Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, there are 1177 Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 residents have passed away. Learn more here. There are 108,740 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 25,429 in Middlesex County. 1,133,674 patients have been tested, and 8,331 have passed away. Learn more here.
Cambridge Updates
The City will host a second shared streets community webinar on Tuesday 8/4 from 6-8PM. Staff from the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department will provide an update on the Shared Streets program and information on its next steps.
Where to get tested:
During the month of July, the Cambridge Public Health Department is offering free mobile testing for all Cambridge residents in North Cambridge, The Port, East Cambridge, and Harvard Square one day each week during designated hours. Currently, all appointments for the month of July at these sites have been booked. Testing will be available at the Pisani Center on Saturday 8/1 from 11AM-7PM to help meet the demand of the waitlist. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling 617-665-3795.
The Cambridge Public Health Department announced that testing will be extended into August due to overwhelming demand. More details on this extended testing will be coming soon.
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.
State Action Updates
Today, the House of Representatives passed H.4879 An Act enabling partnerships for growth. The House stands in recess until tomorrow, when it will continue its deliberations on H.4888 An Act Putting Patients First.
The House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously approved a $16.53 billion three-month interim budget. This budget would cover the state’s costs through October 31st. It has been sent to Governor Baker’s desk.
The House of Representatives and the Senate also voted unanimously to approve An Act Regarding Breakfast After the Bell which will increase students’ access to breakfast by making it a part of the school day in high-poverty schools.
Fare collections will resume on The RIDE starting this Saturday August 1st. Fare collections resumed on buses and trolleys at street-level stops on July 20th with the resumption of front-door boarding.
Several state residents have reported receiving unsolicited packages appearing to have originated in a foreign country that contain seeds. If you receive an unsolicited package of seeds, you should not plant them, and you should report your receipt of them on this Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources online form.
The Office of Economic Empowerment will host a Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Virtual Panel on August 13th from 2-3PM. Black women leaders from across Massachusetts will discuss why the wage gap is so outrageously wide for Black women and what can be done to fix it.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
Where to Give
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
Enroot Emergency Immigrant Cash Assistance 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
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie