Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, there are 1206 Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 residents have passed away. Learn more here. There are 111,033 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 26,027 in Middlesex County. 1,234,106 patients have been tested, and 8,436 have passed away. Learn more here.
Cambridge Updates
Due to Tropical Storm Isaias, the Shared Streets program is temporarily suspended. It will resume once the storm passes the area, and signs are expected to be back in place either tomorrow 8/5 or Thursday 8/6.
The Cambridge School Committee’s Special Education and Student Supports Subcommittee is meeting tomorrow, 8/5 from 2-3:30PM to discuss families’ concerns and hopes for the fall plan. You can learn more and sign up to provide public comment here.
Where to get tested:
During the month of August there will be free mobile testing for Cambridge residents provided by the Cambridge Public Health Department at the following locations:
- Jefferson Park Clinic will offer testing on Wednesday, August 5 10AM-8PM
- The Pisani Center will offer testing on Saturday, August 8 11AM-7PM
To schedule an appointment, call 617-665-3795 or sign-up online.
Testing capacity will be increasing throughout the month. The City will release appointment slots one week at a time to avoid no-shows, which have been increasingly occurring.
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
There is a tornado watch in effect for all counties in Massachusetts due to Tropical Storm Isaias. There will be significant wind gusts which can lead to downed trees and power outages. When possible, you should stay at home or stay inside this evening and into tomorrow morning. If you see a downed wire, you can report it to Eversource by calling 800-592-2000.
Starting this Friday, 8/7 Rhode Island will no longer be considered a “lower-risk state” for the state’s new travel order. This means that all travelers arriving in Massachusetts from Rhode Island will have to fill out a form, quarantine for 14 days, or produce a negative COVID test. There are exemptions that apply for regular commuters.
Framingham has been added to the state’s “Stop the Spread” initiative, the strategic testing program offering free COVID-19 testing to everyone, including those without symptoms. This initiative is also still active in 16 other communities across the state. You do not need to be a resident of the city or town in which a “Stop the Spread” site is located to be eligible for testing.
Today, Governor Baker signed the Breakfast After the Bell bill into law which will increase students’ access to breakfast by making it a part of the school day in high-poverty schools. Thank you to Representative Aaron Vega, Representative Andy Vargas, and House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education Alice Peisch for your tireless work and commitment to children of our state.
Governor Baker signed a three-month interim budget, but sent back provisions that would have required his administration to fund departments and programs at or above FY20 levels or the levels proposed in the Governor’s proposed FY21 budget and that would set a firm deadline of 10/31 for the funding to expire.
Today, the City of Somerville became one of the first school districts in the state to announce that it will start classes remote-only this fall. The School district will bring students back for in-person instruction when it is practical to do so.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker announced that there has been a modest uptick in new positive cases over the last few days, and the state is monitoring the cause of this. He stated that his administration could consider scaling back reopening efforts if positive COVID-19 cases continue to increase.
Where to Give
On Fridays throughout August, Cambridge CoHousing will be collecting food for the Chelsea Food 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:
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