Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources while the House of Representatives is currently in its third day of deliberations on the police reform bill.
As of today, there are 1165 Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 residents have passed away. Learn more here. As of today, there are 107,897 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 25,190 in Middlesex County. 1,092,392 patients had been tested, and 8,279 have passed away. Learn more here.
Cambridge Updates
The Cambridge Public Schools meal application system is now open for the 2020-2021 school year. Parents, caregivers and guardians can apply yearly to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Superintendent Salim and the School Committee have waived outstanding negative school meal balances for the upcoming year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cambridge Public Library will be eliminating overdue fines for the late return or renewal of materials and eliminating lost or damaged item fees for children’s and young adult materials.
There will be a protest at the River Street Whole Foods tomorrow, 7/25 at 5:30PM. Whole Foods workers are still not allowed to wear face coverings that say “Black Lives Matter.” As a reminder, please wear a face covering and practice social distancing if you attend.
Where to get tested:
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 at these sites have been booked. Testing will be available at the Pisani Center on Saturdays 7/25 and 8/1 from 11AM-7PM to help meet the demand of the waitlist. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling 617-665-3795.
Today, the Cambridge Public Health Department announced that testing will be extended into August due to overwhelming demand. More details on this extended testing will be coming soon.
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.
State Action Updates
The House is currently continuing in its third day of deliberations on the police reform bill, H.4860.
Today, the Governor signed into law a $1.1 billion supplemental budget. This supplemental budget covers some COVID-19 spending and designates June 19th as a state holiday honoring Juneteenth.
Governor Baker Press Conference
Today, Governor Baker announced that starting on August 1st, all visitors and returning residents who are entering Massachusetts must follow new travel orders. All those who do not meet an exemption will be required to complete a travel form prior to arriving in Massachusetts and either quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result unless they are coming from a lower-risk state. Failure to comply may result in a $500 fine per day.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation reminded residents today to adhere to COVID-19 guidance such as wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing, and washing hands frequently when visiting state beaches and parks. Governor Baker announced at his press conference that the level of crowding, particularly at the M Street Beach in South Boston last weekend, cannot continue, and that the state will intervene and impose limits on the number of people who can be there if necessary.
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