Tuesday 8/18 COVID-19 Updates
As of today, there are 1,258 Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 residents have passed away. Learn more here. There are 114,786 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts. 1,467,765 patients have been tested, and 8,617 have passed away. Learn more here.
Cambridge Updates
The next Household Hazardous Waste Disposal event will be held Saturday August 22, from 9 a.m.- 1p.m. at 65 Waverly St, Cambridge. Due to COVID-19, extra steps are being taken to protect workers , residents and public health. For directions, what to bring and COVID-19 preparations, please visit the HHW Services page.
The Cambridge Election Commission announced the relocation of 14 polling sites in response to COVID-19. If a voter’s polling site has been relocated, the new polling location will be in the same ward and precinct or near their regular polling place. There will be signs posted at the regular polling sites directing voters to the temporary polling sites as well. You can find a polling place map and a polling place PDF on the City’s website.
As a reminder, the Cambridge Public Schools meals application for free and reduced price meals for students is open. New applications are required every year. Even if your child will be attending school at home, you can apply.
The City of Cambridge is continuing to offer free 90-day Bluebikes passes to essential workers employed at grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and local retail shops. Those with passes can take as many trips as they would like during the 90-day period. Register here.
Where to get tested:
- Field House at Russell Field (Rindge Ave) will offer testing Wednesday 8/19 and Wednesday 8/26 from 10AM – 8PM
- The Pisani Center (131 Washington St) will offer testing on Saturday, 8/22 and Saturday, 8/29 from 11AM – 7PM
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
Tomorrow, 8/19 from 4-5PM the Health Connector will host a live webinar to help residents who have lost their employer-sponsored health insurance learn about health coverage options through the Health Connector. You can learn more and register for the webinar here.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance has been extended an additional 7 weeks for all claimants, and the maximum duration is now 46 weeks instead of 39 weeks. Traditional UI claimants may be eligible for extended benefits of up to up to 13 weeks. Regular unemployment insurance claimants who are eligible to apply for extended benefits will receive notification. PUA claimants do not need to do anything to receive the additional 7 weeks and will receive a notice through the PUA system that their benefits have been extended.
Hawaii has been added to the list of states covered by the state’s COVID-19 travel order. Anyone traveling from Hawaii to Massachusetts must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival or provide results of a negative COVID-19 test taken at most 72 hours before arriving in Massachusetts.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
Where to Give
On Fridays throughout August, Cambridge CoHousing will be collecting food for the Chelsea Collaborative. Drop off is between 10 AM to 4PM 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:
I also encourage you to donate to the following organizations that are engaging in racial justice work:
Union of Minority Neighborhoods
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov