June 8 Coronavirus Update

Today marks the official start of the Phase 2 “Cautious” stage of our state’s reopening plan. This is welcome news, as it means that we are beginning to see sustained positive trends in 3 of the 6 key public health metrics that we are using to track the trajectory of the pandemic in Massachusetts.

For many businesses, that will mean making preparations to reopen under a “new normal.” The primary guiding features of this new phase are safety policies that make social distancing possible in businesses and public spaces, while allowing for increased activity in many sectors, particularly those with limited person-to-person contact or that take place outside.

You can view the Phase 2 reopening presentation here and view a schedule for reopening by business type here. This will also mean that many workers can return to work, and if you been receiving unemployment benefits and have questions about returning to work, there are FAQs for both employers and employees. In recent months, we have also been hearing reports of an increase in unemployment fraud, which you can report using this online form.

New Updates

Coronavirus Testing and Response

• Today, the state saw 193 new reported positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 103,626 total cases and 38 reported deaths as of today at 4pm. 
• The average new cases over the last 7 days is 403, and the average number of deaths is 46.
• The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 4.9%.
• 1,415 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, a decrease of 29 from yesterday.
• The Department of Public Health regularly releases a daily reporting dashboard containing detailed information on hospitalizations, demographic data, and county-by-county breakdowns of cases. To view the DPH dashboard, visit here.

Heath Care Capacity

• Hospital Capacity: As of 6/8, 55% of the Commonwealth’s 17,400 permanent and temporary hospital beds are available for new patients if needed. In the MetroWest region, 52% of the region’s 2,900 beds are available for new patients.
• Long-term care: As of 6/8, there are 361 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 22,295 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 4,597 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities.

Reopening Update

• As mentioned above, Phase 2 of reopening begins today. You can review sector-specific guidance for the following industries, which can expand operations in phase 2, below. For general information, visit mass.gov/reopening. 
  • Restaurants
  • Lodging
  • Retail
  • Driving and flight schools
  • Libraries
  • Close-contact personal services
  • Golf facilities
• As always, you can submit questions or comments to the Reopening Advisory Board here.
• If you have concerns about worker safety or compliance due to reopening plans (or any aspect of worker safety during COVID-19), you can submit a complaint to the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division.

Workers and Small Business

• If you have been out of work due to COVID-19 and are not already receiving unemployment benefits, you can still request benefits retroactively for involuntary time off work due to the pandemic. You can check your general eligibility for unemployment assistance here (please note that “worksearch” requirements do not apply during the pandemic) and assess your eligibility for pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) here.
• To report unemployment fraud for either pandemic unemployment assistance or standard unemployment assistance, use this online form.

Education

• Today, the Commissioner of Education released guidance on necessary social distancing, hygiene, and other safety protocols along with requirements for PPE that schools must comply with before returning to in-person instruction in the fall. You can download the guidance here.
• The Commissioner also released detailed standards for special education in the summer here. Students with IEPs that require extended year services or other summer programming are considered high priority for in-person summer services.

Legislative Update

• This weekend, the Governor signed H.4672, which increases the requirements for COVID-19 data collection and reporting. The new law requires detailed daily reporting of COVID-19 case data and demographic data, with a particular focus on ensuring robust and accurate reporting from high-impact communities like seniors, people of color, and those in corrections facilities.

Local Resources

All of the towns in the 8th Middlesex District now have centralized COVID-19 resource pages with resources, updates, and alerts regarding town services.

Holliston | Hopkinton | Southborough | Westborough

The Department of Public Health also releases weekly reports on town-by-town COVID-19 case numbers and rates, which can be found online here.

Resources for Residents Experiencing Job Loss or Loss of Income

COVID-19 is causing broad disruption to the economy which is affecting incomes of many residents and families. There are a number of state resources and supports available to support workers who may find themselves unemployed or otherwise income-constrained during this uncertain time. 

Guide for job/income loss resources: https://carolyndykema.com/covid19-state-resources

Department of Unemployment Assistance: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-unemployment-assistance

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
• CARES Act Unemployment Changes
• Unemployment Town Halls

Department of Transitional Assistance: https://www.mass.gov/dta-covid-19-resources-and-support

• Pandemic-EBT benefits for schoolchildren

How You Can Help

Holliston Youth and Family Services requests your support of the Community Action Fund, which provides emergency assistance to those affected by COVID-19. Learn more or donate here.

The Westborough Rotary Club has launched a COVID-19 Community Relief Fund to provide assistance to those affected by COVID-19. Learn more or donate here.

The American Red Cross is asking for blood donations, the need for which is significant due to blood drive cancellations. The need is dire due to the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives. People can donate at the Worcester American Red Cross Donor Center, 381 Plantation St. Worcester or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Some local donor sites, including the Natick Senior Center, are available for appointments as well.

Information on our local food pantries can be found below. The most pressing need right now is cash donations to ensure that food drop-off and delivery do not inadvertently contribute to the spread of the virus.

Holliston Pantry Shelf | Project Just Because | Southborough Food Pantry | Westborough Food Pantry

Current Statewide Advisories

Safer at Home: As of May 18, the statewide stay-at-home advisory is now the  Safer at Home advisory. In many ways, this advisory remains in the same spirit as previous policies: You should practice social distancing and limit your non-essential interactions as much as possible. 

Face Covering: As reopening continues, the statewide face covering advisory remains in effect for public indoor and outdoor spaces in situations where social distancing is not possible. The full advisory and detailed guidance can be found online.

Reopening Guidance: For more information on the state’s phased reopening plan and particular industry-specific guidance, visit mass.gov/reopening. For questions about business reopening timelines, visit this page.

A list of all executive orders in place during the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 state of emergency can be found here.