COVID-19: July 16, 2020 Update from Representative Dykema
July 16 Coronavirus Update
Families across Massachusetts have been hit hard personally and economically by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. One area where our Commonwealth has worked hard to ensure that families are protected is in housing.
As you may know, non-essential evictions and foreclosures are currently suspended by state law through August 18, and the Governor is currently considering expanding that moratorium. In addition, the administration announced an additional $20 million in federal CARES Act funding to support homelessness prevention, food assistance, and grants to “microbusinesses” – those with 5 employees or fewer. This funding follows last month’s $20 million expansion of the statewide rental and mortgage assistance programs and will be supported by the $1.1 billion COVID-19 supplemental budget that the Legislature sent to the Governor to sign this week, which includes funding for vulnerable families, housing support, and social services.
If you are concerned about housing insecurity or are looking for income-based housing assistance, residents of Holliston and Hopkinton should contact the South Middlesex Opportunity Council and residents of Southborough and Westborough should contact RCAP Solutions. The Central MA Housing Alliance also provides a variety of resources and counseling relative to housing and homelessness prevention that may be useful as well.
New Updates
Coronavirus Testing and Response
- Today, the state reported 234 new probable and confirmed cases* of COVID-19, with 112,581 total reported positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth & 12 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
- The average new reported cases over the last 7 days is 241, and the average number of deaths is 16.
- The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 1.7%.
- 557 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, a decrease of 23 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.
Health Care System
- Hospital Capacity: As of 7/16, 31% of the Commonwealth’s 12,400 permanent and temporary hospital beds are available for new patients if needed. In the MetroWest region, 39% of the region’s 2,100 beds are available for new patients.
- Long-term care: As of 7/16, there are 368 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 23,760 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 5,312 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities.
NOTE ON DATA: The DPH data dashboard now breaks out confirmed vs. probable cases, with “probable” cases representing those with positive antibody tests. This is why data reported on p. 1 of the dashboard doesn’t appear to “match” the data displayed in the chart above.
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
Department of Transitional Assistance: https://www.mass.gov/dta-covid-19-resources-and-support
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.
