As the COVID-19 Command Center and other agencies and organizations provide updates on COVID-19, I wanted to share with you the new information being reported:
Statewide Updates
- In Massachusetts, there are a total of 107,837 cases of COVID-19 and a total of 736,691 tests 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 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released initial guidance for reopening schools in the fall. The goal of the Department is to get students back to the classroom safely, while following comprehensive health and safety requirements. For more information, click here.
Local Updates
- In Dover, the Boil Water Advisory is still in place and bottled water continues to be available daily until 6:00 PM at the Town Garage parking lot. The Board of Selectmen will be meeting tonight at 6:30 PM via Zoom and they will be joined by Colonial Water and the state Department of Environmental Protection to discuss this pressing issue. 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. To attend the Board of Selectmen meeting, click here.
- In Needham, the Needham Exchange Club is holding a 4th of July House Decorating Contest to replace the annual 4th of July celebrations in Town. To be considered, email a photograph of your home with your name and address to needhamexchnageclub@gmail.com by 10:00 PM on July 3. For more information on the contest, click here.
- In Medfield, the Annual Town Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 27 at 11:00 AM at the Calvin Fisher Field at Medfield High School. For information on logistics, social distancing, and budgetary warrant articles, 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.
- In Dover, the Annual Town Meeting will be held on June 29 at 11:00 Am at the Dover Sherborn Regional football field. For more information regarding town meeting, 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
