June 12 Coronavirus Update
As we complete our first week of “Phase II,” information has been coming out quickly about changes that families, businesses, and health care professionals are experiencing as we reopen more sectors of our economy. As always, we know that precaution and prevention are the most effective ways to combat COVID-19.
During this phase, here are some of the key issues:
- Safely reopening our economy: Many of you have contacted my office with questions or comments regarding the plans and guidance released by the Reopening Advisory Board about particular industries or aspects of reopening. As more industries open, I know there will be more questions raised and I welcome your input.
- Ensuring access to child care: Many of you have raised concerns about resuming safe and accessible child care. We know that returning to full-time work can’t happen for many families access to care. More information on this issue can be found below.
- Continuing to track “hot spots”: There are multiple communities where COVID-19 infection has had a disproportionate impact, including communities color, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and corrections facilities. The data collection law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor last week will help us better assess these impacts and effectively target continuing pandemic response.
New Updates
Coronavirus Testing and Response
- Today, the state saw 392 new reported positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 105,059 total cases and 46 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
- The average new cases over the last 7 days is 359, and the average number of deaths is 44.
- The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 3.4%.
- 1,143 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, a decrease of 117 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 6/12, 53% of the Commonwealth’s 17,300 permanent and temporary hospital beds are available for new patients if needed. In the MetroWest region, 53% of the region’s 2,800 beds are available for new patients.
- Long-term care: As of 6/12, there are 366 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 22,659 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 4,736 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities.
Local 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 6/10):
- Holliston: 56
- Hopkinton: 120
- Southborough: 41
- Westborough: 335
- 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 corrections facilities and congregate care facilities. You can find that report here.
Reopening Update
- As businesses continue to reopen, many will need to establish reliable sources for PPE supplies to comply with health and safety requirements. To make this process easier and more accessible, the Reopening Advisory Board has provided an online portal for businesses to find supply vendors, as well as an FAQ about obtaining PPE for reopening.
- Child care continues to be an issue about which I receive many questions and concerns. Given that access to child care is essential for many of us to be able to return to work, it has been a top priority for both the administration and the Legislature to reopen that summer camps, youth programs, and regular child care to the extent that it can be done safely. The full guidance for all youth-serving programs can be found here.
- Houses of worship, which were able to resume services in “Phase I” of reopening, have been provided additional guidance for Phase II operations, which can be reviewed here.
- A reminder that updated Phase II guidance on gatherings can be found online. Gatherings above 10 people are still prohibited, except for gatherings in outdoor, unenclosed spaces like parks and parking lots. More information can be found here.
- As always, you can submit questions or comments to the Reopening Advisory Board here.
Workers and Small Business
- This week, MassDOT rolled out the Shared Streets and Spaces grant program. The program is designed to offer quick financial support to cities and towns to quickly re-vamp their streets to make outdoor dining, foot travel, and socialization with social distancing easier during the summer months. This $5 million initiative offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $300,000 for “quick-build” changes that can either be temporary in nature or pilots of more substantive changes and applications are open now.
- Unemployment fraud continues, unfortunately, to be an issue that I have heard from many constituents about. To report unemployment fraud for either pandemic unemployment assistance or standard unemployment assistance, use this online form. If you have additional concerns related to suspected fraud using your identifying information, please contact my office.
Education
- Governor Baker’s commencement speech for graduating seniors, delivered on WGBH earlier this week, can be watched online here.
- This week, the Reopening Advisory Board released guidance for the process of reopening institutions of higher education in Phase II for limited purposes only. Many colleges and universities are already making broader reopening plans for the fall, and this guidance ensures that institutions that do reopen carefully follow a COVID-19 control plan and report on infection control efforts to the state.
Transportation
- As of this week, the MBTA will be increasing service frequency for Commuter Rail, light rail including the Green Line, and paratransit services like The RIDE. For many modes, service frequency will be returning to standard weekday service levels. Details on services changes can be found here. As a reminder, all riders are required to wear face coverings while on a bus or train.
- The Registry of Motor Vehicles will begin offering online learner’s permit tests, which will be offered after submitting an application to the Registry using the existing appointment portal. More information on online permit tests can be found here.
- Road tests will begin resuming this week for RMV customers that were previously scheduled for a test that was cancelled due to the pandemic. I have received multiple questions from constituents about a broader reopening of road tests and I have reached out to the Registry for additional information that I will pass along as soon as it becomes available.
Food Resources
- To help combat increased food insecurity resulting from COVID-19, the administration this week announced the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program, which will provide $36 million in grants to farmers, small retailers, food banks, fisheries, seafood dealers & processors and other food system businesses or organizations who are facing disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and face difficulty in bringing their food to market. More information on the grant can be found here.
- The administration also announced a $5 million increase to the highly-successful Healthy Incentives Program, which provides additional incentives to SNAP recipients to be spent at local farmers’ markets. This popular program, which supports both families in need of healthy food and local farmers, will allow for increased utilization of farmers’ markets using social distancing guidance.
Legislative Update
- This week, the Senate passed legislation authorizing $300 million in Chapter 90 roads and bridges construction funding, a bill that was passed by the House in March prior to the pandemic. This funding, once signed into law, will provide funds to cities and towns to repair and reconstruct local roadways using a formula based on road miles, employment, and population. The bill now travels to the House for final approval.
- In response to recent events, the Speaker of the House, working with the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, announced a commitment to pass legislation by this summer to address structural bias that leads to racial inequality. The bill is expected to be finalized within the next month and reflect priorities of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, including expanded police officer training, prohibition of the use of chokeholds, and the establishment of an affirmative obligation for all law enforcement officers to intervene in a situation where a fellow officer improperly/illegally uses force. I will provide more information about this legislation as it becomes available.
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.
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