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
Reopening Updates – Phase 2: Cautious
- On Monday, July 6, step 1 of Phase 3: Vigilant of Massachusetts Reopening will begin. This will include: casino gaming floors, horse racing tracks, indoor recreational and athletic fields, fitness centers and gyms, museums, indoor historic spaces, aquariums, outdoor theaters and performance venues, outdoor event space, indoor event space, indoor non-athletic instructional classes, indoor recreational businesses, movie and TV production, sightseeing and other organized tours, movie theaters, and post-secondary, higher ed, vocational tech and occupational schools regular operations. For the City of Boston, Phase 3 and the gatherings order will take effect on Monday, July 13. 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 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for the form.
Statewide Updates
- In Massachusetts, there are a total of 109,338 cases of COVID-19 and a total of 860,936 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.
- In celebration of Independence Day on Saturday, July 4, the Boston Pops will be holding a musical performance online. The event will air on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and Boston’s WHDH-TV at 8:00 PM on July 4. For more information, click here.
- Today, the Governor signed an executive order updating the limitations on indoor and outdoor gatherings. Indoor gatherings are limited to 8 persons per 1,000 square feet and never more than 25 persons in a single enclosed, indoor space. Outdoor gatherings in enclosed, permitted, or leased spaces are limited to 25% of the maximum permitted occupancy and never more than 100 persons in a single outdoor space that is enclosed, permitted, or leased.
Local Updates
- In Dover, the boil water advisory has been lifted as of July 2, 2020. There will be no further bottled water distribution at the Town garage. For more information from Colonial Water, 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 Town is currently in a tier 3 water restriction. This restriction limits nonessential water use to once per week. For more information, click here.
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
