Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, 1587 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 157,308 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, and there are 923 newly reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state today. 54,843 patients have been tested today, and 10,035 have passed away. Learn more here.
State Action Updates
10,000 Deaths: Mass. Reaches Another Grim Milestone Of Lives Lost To COVID-19
More than 10,000 Massachusetts residents have died from the coronavirus, according to the state count of confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths, making the pandemic one of the deadliest events in state history. The state's latest data dashboard reports that 10,023 residents have died of COVID-19, including nine new deaths among confirmed patients. Nearly as many Massachusetts residents have now died from coronavirus as the 10,033 killed in World War II. Read more here.
Massachusetts reports 725 new COVID cases, 9 deaths as Gov. Baker announces new restrictions
State health officials confirmed another 725 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Massachusetts to 156,385. That’s based on 51,419 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. The number of newly reported cases dropped down after several days of 1,000-plus new cases a day. There are currently 469 patients who have been confirmed COVID-positive hospitalized, including 96 patients in intensive care. The number, however, is a recalibration in how the state was reporting hospitalizations previously, which had included probable cases of the virus, in which tests had not confirmed COVID yet. The new number represents patients with confirmed COVID cases. Read more here.
Landlords for thousands of rentals in Mass. sign pledge to pause evictions
Several major landlords signed a pledge this week agreeing to pause evictions of tenants for failure to pay rent until 2021, State House News Service reports. The Greater Boston Real Estate Board announced Monday that at least 10 property companies, including Chestnut Hill Realty, Avalon Communities Inc., and Winn Residential, signed the board’s housing stability pledge consenting to work with tenants struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic and communicate about emergency support programs to help with rent. Read more here.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Charlie Baker today nominated Associate Justice of the Appeals Court, Dalila Argaez Wendlandt, to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Judicial Court. The nominee and her family joined Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito for a formal announcement today at the State House. If confirmed, Justice Wendlandt will be the first Latino person to join the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Watch the announcement here.
Cambridge Updates
Cambridge flu clinics are now open. The Cambridge Public Health Department is ramping up its efforts to vaccinate more residents than in previous years, with the goal of administering 10,000 flu shots this season. The flu vaccine is being donated by Cambridge Health Alliance. Cambridge residents can get a free flu shot at the health department's public clinics. The first four clinics will be held indoors on Oct. 15, Oct. 21 (two clinics), and Oct. 22 at the King Open School, 850 Cambridge Street in the Wellington-Harrington neighborhood. Outdoor clinics will be held on Oct. 28-29 at Starlight Square (the parking lot at the corner of Norfolk St. and Bishop Allen Dr. in Central Square) and at Danehy Park/Fresh Pond Plaza on Nov. 14. Flu shot appointments are required this year. To schedule an appointment online, go to https://cphd-flu-2020.as.me. The City's Flu Clinic Call Center at 617-349-9788 will open next week for those who wish to make appointments by phone. You can learn more about the clinics here.
Contactless Holds Pickup Service hours at the O'Neill Branch, 70 Rindge Ave., Cambridge have been extended. The new schedule, which will go into effect on Wednesday, October 7, is as follows:
Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Thursdays, 11:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Fridays, 11:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Where to Get Tested
Testing appointments through the City's free mobile-testing program are now available at the following locations:
- CambridgeSide in East Cambridge, 11:00am – 7:00pm (Drive-through testing in garage. Enter on First St.) Sundays and Thursdays
- 50 Church St. 12:00pm – 8:00pm (beginning November 9th) Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays
- 2254 Massachusetts Ave, St. John the Evangelist Church, 10:00am – 6:00pm Wednesdays
- Pisani Center located at 131 Washington Street. 11:00am – 7:00pm Saturdays
You can schedule an appointment online or by calling 617-665-3795.
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 3:30 PM 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