Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, there are 1317 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 121,759 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, and there are 363 newly reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state today. 1,906,212 patients have been tested, and 8,957 have passed away. Learn more here.
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S. We must continue to work to ensure that everyone can access the care that they need. If you or a loved one is struggling, you are not alone and there are resources available to you, including the ones listed below:
- The Samaritans Statewide Hotline: Call or Text: 1-877-870-4673
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- The Trevor Project Helpline for LGBTQ youth: 866-488-7386
State Action Updates
The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health released a report titled Dying for Work: Documenting the Pandemic’s Deadly Toll on Massachusetts Workers. This report states that 59 known workers have died of COVID-19 after potential workplace exposures, which is understood to be an undercount of workers lost during COVID-19 due to employers and government agencies failing to comprehensively track workplace COVID-19 data.
Attorney General Maura Healey announced the creation of the Promoting Cultural Humility in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Grant. This is a $1.5 million grant program that will fund recovery and behavioral health services committed to strengthening cultural humility and culturally and linguistically appropriate services in opioid use disorder treatment in order to better serve racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities.
A Boston federal court judge said that he would likely deny a request from landlords to block the state’s eviction moratorium. The moratorium on evictions and foreclosures suspends most residential and small business commercial evictions as well as residential foreclosures and does not relieve tenants or homeowners of their obligation to pay rent or make mortgage payments. The moratorium is in place until 10/17/20.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker held a press conference today. He announced that he will be signing an executive order to allow indoor and outdoor arcades to open next week instead of having to wait until phase 4 to reopen. He also plans to sign an executive order to extend the timeframe for municipal permitting for expanded outdoor dining.
The Governor also announced an additional $5 million, in addition to the original $5 million, allocated to the Shared Streets grant program which provides cities and towns with grants to implement or expand improvements to sidewalks, curbs, streets, in-street parking spaces and off-street parking lots in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce. The new deadline for grant program applications is Tuesday September 22nd.
Cambridge Updates
The City will be holding information sessions for its Affordable Rental and Home Ownership Programs next 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.
In case you missed it, Starlight Square was featured on WCVB Chronicle last night for offering a new outdoor theater performance space, allowing for safe and shared experiences.
CCTV has released a video with Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui chronicling what to expect when going to get a COVID-19 test and how to sign up for an appointment for the City’s free mobile testing.
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