Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, 1333 Cambridge residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 residents have passed away, according to the state’s database. Learn more here. There have been 123,139 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, and there are 235 newly reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state today. 1,968,234 patients have been tested, and 9,010 have passed away. Learn more here.
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants has passed away. My heart is filled with gratitude for Justice Gants’s service, and my deepest condolences go out to his family, his court family, and his friends.
State Action Updates
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education briefed local Boards of Health and school district leaders on further guidance with regard to COVID-19 testing and reporting on Friday. Today, the guidance shared will be available on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website. Starting today, 9/14, whenever a positive COVID-19 case occurs, districts and schools must call the DESE Rapid Response Help Center to report the case.
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance has been granted the 6th and final Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) week, through the federal program. All eligible unemployment claimants, including those who receive traditional unemployment insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, should receive the supplemental funding by September 15th.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
Cambridge Updates
School meals are now available Monday-Friday from 12-1PM at every school plus two remote sites: the Fresh Pond Apartments and 30 Cambridgepark Drive. You can find more information and view September’s menu here.
The City of Cambridge is partnering with All In Energy to increase energy efficiency options for Cambridge renters, homeowners and landlords to reduce energy costs through special COVID-19 energy efficiency incentives. If you sign up for a Mass Save Virtual No-Cost Home Energy Assessment before 9/30, you can access 100% off the cost of approved insulation if you own a 1-4 unit building or coordinate with your landlord. You can sign up online or by calling (857) 496-5382.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced on September 10th that the risk of West Nile virus infection in Cambridge has been raised to “high.”
As a reminder, The City will be holding information sessions for its Affordable Rental and Home Ownership Programs tomorrow, Tuesday, 9/15. The information session for the City's affordable rental programs will take place from 12-1PM, and the presentation on the City's affordable homeownership programs will take place from 1-2PM. The information sessions are open to all, and you can register for the Zoom here.
Where to Get Tested
The City’s COVID-19 free mobile testing will resume on September 9th and will be available at the following locations:
- The Pisani Center (131 Washington St) will offer testing on Saturday, September 19 from 11AM - 7PM
You can make an appointment to be tested 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.
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