December 21st COVID-19 Update

As we continue through the holiday season, it is more important than ever to heed the guidance that the experts in our state Department of Public Health are asking all Massachusetts residents to follow. The spike in cases and hospitalizations we saw following the Thanksgiving holiday should serve as a sobering reminder of the stakes of this pandemic, as difficult as it may be to make the decisions that will keep all our families safe.

Earlier this month, DPH released updated holiday guidance, which can be found at mass.gov/holidays. The lowest-risk recommendation is to only celebrate in-person with members of your immediate household and to hold virtual celebrations if possible. If you do celebrate in-person, please utilize proven COVID-19 prevention methods such as mask wearing indoors, staying 6 feet apart from individuals outside your household, and celebrating outdoors or in a well-ventilated space. As always, please remember that gathering size restrictions, face covering requirements, and travel/testing requirements remain in effect.

Good news on the federal level today as Congress has reached a final agreement on a year-end COVID-19 stimulus legislation. Although the full details of the final package continue to be released, Congresswoman Katherine Clark’s office has provided the following key details:

• $166 billion in direct checks: Individuals making up to $75,000 a year will receive a payment of $600, while couples making up to $150,000 will receive $1,200, in addition to $600 per child. The deal also makes the stimulus checks more accessible to immigrant families. 
• $120 billion in unemployment: Extends an extra $300 per week through March 14. The legislation also extends employment benefits to self-employed individuals, gig workers and those who have exhausted their state benefits. 
• $325 billion for small business: Including $284 billion in loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, $20 billion for businesses in low-income communities and $15 billion for struggling live venues, movie theaters and museums. 
• $69 billion for vaccines, testing and tracing: The package includes $20 billion for the purchase of vaccines, nearly $9 billion for vaccine distribution, and about $22 billion to help states with testing, tracing and Covid-19 mitigation programs. 
• Rental aid and an eviction ban: $25 billion in federal rental assistance, including $800 million for Native American housing entities. The federal eviction ban is extended through the end of January.
• Coronavirus Relief Fund extension: This bill extends the availability by one year (until Dec. 31, 2021) for funds provided to states and localities by the Coronavirus Relief Fund in the CARES Act.

As a reminder, this newsletter will now be released on a once-weekly schedule unless major COVID-19-related news is announced. Please continue to utilize the resources below and mass.gov/covid19 for up-to-date public health information.

News Updates

Below is a summary of the most recent efforts to respond to the wide range of needs in our communities. For a summary of previously issued guidance and state restrictions related to the coronavirus epidemic, visit mass.gov/covid19. For previous updates visit carolyndykema.com/covid19.

Coronavirus Testing and Response

• Today, the state saw 3,760 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 314,380 total cases and 41 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
• The average new cases over the last 7 days is 4,529, and the average number of deaths is 53.
• The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 5.9%.
• 61,067 new molecular tests for COVID-19 were reported in the Commonwealth today.
• 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 (as of 12/21)

• Hospitalization: 1,991 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 72 from yesterday. The 7-day average of hospitalizations is 1,895.
• Hospital Capacity: 19% of the Commonwealth’s 9,090 non-ICU hospital beds are available for new patients if needed (28% of statewide ICU beds are available). In the MetroWest region, 15% of the region’s non-ICU 1,489 beds are available for new patients (32% of regional ICU beds are available).
• Long-term care: There are 410 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 29,698 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 7,151 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 Update

• This week’s public health report contains town-by-town numbers on positive cases in each community, as well as a color-coded risk assessment for each city or town. This week’s numbers for the towns of the 8th Middlesex District can be found below, and the full weekly public health report can be found here.
• Holliston: 307 (+32 from last week); moderate risk
• Hopkinton: 328 (+31); moderate risk
• Southborough: 193 (+26); higher risk
• Westborough: 753 (+101); higher risk

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 36.
• 654 new COVID-19 cases associated with higher education testing were reported last week. 5,773 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. Last week’s report and reporting definitions can be found here.
• Holliston: 0 students; 0 staff
• Hopkinton: 0 students; 0 staff
• Southborough: 1 student; 1 staff
• Northboro-Southboro: 2 students; 1 staff
• Westborough: 0 students; 0 staff

Travel

• 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: Hawaii
• Removed last week: None
• Added last week: None

Local and State Resources

Town Resources

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

Holliston | Hopkinton | Southborough | Westborough

Job/Income Loss Resources

COVID-19 is also 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

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

Department of Transitional Assistance

• 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.