Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, 1385 Cambridge residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 100 residents have passed away, according to the state’s database. Learn more here. There have been 128,793 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, and there are 367 newly reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state today. 2,205,674 patients have been tested, and 9,202 have passed away. Learn more here.
To everyone observing Yom Kippur today, I hope you have a meaningful fast.
State Action Updates
The state updated its list of lower-risk states. Oregon is no longer classified as a lower-risk state. Travelers from lower-risk states are not required to fill out the Massachusetts Travel Form and do not need to quarantine when arriving in Massachusetts.
The Division of Professional Licensure extended the expiration of licenses scheduled to expire between March 10th and July 10th of this year to October 1st. This means that if you or your business had your DPL License expire between 3/10 and 7/10, it will expire this Thursday.
Starting today, restaurants can start seating 10 people per table and utilize bar seating for regular food service with appropriate distance maintained. The City of Cambridge will continue to limit restaurants to seating 6 to a table, and the opening of bar seating is delayed for one week.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
Cambridge Updates
This Wednesday 9/30 at 5:30PM, Mayor Siddiqui will hold a conversation with the Cambridge Public Health Department and The NAN Project on suicide prevention and awareness. You can watch the conversation live on CCTV Channel 9, Facebook, and Youtube.
As a reminder, the City is conducting its biennial Resident Opinion Survey. This survey is an evaluation tool where residents can rate City services and offer input on what the City does well and where it can make improvements. It will be open until 10/5.
Where to Get Tested
Testing appointments through the City’s free mobile-testing program are now available at the following locations:
- Russell Youth and Community Center (formerly the West Cambridge Youth Center), 680 Huron Avenue, 10AM - 6PM on Wednesday 9/30.
- Pisani Center located at 131 Washington Street, 11AM - 7PM, on Saturday, 9/26
You can schedule an appointment online or by calling 617-665-3795.
The state’s Stop the Spread initiative provides no-cost testing in communities across the state that have continued to see a higher number of residents testing positive for COVID-19. Stop the Spread testing sites are open to ALL Massachusetts residents and are not restricted to residents of the cities where sites are located. You do not need to have any symptoms to be tested. Find more information about locations and hours here. Current Stop the Spread communities are: Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lynn, Marlborough, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Springfield, Winthrop, and Worcester.
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