Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, there are 1116 Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 97 residents have passed away. Learn more here. There are 105,290 cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 24,377 in Middlesex County. 932,796 patients have been tested, and 8,081 have passed away. Learn more here.
Cambridge Updates
The Green Line Extension project will begin a series of major crane lifts this weekend at the new Lechmere Viaduct now under construction. There will be traffic detours in place starting early tomorrow morning, and construction is scheduled from 7AM-10PM on Saturday and from 7AM to 7PM on Sunday.
Where to get tested:
The Cambridge Public Health Department will be offering testing at the Pisani Center located at 31 Washington Street 7/18, 7/25, and 8/1 from 11AM-7PM. Details on scheduling appointments will follow.
During the month of July, the Cambridge Public Health Department is offering free mobile testing for all Cambridge residents in North Cambridge, The Port, East Cambridge, and Harvard Square one day each week during designated hours. Currently, all appointments for the month of July have been booked.
Those who have appointments booked at the East Cambridge mobile testing site should be aware that the site has moved to the Cambridge Public Library’s Valente Branch.
Translation Resources Available:
Multilingual city resources and information on COVID-19 are available on the City’s multilingual help page.
State Action Updates
This Monday, there will be a briefing for members of the House of Representatives with Commissioner Riley from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Please share with me questions and concerns you would like more information from DESE. I continue to have many questions. Some of your questions may be better answered by Superintendent Salim. I think the DESE needs to show more leadership and is leaving too much to local school districts to develop on their own. This will have a tremendous and instead of using this time to reimagine an educational system that closes the opportunity gap it can easily exacerbate inequality. Email me questions that you have for the Governor and DESE at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
Reopening in Massachusetts:
If you have thoughts or concerns about reopening in Massachusetts, you can submit questions and comments via this online form.
Where to Give
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
Enroot Emergency Immigrant Cash Assistance 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
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie