Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, there are 1144 Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 98 residents have passed away. Learn more here. There are 107,056 cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 24,958 in Middlesex County. 1,044,548 patients have been tested, and 8,214 have passed away. Learn more here.
Cambridge Updates
The application for the City’s COVID-19 Housing Stabilization Program is now available. This program will provide short-term financial assistance to Cambridge individuals and families who are experiencing housing instability due to the economic impact of the COVID-19.
Today, the City launched a pilot “Cambridge Community Corps” program which will support and encourage residents to use safe practices when using the city’s parks and recreational areas during COVID-19.
Cambridge Whole Foods workers who have been sent home for wearing masks that say “Black Lives Matter” have joined Whole Foods workers from around the country in the federal class-action discrimination suit against the chain. Plaintiffs are asking the U.S. District Court in Boston to issue a preliminary injunction that immediately prohibits Whole Foods from further retaliation against employees wearing Black Lives Matter masks during their shift.
There will be another Kids Books to Go event this week at the Cambridge Public Library O'Neill Branch at 70 Rindge Ave. Bags of 3-5 library books for kids and teens will be available for pick-up, and bins will also be available for library returns.
You can find a list of Cambridge Farmers Markets that are open, as well as shopper guidelines and expectations here.
The City is seeking input on public art to commemorate women winning the right to vote. The winning selection will be constructed at Cambridge Common. Comments can be submitted here.
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.
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
Today, Governor Baker signed a bill that will allow restaurants to sell sealed mixed drinks with takeout and delivery orders.
Today, Attorney General Maura Healey and 22 of her counterparts filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a federal rule finalized on June 12th that would remove health care and health insurance nondiscrimination protections for transgender patients.
The UMass system will be freezing tuition for undergraduate and graduate students for the upcoming academic year. The system will also be cutting 6% of its full-time equivalent workforce and will be furloughing thousands to close its budget gap, which will affect nearly 3/10 UMass employees.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
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