Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, 1396 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 129,753 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, and there are 510 newly reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state today. 2,234,202 patients have been tested, and 9,242 have passed away. Learn more here.
State Action Updates
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is proposing to expand parking collections to include curbside meters along certain parkways and parking areas, including on Memorial Drive in Cambridge from 1 Memorial Drive to Fowler Street and along the Cambridge Parkway. They will be holding virtual public meetings to discuss the proposal on 10/14 from 6:30-8PM and 10/15 from 6:30-8PM. They will also publicly post the presentation after the public meetings.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced that the City will not move into step 2 of phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan. Indoor performance venues will remain closed, and outdoor venues will continue to have a 25% capacity limit. Trampoline parks, roller rinks, laser tag, and fitting rooms at retail outlets in Boston will remain closed.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
Cambridge Updates
A Cambridge resident has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus. This resident is the eighth case of West Nile Virus in Massachusetts, and the first case in Cambridge. The City of Cambridge is a high-risk community for West Nile virus, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the risk for contracting mosquito-borne illnesses will remain until the first hard frost of the season.
The Cambridge Community Development Department, Housing Division is accepting applications for the City’s Middle-Income Rental Program, which is designed for households that earn between 80% and 120% of Area Median Income. Those who apply will be added to a waiting pool to fill vacant units.
Where to Get Tested
Testing appointments through the City’s free mobile-testing program are now available at the following locations:
- King Open School, 850 Cambridge Street, 10AM-12PM on Tuesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 8.
- Pisani Center, 131 Washington Street, 11AM-7PM, on October 3 and 10.
You can schedule an appointment online or by calling 617-665-3795.
The state’s Stop the Spread initiative provides no-cost testing in communities across the state that have continued to see a higher number of residents testing positive for COVID-19. Stop the Spread testing sites are open to ALL Massachusetts residents and are not restricted to residents of the cities where sites are located. You do not need to have any symptoms to be tested. Find more information about locations and hours here. Current Stop the Spread communities are: Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lynn, Marlborough, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Springfield, Winthrop, and Worcester.
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'smultilingual 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 3:30PM 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