Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, 1296 Cambridge residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 residents have passed away. Learn more here. There have been 119,819 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts. 1,801,585 patients have been tested, and 8,870 have passed away. Learn more here.
Cambridge Updates
A new graph on Cambridge COVID-19 Cases by Age Group has been added to the City’s COVID-19 Data Center.
The Cambridge Public Library has posted its fall schedule for its contactless holds pickup service. The Main Library, Central Square Branch, O’Neill Branch, and Valente Branch will all have service hours available for Contactless Holds Pickup and Material Returns.
The City has posted a piece detailing its efforts to provide COVID-19 testing to residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
In observance of the Labor Day holiday this Monday, 9/7, there will be no trash or recycling pickup and no street cleaning in Cambridge.
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:
- Field House at Russell Field (Rindge Ave) will offer testing on Wednesday, September 9 and Wednesday, September 16 from 10AM-6PM
- The Pisani Center (131 Washington St) will offer testing on Saturday, September 12 and 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.
State Action Updates
The Boston Children’s Hospital held a virtual panel: COVID-19: Supporting Young Children, Families, and the EEC Workforce, which was focused on supporting early childhood mental health. You can watch a recording of the panel online here.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Today, Governor Charlie Baker announced additional resources and enforcement to support communities with the highest rates of COVID-19: Chelsea, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, and Revere. These resources include testing, contact tracing, public awareness, and more to keep residents safe. You can learn more at the English-language website mass.gov/stopcovid19 and Spanish-language website mass.gov/detencovid19. Posters will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Khmer, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole and Cape Verdean Creole. This effort is being led by the COVID-19 Enforcement and Intervention Team.
Governor Baker also reminded residents that as we move into the Labor Day long weekend and as people begin to return back to school, people should stick to safety standards by wearing a face covering, social distancing, and washing your hands. He also reminded people in high-risk communities to avoid large gatherings.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is launching a public service campaign to remind parents, students, teachers, we all have a role to play to keep people safe as people start returning to school. Its website offers information for families on the back to school season.
Governor Baker also stressed the importance of not rushing to roll out a potential COVID-19 immunization in response to news from the CDC yesterday telling Governors to prepare for the distribution of a possible vaccine by late October or early November.
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