Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today,1406 Cambridge residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 100 residents have passed away, according to the state's database. Learn more here. There have been 131,214 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, and there are 753 newly reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state today. 2,273,812 patients have been tested, and 9,275 have passed away. Learn more here.
State Action Updates
The Massachusetts Department of Education reports that 63 students and 34 staff members have tested positive for coronavirus statewide. The data is the first statewide look at the virus's prevalence in public schools. A weekly summary on positive cases reported at schools will be published every week. The figures include any cases reported to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education between Sept. 24 and 30. The state is only tracking cases involving students and staff members who have been inside school buildings, unless the staff member was not inside school buildings for seven days before the case was reported. State education officials are not tracking when the cases occur, only when local officials report them to the state. You can read more about the data here.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
Cambridge Updates
City of Cambridge amends temporary emergency restrictions on public meetings and events. The City announced that all City-sponsored community events, athletic events, events permitted for the use of City parks, or other City-sponsored public gatherings will be cancelled through October 26, 2020, or postponed to a later date. All prior approvals for events or gatherings are revoked. The City Manager’s Office is collaborating with the City’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Panel, the Commissioner of Public Health, and the Cambridge Public Health Department to evaluate and determine what Halloween activities will be allowed in the City. Further guidance on Halloween activities in the City will be released next week.
City sponsored youth sports activities that take place in City parks or other City athletic facilities are permitted, subject to obtaining a City permit, and further subject to complying with all COVID-19 requirements and guidelines concerning youth sports issued by the State, which include but are not limited to requirements concerning social distancing, hygiene protocols, staffing and operations, and cleaning and disinfecting. You can read more about it here.
Where to Get Tested
Testing appointments through the City's free mobile-testing program are now available at the following locations:
- King Open School, 850 Cambridge Street, 10AM-12PM on Tuesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 8.
- Pisani Center, 131 Washington Street, 11AM-7PM, on October 3 and 10.
You can schedule an appointment online or by calling 617-665-3795.
The state's Stop the Spread initiative provides no-cost testing in communities across the state that have continued to see a higher number of residents testing positive for COVID-19. Stop the Spread testing sites are open to ALL Massachusetts residents and are not restricted to residents of the cities where sites are located. You do not need to have any symptoms to be tested. Find more information about locations and hours here. Current Stop the Spread communities are: Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lynn, Marlborough, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Springfield, Winthrop, and Worcester.
If you are feeling symptomatic and feel the need to get tested sooner, you can call your primary care provider to make an appointment to be tested.
Translation Resources Available
Multilingual city resources and information on COVID-19 are available on the City's multilingual help page.
Where to Give
On Fridays, Cambridge CoHousing will be collecting food for the Chelsea Food Collaborative. Drop off is between 9 AM to 3:30PM at 175 Richdale Ave, the entrance to CoHousing, either in a paper bag or small box. If you don't see someone at the moment you come, please leave it just inside the gate where we will have boxes marked "For Chelsea."
If you are able to give to others during this time, I encourage you to look to the following places that are working to help those most affected by COVID-19:
Cambridge Community Foundation
Cradles to Crayons Emergency Essentials Fund
I also encourage you to donate to the following organizations that are engaging in racial justice work:
Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
Families for Justice as Healing
Union of Minority Neighborhoods
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie