives.
DiFillippo told WGBH’s Emily Rooney on “Greater Boston” on April 30 that the Reopening Advisory Board had “a lot of meetings” during its first week.
“We keep Zooming all day,” said DiFillippo. “We have had a lot of great people come in and we are learning a lot. It’s very exciting.”
DiFillippo also told WGBH he hopes the state’s restaurants will be given the green light to reopen in June.
“As soon as we start seeing less people in hospitals, less people in the ICU, then I think we will feel like we are in a safer place,” said DiFillippo. “I think it is probably going to be June.”
DiFillippo stated that restaurants’ health and cleanliness practices will be an asset once the state’s eateries are allowed to reopen.
“We actually already do everything right, I think,” DiFillippo said. “When you come to a restaurant, we already have a health department, we already have a clean environment. When was the last time you went to the bank and you saw them wiping down the counter? At restaurants, we are good at that.”
After restaurants are allowed to reopen, DiFillippo believes employees will be required to wear face masks, gloves and will need to continue social distancing rules “until there is a vaccine.”
“When you walk into a restaurant, it’s going to feel a little weird with everyone wearing masks,” DiFillippo said. “But have you been in the store today? Everyone’s wearing masks. Six weeks ago, no one was wearing masks. I live out on the North Shore, and I see people riding bikes wearing masks and people running wearing masks. That’s just what we’re going to have to do.”
DiFillippo plans on reopening each Davio’s one at a time.
“I want to be there personally at each one,” he said. “I want to make sure we get it right. To me, it’s not just about the health of the people who come through the front door. We need to make sure our employees are 100 percent safe. That is something I am so concerned about and I think a lot of employers in this state have to worry about that. We just can’t let people get sick.”
DiFillippo urged people to come out and support restaurants once they reopen.
“Restaurants are important,” DiFillippo said. “When we come back, just trust us. We know what to do and you are going to be safe in a restaurant. I guarantee it.”
DiFillippo also said landlords, insurance companies and government entities need to work with businesses including restaurants as part of the reopening process.
“Everyone needs to help each other or no one is going to come back,” said DiFillippo.