Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources as the House is currently in session deliberating H.4879 An Act enabling partnerships for growth.
As of today, there are 1176 Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 residents have passed away. Learn more here. There are 108,562 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 25,396 in Middlesex County. 1,123,793 patients have been tested, and 8,317 have passed away. Learn more here.
Cambridge Updates
The City will be awarding over $1 Million in grants to 106 nonprofit organizations working to provide services to vulnerable Cambridge residents during COVID-19 through the Community Benefits Stabilization Fund.
The City has added 5 new electric vehicle charging stations at the Department of Public Works at 147 Hampshire St. The charging stations will be available for use by the public Monday 8PM- Tuesday 6AM, Tuesday through Friday 5PM-6AM, and all-day on Saturday and Sunday.
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 Saturday 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.
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
Today, the House of Representatives is deliberating on H.4879 An Act enabling partnerships for growth. Tomorrow, the House will deliberate H.4888 An Act Putting Patients First.
The MBTA is launching a “Ride Safer” campaign which includes messaging and guidance in stations and vehicles and a new webpage with videos depicting cleaning and disinfecting techniques, FAQs and helpful travel tips.
The Department of Unemployment Assistance has revised its fact-finding instructions to make the identity verification process easier for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Some PUA claimants who have been denied because of identity verification issues will be receiving a link to allow them to correct issues on their claims, and may get benefits without having to attend a hearing.
Today, six Legislators were named to the conference committee that will negotiate on police reform, House Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary Claire Cronin, Chair of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus Representative Carlos Gonzalez, Representative Timothy Whelan, Senator William Brownsberger, Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, and Senator Bruce Tarr.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Today, Governor Baker announced the expansion of the “Stop the Spread” initiative which provides free COVID-19 testing in targeted communities across the state. New testing sites will be located in Agawam, Brockton, Methuen, Randolph, Revere, Springfield, Taunton and Worcester. These sites are in addition to existing “Stop the Spread” testing sites in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough and New Bedford.
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