I am pleased to announce that starting July 7th, we will be transitioning from the Daily Update to the “Tuesday and Thursday Report.” Just as Massachusetts and our communities are transitioning in this phased reopening, we are also transitioning. We will continue to share with you information that is useful and relevant to your lives. Every Tuesday and Thursday we will send an update on actions taking place in our communities and statewide to continue to keep us all connected and informed on a myriad of complex issues and concerns. Please know that my office continues to be accessible to you and if you have any questions or concerns you can call or email us and we will get back to you.
Stay safe -Stay strong! Denise
Statewide Updates
- In Massachusetts, there are a total of 109,143 cases of COVID-19 and a total of 853,150 individual tests (molecular testing) have been performed. You can access a summary of case details and lab testing and cases by hospital facility and additional COVID-19 response reporting on the dashboard here.
- Today, the MBTA began two fare initiatives the Five-day Flex Pass and the Youth Pass Commuter Rail upgrade. The Five-day Flex Pass is a pilot program that will run until September 30 and is only available in the mTicket app. A Flex Pass gives a rider five one-day passes that can be used anytime within a 30-day period. Youth Pass holders will not be able to purchase half-price fares for all Commuter Rail zones. For more information, click here.
Local Updates
- In Dover, the boil water advisory remains in place and bottled water continues to be distributed until 6:00PM at the Town garage daily. I continue to work with the Town Administrator, Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Public Health, to support the Town during this water crisis. For more information, click here.
- In Needham, Town departments will be closed on Friday, July 3 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. While there will be no fireworks in Needham, the Exchange Club has other activities planned, including a house decorating contest, a town vehicle procession, and a flyover. For more information, click here.
- In Medfield, the water restriction has been elevated to Tier 3 by the Board of Selectmen. Tier 3 limits nonessential water use to 1 day per week. For more information, click here.
Reopening Updates – Phase 2: Cautious
- On Monday, June 22, the second part of Phase 2 of Massachusetts Reopening began. This part includes indoor dining, increased capacity for office spaces, hair removal, nail care, skin care, massage therapy, make up salons, tanning salons, tattoo, piercing, and body art services, and personal training with restrictions. These businesses will be operating under careful guidelines, which can be accessed by clicking here.
- If you have questions, input, or comments regarding the Reopening Massachusetts plan, you can submit comments online. These comments can be used by the Administration to support efforts to methodically reopen the economy admits the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for the form.
Resources
- Anyone feeling overwhelmed with sadness, anxiety or stress, or who wants to harm themselves or others, can access the mental health, emotional support, and suicide prevention program Call2Talk by dialing 2-1-1. Call2Talk is also available by calling 508-532-2255 or by texting C2T to 741741.
- If you or someone you know is at risk for sexual and domestic violence, service providers are still accessible. You can find local services by clicking here. You can also call SafeLink, the statewide domestic violence hotline, at 1-877-785-2020. SafeLink can provide resources and support services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
- To file an unemployment claim, visit here. If you have trouble filing a claim, please contact my office for assistance.
- If you do not qualify for traditional unemployment benefits but have lost your job due to COVID-19, you may qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance under the federal CARES Act. To learn more, click here.
- To apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)benefits call Project Bread’s Food Source Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 (M-F from 8 AM-7 PM & Saturday from 10 AM-2 PM.)
- The WIC (Women, Infants, & Children Nutrition) program provides families with healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services for families. To check your eligibility and apply for WIC, click here.
Please remember social distancing is the most effective tool to contain the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to these updates, my office is still accessible so please continue to reach out and we will get back to you.
Email: Denise.Garlick@mahouse.gov
Phone: 617-722-2380
Our local boards of health, the Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control are continuing to maintain websites with the most updated information regarding COVID-19 that you can access here:
Needham Health Department Updates: http://www.needhamma.gov/85/Public-Health
Medfield Updates: http://www.town.medfield.net/1860/Coronavirus-Info-COVID-19
Dover Updates: http://doverma.org/
Department of Public Health: https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19, call 2-1-1, or text COVIDMA to 888-777.
Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
