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 88,970 cases of COVID-19 and a total of 489,953 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, Attorney General Maura Healey released an online form for employees to report unsafe working conditions related to COVID-19. https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-unsafe-working-conditions-during-covid-19
- Today, Governor Baker provided an update from Symmons Industries in Braintree. Governor Baker discussed the positive case trend and the metrics the state is using to make decisions regarding reopening. To watch the update, click here.
- Today, the RMV announced that an additional dedicated business-to-business (B2B) Center would open at the Attleboro RMV next Tuesday, May 26. This is in addition to Chicopee, Milford, and Wilmington, which exclusively perform B2B service requests.
Local Updates
- On Tuesday, May 26, Representative Garlick will be offering another opportunity for virtual office hours. There will be 15-minute slots for constituents to sign up for and share their issues and concerns between 11:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00 PM-2:00 PM. Meetings can be conducted via Zoom or phone call. To sign up for a slot click here.
- In Needham, the Department of Public Works has announced that the Recycling and Transfer Station will close at noon on Fridays during the summer. This will begin this Friday, May 22, and end Friday, September 11, 2020. Residents are encouraged to visit the RTS during weekday hours if they can better accommodate social distancing and keep themselves and workers safe.
- In Medfield, the Dale Street School Building Project Committee is asking all Medfield residents for their input regarding the Dale Street School Building Project. Renovating or replacing the existing 8- year old Dale Street School has been a strategic objective for the School District and Town for several years. Click here for the survey.
- In Dover, the Board of Selectmen will be meeting Thursday, May 21 at 6:30 PM via Zoom. The Board will discuss the Annual Town Meeting, the Town reopening, and other various topics. To learn more, click here.
Reopening Updates – Phase 1: Start
- We are currently in Phase 1. The first step of Phase 1 allows construction, manufacturing, and places of worship to reopen under sector-specific guidance that details necessary safety measures.
- To learn more about the reopening process and to read the guidance, click here.
- The second step of Phase 2 will begin on May 25 and will allow lab space, office space, limited personal services, and retail to reopen in the coming weeks. You can read the sector-specific protocols and best practices for these services at mass.gov/reopening.
- The personal services that will be permitted to reopen are hair salons and barbershops, car washes, and pet grooming services.
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.
- 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