As we continue to move through Massachusetts phased reopening, I wanted to share with you the new information from Needham, Dover, Medfield, and across the Commonwealth:
Statewide Updates
- In Massachusetts, there are a total of 107,221 cases of COVID-19 and a total of 1,052,369 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.
- The Department of Public Health is monitoring the presence of mosquito-borne diseases in Massachusetts, including West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Currently, Massachusetts has found 7 positive samples of EEE in Mosquitos in Franklin and Plymouth Counties and 13 positive samples of WNV in Mosquitoes in Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk Counties. For more information, click here.
- Today, the House of Representatives continued the second day of debate on H.4860, An Act relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth. Click here to read the bill.
- This summer, Project Bread is offering their Summer Eats program to provide free meals to anyone 18 and under while school is out. For more information on the program, click here.
- On Wednesday, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $3 million in grants to address food insecurity for Massachusetts residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, they announced 39 new vendors for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP). To learn more and view the list of grant recipients and vendors, click here.
- On Wednesday, Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel signed an order that will prevent health care providers in Massachusetts from billing someone without insurance for a COVID-19 test. Further, providers may not request or require identification documents of patients seeking a test. For more information, click here. For more information, click here.
Local Updates
- In Needham, the Select Board has voted to cut fees for liquor license renewals for restaurants, hotels, and clubs in Needham 2021. This is to support businesses in our community during the COVID-19 public health crisis. For more information, click here.
- In Dover, the Dover Sherborn Regional School District’s Reopening Taskforce is currently developing three models for learning in the fall including, in-person, hybrid, and remote learning. Details of these three plans are due to the Department of Early and Secondary Education in early August.
- In Medfield, the Affordable Home Lottery has opened for a single family 3-bedroom house at 4 John Crowder Road. Applications will be accepted through August 4. For more information, click here.
Reopening Updates – Phase 3: Vigilant
- On Monday, July 7, the state entered into the first step of Phase 3 in Massachusetts Reopening. This includes: 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.
- 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.
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: https://stories.opengov.com/needhamma/published/lP3WUJtv_
Medfield Updates: http://www.town.medfield.net/1860/Coronavirus-Info-COVID-19
Dover Updates: http://doverma.org/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=Dover-COVID19-Updates-Information-3
Department of Public Health: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information, call 2-1-1, or text COVIDMA to 888-777.
Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
