Update #40
COVID-19 CASES
BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND UPDATE
NEXT LOCATION FOR MOBILE TESTING
BOSTON EMPLOYER FORUM SERIES
UPDATE ON BPS REOPENING
UPDATE ON COLLEGE REOPENINGS
MAIL-IN BALLOTS
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTERING MASSACHUSETTS
GENERAL REMINDERS
STAY INFORMED
COVID-19 CASES
The City of Boston has 14,138 positive cases of coronavirus. So far, 10,259 of these 14,138 residents have fully recovered. Unfortunately, there have been 730 COVID-19 related deaths in Boston.
The City posts race and ethnicity data for deaths, as well as for confirmed cases here.
The Boston Public Health Commission will be providing the updated total of cases in Boston residents as it is received from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Information can be found at boston.gov/coronavirus or bphc.org.
Massachusetts has 118,458 positive cases of coronavirus and 8,638 deaths reported at this time. Massachusetts has also tested 1,214,540 individuals to date.
The City of Boston has two dashboards to provide statistics on COVID19 cases in Boston and throughout Massachusetts. View them here.
The City of Boston has a free texting service to provide daily updates and information about the coronavirus. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to opt-in for English. Language and communications access remains a priority for Mayor Walsh, so this text service which was available in Spanish, Haitan Creole, French, Cabo Verdean Creole, and Portuguese, now includes Somali, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Russian.
· Text BOSEspanol to 888-777 for Spanish
· Text BOSKreyol to 888-777 for Haitian Kreyol
· Text BOSFrancais to 888-777 for French
· Text BOSKriolu to 888-777 for Cabo Verdean Creole
· Text BOSPortugues to 888-777 for Portuguese
· Text BOSSoomali to 888-777 for Somali
· Text BOSChi to 888-777 for Simplified Chinese
· Text BOSbilAraby to 888-777 for Arabic
· Text BOSViet to 888-777 for Vietnamese
· Text BOSRus to 888-777 for Russian
Updates in 10 total languages can additionally be accessed through boston.gov/coronavirus#multilingual-help. Each language has its own page and hosts multilingual print materials distributed citywide.
BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND UPDATE
· The Boston Resiliency Fund has raised $33 million and distributed more than $24 million so far. This week and last week, two more rounds of funding were released, totaling a three-quarters of a million dollars.
· The money is going to 21 local nonprofits that serve youth, families, and seniors. So far, 328 organizations have received grants. It will support their work around remote learning, food access, healthcare for the homeless, and more. The majority of these orgs are led by people of color, and the majority are led by women. They are trusted in the community and we’re proud to support them when they need it most.
NEXT LOCATION FOR MOBILE TESTING
· The Mayor reminded everyone that the City launched a new mobile testing team that will be traveling to a different neighborhood every two weeks. The City is watching the data and bringing this resource where it’s needed most.
· It’s been in Allston for the last two weeks, and more than 2,500 people have been tested there so far.
· On Sunday, August 2, it moved to Moakley Park in South Boston for 2 weeks. More information can be found on the City’s COVID-19 testing page.
· The City has funded testing by using $1.7 million from the Boston Resiliency Fund and additional money from the CARES Act. These sources have allowed the city to expand testing to 20 sites across Boston’s neighborhoods.
· If you think you might be sick, or have been in a group without social distancing or masks, get tested. Testing is quick and available at no cost for individuals. Testing is one of the best tools to stop the spread and reopen safely, and the City is going to keep making sure it’s widely available in Boston.
BOSTON EMPLOYER FORUM SERIES
· To better help colleges and job training programs prepare their participants for the COVID-era workforce, the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development is launching a series of virtual panels to disseminate the latest research on labor market trends in Boston’s major industry sectors.
· These panels, called the Boston Employer Forum Series, will also feature insights from hiring directors in these industries.
· The Boston Employer Forum Series, which is free and open to the public, will cover the following industries: Healthcare, Hospitality, Construction, Retail and IT/Tech.
· Each of these panels will feature the latest sector-specific labor market data presented by Dr. Alicia Sasser Modestino, an Economist and Associate Professor at Northeastern University. Hiring managers from within that sector will also offer their perspectives on how colleges and job training organizations can tailor their programs to help Boston residents position themselves for these employment opportunities.
Boston Employer Forum Series: Hospitality
Wednesday, August 5
Boston Employer Forum Series: Construction
UPDATE ON BPS REOPENING
· Right now, the City is focused on all remote learning, and a hybrid model for the start of the year. When kids walk through the doors of Boston’s school buildings, it will be when the public health experts say it’s safe.
· Parents can choose to keep their kids fully remote, no matter what happens. But it’s important to remember: many families don’t really have that choice because the parents must go to work, and someone must care for their children. For many students, the learning gap grows with every day they’re away from their teachers and classrooms. Some families have the resources to make at-home learning work, and some don’t.
· Superintendent Cassellius gave the following updates:
o BPS has been planning for months, gathering data through student, staff and family surveys, walking our schools, evaluating our spring remote learning. All of that input has informed the BPS draft plans.
o They are addressing facility concerns such as bathrooms, water temperature, fixing windows, and ordering HVAC filters. They are also working on signage, and she thanked the NAACP Day of Action and Service participants who will be helping BPS prepare their buildings tomorrow.
o BPS reopening meetings have included students, families, teachers, school leaders, Nurse Faculty Senate, teacher led focus groups, and 24 community stakeholder meetings so far.
o BPS, including teachers and school leaders, are all hard at work on plans for the hybrid model, while also strengthening the remote learning plan. Parents will be able to choose hybrid or remote without losing their spot at their school. BPS will soon release a survey asking parents to choose so that they can better plan.
o BPS will continue to monitor the data and science from medical and public health professionals, following CDC guidance as well as guidelines from state officials. Safety is the top priority for students, families, and all teachers and staff.
o As BPS continues to plan and update the community, everyone can visit bostonpublicschools.orgfor the most up-to-date information. There are still some virtual community meetings scheduled, and everyone is encouraged to join the discussion.
UPDATE ON COLLEGE REOPENINGS
· The Mayor and his administration have been communicating with the leadership of local colleges and universities on a regular basis. They have been working closely with these institutions regarding the new COVID-19 protocols and precautions for higher ed, and to create plans if someone were to test positive in a campus community.
· The City is also helping colleges and universities plan safe housing options for students to decrease campus density.
o Earlier this month, the City issued guidance for permitting off-campus spaces, like hotels, for temporary student housing. The BPDA, along with Inspectional Services and Licensing, is in the process of reviewing four applications.
o These applications are posted on the BPDA website for anyone to see, and approvals will also be posted as they are issued. Once plans are approved by the BPDA, ISD will perform inspections of these spaces to make sure they meet safety standards.
o Each college and university submitting a plan must engage nearby residents with notification of their plans, and talk about how a neighborhood can reach out to them if issues arise.
MAIL-IN BALLOTS
· Registered voters in Boston should expect to get a mail-in ballot application in the mail, if they haven’t received it already.
· This year, everyone can vote by a mail-in ballot.
· In the past, Massachusetts residents had to show that they had a disability, that their religion prevented them from voting in-person, or that they would be out of town on election day. This year, Massachusetts passed legislation that waives these requirements, and anyone who requests a mail-in ballot will get one. This will help make sure everyone can exercise their right to vote during COVID-19.
· Voters can choose which election they’d like a ballot for — the Primary Election on September 1; the General Election on November 7; or both.
· Independent voters who want to vote in the primary must check a party box.
· They should then sign the form, and drop it in the mail. No postage is needed.
· Applications to request a mail-in ballot must be received by Wednesday, August 26 for the State Primaries, and October 28 for the General Election.
· Voters who would rather go to their polling place in-person can still do so. The City of Boston Elections Department is adding COVID-19 protocols on social distancing, sanitizing procedures, and the proper use of PPE in their training for poll workers.
· In addition, the City of Boston will hold Early Voting again this year. Early voting for the Primaries will happen August 22 through August 28; and for the General Election, it will run October 17 through October 30.
· To learn more about mail-in ballots and the upcoming elections, visit Boston.gov/elections.
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTERING MASSACHUSETTS
· All individuals entering Massachusetts after 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 2020 who are over the age of 18 or an unaccompanied minor must complete and submit the on-line Massachusetts Travel Form, unless the individual meets an exception:
o Lower-risk State: This includes individuals coming from a COVID-19 lower-risk state within the United States. Travelers from COVID-19 lower-risk States are not required to fill out the Massachusetts Traveler Form and do not need to quarantine. Currently, those include CT, HI, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, and VT.
o 72-hour Testing Rule: The individual can produce, upon request, proof of a negative test result for COVID-19 from a test administered on a sample taken no longer than 72 hours before your arrival in Massachusetts.
o NOTE: There are more exceptions — see website for full list.
· Failure to submit a completed Massachusetts Travel Form, when required, or failure to comply with the quarantine requirement, if applicable, may result in a $500 fine per day. This is largely an honor system.
· Prior to travel, people should visit www.mass.gov/MAtraveler to fill out the “Massachusetts Travel Form” or text “MATraveler” to 888-777.
GENERAL REMINDERS
· Learn more about the reopening process: www.mass.gov/reopening.
· Apply to the Boston Reopen Fund boston.gov/reopenfund. The $6 million Fund is a resource to help small businesses minimize risk and manage economic recovery during reopening.
· The ONE+Boston program gives income-qualified first-time Boston homebuyers greater ability to purchase a home in Boston.
· If you hear or see fireworks being displayed in your neighborhood, please call 911. You can also anonymously report the illegal purchasing or selling of fireworks to the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).
· When going outside, wear a face covering, practice physical distancing from others (6 feet apart), and avoid mass gatherings.
· Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol; avoid shaking hands
· Cover your coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
· If you think you might be sick, please call your doctor or 311 to be connected to the Mayor’s Health Line 617-534-5050. Buoy Health has created a free online diagnostic tool which screens for COVID19 at buoy.com/mass.
· Donate supplies to first responders here.
· Donate to the City of Boston Resiliency Fund here.
· Volunteer with the City of Boston here.
· Fresh Truck Open Air Markets schedule.
· City Hall is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9 am – 5 pm. Learn more about the status of city departments and hours of operation here.
· Tell the Parks Department where you would like to see more open space in our neighborhood here.
· Those employed at grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and local retail shops can sign up for a free 90-day Bluebikes pass boston.gov/bike-share.
· Learn more about the Boston Public Health Commission’s free asthma services.
· Register your carriage house here bit.ly/carriage-house-adu.
STAY INFORMED
Receive the latest COVID19 info from reliable sources. Visit: bphc.org/coronavirus; boston.gov/coronavirus; mass.gov/2019coronavirus. Call: 311 or 211.
Thank you,Joe CoppingerRoslindale Liaison
Office of Neighborhood Services617-635-3307joseph.coppinger@boston.gov
Woodbourne Neighborhood Association 