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 80,497 cases of COVID-19 and a total of 410,032 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, Governor Baker provided an update regarding the Contact Tracing program in the Commonwealth. If you receive a call from the area codes 833 or 857 with the name “MA COVID team, it is from the contact tracing collaborative. To watch the update for today, click here.
- If you are currently uninsured in Massachusetts, you may be eligible to receive health insurance through the Health Connector. For coverage starting June 1, you must enroll by May 23. For more information, click here.
Local Updates
- In Needham, health permit applications are now accessible online. These include septage/grease/medical waste haulers, indoor and outdoor pools, and demolition permit reviews. To access the portal, click here.
- In Medfield, the Board of Health will be meeting on Friday, May 15 at 11:00 AM. This meeting will be held remotely through Zoom and the Board of Health will be discussing a rolling rally for Medfield High School Class of 2020, a COVID-19 update, and tobacco and vaping regulations. Click here to read the agenda.
- In Dover, Selectman Robert Springett provided an update regarding COVID-19 for the Dover community. He discusses the COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force meetings, communication, and what the Town’s road to recovery might look like in the coming months. Click here to watch the update.
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 8am-7pm & Saturday from 10am-2pm.)
- 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.
- Text COVIDMA to 888-777 to receive daily text updates from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
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
