October 16th Coronavirus Update

Before you know it, the holidays will be upon us, and I have already begun to receive questions about anticipated planning for Thanksgiving celebration and travel. While I expect that the administration will provide more specific guidance in coming weeks, I did want to highlight some recent changes to our state’s travel order that may be of interest.

As you may know, visitors to our state and residents returning from travel have three options: 1) They can quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, 2) They can provide a negative test result received within 72 hours prior to arriving, and 3) They can quarantine until receiving a negative test result in-state. Those traveling to Massachusetts must complete a travel form certifying their choice or risk daily fines. There are a number of exemptions to these requirements which can be found on the COVID-19 travel page. 

The state updates weekly its list of “lower-risk” states from which post-travel quarantine or testing is not necessary, which I share in Friday editions of this newsletter below. Today, the administration announced it was adjusting its definition of “lower-risk,” increasing the daily case rate threshold from 6 per 100,000 to 10 per 100,000 (Massachusetts is currently at 8.7 per 100,000), although the requirement that states stay below a 5% positive test rate remains unchanged (Massachusetts’s positive test rate is currently 1.4%). When making adjustments, the Department of Public Health considers two weeks of data for risk increases and one week of data for risk decreases. 

This week, California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Washington were added to the lower-risk states, joining Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington D.C. Rhode Island remains on the higher-risk list, but there are exemptions for “critical life activities” that can be found on the travel order page.

New Updates

Coronavirus Testing and Response

• Today, the state saw 702 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 139,353 total cases and 30 reported deaths as of today at 4pm. 
• The average new cases over the last 7 days is 620, and the average number of deaths is 17.
• The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 1.4%.
• 513 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 10 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

• Hospital Capacity: As of 10/16, 33% of the Commonwealth’s 12,900 permanent and temporary hospital beds are available for new patients if needed. In the MetroWest region, 34% of the region’s 2,100 beds are available for new patients.
• Long-term care: As of 10/16, there are 389 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 25,266 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 6,254 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities.
• For information on COVID-19 testing and guidance on whether you should get tested, how to get tested, and where to get tested, visit the COVID-19 testing portal at mass.gov/gettested.

Local and Regional Updates

• You can find this week’s DPH report on town-by-town COVID-19 testing and case numbers here, as well as counts of COVID-19 cases at long-term care facilities across the Commonwealth. Our towns’ numbers are below (through 10/7):
  • Holliston: 115 (+11)
  • Hopkinton: 153 (+6)
  • Southborough: 68 (+4)
  • Westborough: 413 (+13)
• The weekly public health report also contains facility-specific information on COVID-19 case rates on nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, which can be found here starting on page 40.
• In compliance with the new statewide data collection law, DPH has also begun reporting COVID-19 testing and infection rates at all state facilities, including state hospitals and congregate care facilities. You can find that data on this page.
• The statewide Department of Correction COVID-19 data can now be found in a new weekly report, which can be found here.

Education

• The weekly public health report now contains information on testing and positive cases in Massachusetts-based colleges and universities, which can be found here starting on page 37.
  • 119 new COVID-19 cases associated with higher education testing have been reported since last week. 1,117 total cases have been reported associated with higher education testing.
• The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education now reports student and staff positive cases reported by school districts within the last week. These reports count all positive cases among students participating in-person or hybrid learning models, and staff who have been in a school building within 7 days of a positive test. This week’s report and reporting definitions can be found here.
  • Holliston: 0 students; 0 staff
  • Hopkinton: 0 students; 0 staff
  • Southborough: 0 students; 0 staff
    • Northboro-Southboro: 0 students; 0 staff
  • Westborough: 0 students; 0 staff

Travel Order Update

• The state’s COVID-19 travel order, which requires testing or self-quarantine for all visitors and returning residents from all higher-risk U.S. states, is updated weekly based on new public health data from around the country. Information on the order can be found here and information on changes to the state risk designations can be found below.
• Lower-risk states: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington, Washington D.C.
• Added this week: California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Washington (updated 10/16)
• Removed this week: None

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

Statewide Information

Information on the state of emergency and related orders can be found here.

• Face covering advisory
• Large gatherings/social distancing advisory

Reopening guidance can be found at mass.gov/reopening. 

• Sector-specific guidance
• Health care-specific guidance
• “When can my business reopen” chart

Information on COVID-19 testing can be found at mass.gov/gettested.

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.

Southborough’s Community Fund has supported local COVID-19 response efforts and families impacted by the pandemic, as well as other charitable organizations in Town. 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