As the Department of Public Health 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 is a total of 6620 cases of COVID-19 and a total of 46925 tests have been performed.
- Today, the Governor extended the Stay-at-Home advisory and the order to close all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential Services” to May 4. As part of this, the list of essential businesses was updated. Guidance for short-term rentals was issued to limit use only for efforts related to fighting COVID-19. Please click here for a full list of categories of “COVID-19 Essential Services”.
- Today, a pilot program was launched for onsite testing at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as right now testing is only offered in hospitals. With this program, tests are delivered to state labs and results will be determined within 24-48 hours.
- The federal Strategic National Stockpile has approved a 250-bed field medical station that will be deployed to the DCU Center in the City of Worcester this week. This temporary facility will be managed by UMass Memorial and staffed by a partnership including the City of Worcester and others.
- The MBTA has announced a temporary update to The RIDE to continue to prioritize the health and safety of MBTA customers and its workforce. This update eliminates shared RIDE trips, temporarily extends RIDE eligibility and postpones eligibility appointments, adjustments to booking winders, updates to subscriptions, and a reduction in transfer trips. To read more about these changes click here.
- To file an unemployment claim, visit here. If you have trouble filing a claim, please contact my office for assistance.
- 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.
- Text COVIDMA to 888-777 to receive daily text updates from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Local Updates
- In Needham, the Center at the Heights is delivering groceries for older adults in Needham. If you are interested in signing up for this service or learning more about how the Council on Aging can help you, please call the Center at 781-855-3629.
- Members of the Needham Community have created a group called One Needham to support the local healthcare teams and businesses. You can follow this group’s Facebook page here.
- In Dover, the Dover and Sherborn Boards of Health and Councils on Aging have created the attached food shopping and home delivery guidance on how to practice safe habits when shopping or delivering and receiving meals. To read the guidance, click here.
- The Medfield Employers and Merchants Organization has shared a list compiled by the town for community members to know what services are available in the community as businesses adapt to the COVID-19 situation. As always, please respect social distancing and maintain 6 feet of separation while supporting local businesses. To view the list, click here.
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
