As of today, April 1st, there are 96 cases of COVID-19 in Cambridge. Learn more here:https://bit.ly/2J2BnQj. There are 7,738 cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 1,582 in Middlesex County. 51,738 patients have been tested for COVID-19, and 122 patients have passed away. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3bHaMUZ.
Today, I hosted a virtual town hall to discuss a wide array of issues as they relate to COVID-19. Thank you to Dr. Assaad Sayah, CEO of the Cambridge Health Alliance, Commissioner Branville Bard of the Cambridge Police Department, Kelly Turley, Associate Director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Danna Mauch, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, and Monica Halas, Lead Attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services for joining me. Thank you also to all who joined to ask questions on the issues that are impacting them right now.
If you were not able to tune in, you can find a recording of the town hall on CCTV's Youtube page here: https://bit.ly/3dMoIPz. It will also continue to air on CCTV Channel 9 and can be streamed through CCTV on Apple TV, ROKU, and FireTV.
Cambridge Updates
Yesterday, it was announced that thousands of meals have been served to Cambridge residents since mid-march by the City of Cambridge and Cambridge Schools with Food for Free. As a reminder, if you are facing food insecurity, you can call the Cambridge Community Food line at 617-349-9155. Learn more about food distribution efforts in the city here: https://bit.ly/2Jv9UXD.
There is now a "payment mailbox" in the rear of City Hall that can be used by residents making Real Estate, Water/Sewer, Excise, Parking Ticket, or other payments. If you use the mailbox, you should put the payments in a sealed envelope, contain a payment stub, and include identifying information.
State Updates
Today, the Governor's administration amended the newest list of essential businesses to exclude gun retailers and shooting ranges. I'd like to thank Speaker Robert DeLeo for his leadership on ensuring that gun shops and shooting ranges remain non-essential in the state and helping to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Massachusetts residents.
Massachusetts is coordinating its own efforts to make manufacturing companies part of the supply chain for Personal Protective Equipment. Special thanks to Houghton Chemicals, a locally owned family business led by a former long time Cambridge resident now making sanitizer for health organizations. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2X2xOSq.
Where to donate:
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 impacted by COVID-19:
Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund: https://bit.ly/3bgTBJU
Cambridge Health Alliance: https://bit.ly/2vWegUB
Cambridge Community Foundation: https://bit.ly/33ImGeE
Food for Free: https://bit.ly/3afFuEE
Greater Boston Food Bank: https://www.gbfb.org/
Cradles to Crayons Emergency Essentials Fund: https://bit.ly/2WHOD4V
Enroot Emergency Immigrant Cash Assistance Fund: https://bit.ly/2y7bBIe
If you are interested in seeing previous COVID-19 updates, you can find them here:https://www.decker4rep.com/news/ As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie