Good Afternoon All,
Please find the latest information from The City of Boston regarding COVID-19.
COVID-19 CASES
CAUTION DURING PHASE 1 OF REOPENING
UPDATES ON PARKS
REOPEN BOSTON FUND
REPORTING SAFETY CONCERNS
SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOPS
BOSTON HOPE MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE
COMMUNITY CARE KIT DISTRIBUTION
GENERAL REMINDERS
STAY INFORMED
COVID-19 CASES
The City of Boston has 12,521 positive cases of coronavirus (confirmed and presumptive). So far, 6,019 of these 12,521 residents have fully recovered. Unfortunately, there have been 622 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 93,693 positive cases of coronavirus (confirmed and presumptive) and 6,473 deaths reported at this time. Massachusetts has also tested 545,481 individuals to data. Average positive test rate is down to 9%, and has been there for about a week.
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.
EXERCISING CAUTION DURING PHASE 1 OF REOPENING
- Phase 1 of the State’s reopening plan began last Monday, May 18, with some construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and houses of worship resuming activities. Some office spaces will resume in-person activities this week in Massachusetts, and next week in Boston.
- Remember, there is about a 2-week time lag between infections and positive test results, as people develop symptoms and get tested. Therefore, the numbers we’re seeing now are based on what we were doing 2 weeks ago and earlier. If we want the numbers to keep going in the right direction, everyone must continue doing their part to minimize the risk of another surge, by maintaining 6 feet of distance between individuals; continuing to wash hands and clean surfaces frequently; and wearing a face covering when in public.
- Residents should continue to work from home if possible, and older adults and medically vulnerable people should follow the Safer at Home advisory and stay home as much as possible.
NOTE: the Statewide “Safer at Home” advisory is in effect, which directs residents to continue staying home except for healthcare, essential errands, and other activities permitted by Phase 1 guidelines.
UPDATE ON PARKS
- Areas that are now OPEN:
- Passive space for walking, running, cycling, riding non-motorized scooters and skateboards, while practicing physical distancing. Keep six feet of space between yourself and others.
- Tennis courts, pickleball courts, and athletic fields are open for families and individuals from the same household. Do not congregate in groups. No permits will be issued until further notice.
- The following features are STILL CLOSED in all parks:
- Playground structures and equipment (slides, swings, climbing structures)
- Fitness equipment
- Courts: basketball, street hockey, and handball
- Organized, group sports activities on fields: baseball, softball, football, rugby, cricket, and soccer
- Only use parks when you have the ability to remain six feet away from others. If you find a park to be crowded, choose a less busy time or find another park.
REOPEN BOSTON FUND
The Mayor announced a $6 million Reopen Boston Fund, a new resource to help small businesses minimize risk and manage economic recovery as we move forward.
- This is a grant program to help small businesses put safety measures in place, including buying personal protective equipment (PPE); installing safety partitions for customers and employees; and managing outdoor space that’s approved for business use. The grants will be distributed to brick-and-mortar businesses, with fewer than 15 employees, where people work close to each other or to customers. That includes salons and barber shops, retail stores and restaurants, gyms and event spaces, and more.
- The funds will be released in three rounds, corresponding to the phases of the state’s reopening plan. Phase 1 applications will open this Thursday, May 28th, at 5 p.m. Information is available in multiple languages at boston.gov/reopen-fund.
- The second round will target retail stores, restaurants, including outdoor dining materials, and remaining personal services including nail salons, day spas, waxing, and laser services.
- The final round will include bars, arts and entertainment venues, and fitness businesses.
- This new fund builds on previously existing supports for small businesses, including the Small Business Relief Fund, which has already distributed $4 million to more than 1,100 small businesses, and a new online resource to help small businesses procure PPE, which has already seen 4,500 visitors.
- When business owners are allowed to open under the State’s plan, that doesn’t mean they have to open. If they decide not to open, they will continue to have access to all the resources and support that the City provides.
REPORTING SAFETY CONCERNS
- Workers in any size organization have options if they feel they are being pressured into an unsafe situation. Attorney General Maura Healey has created resources for workers to report safety concerns during reopening. They include an online form at the Attorney General’s website and a dedicated Fair Labor hotline at 617-727-3465. People can also find those resources by calling 311.
SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOPS
- The City of Boston is also holding a series technical assistance workshops for small businesses to address challenges around reopening. The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, in partnership with the Boston Licensing Board, the Public Works Department, Boston Transportation Department, the Inspectional Services Department, the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, and the Boston Main Streets program, will discuss reopening guidelines, PPE and cleaning supply needs, as well as updated City policies to support businesses reopen safely.
Technical Assistance Workshops
| Tuesday, May 26 | 11:00 AM | How to build a virtual business(Appointment scheduling, contactless payment, etc.) |
| Wednesday, May 27 | 2:00 PM | Legal Overview |
| Thursday, May 28 | 2:00 PM | Utilizing online platforms |
| Friday, May 29 | 1:00 PM | Financial Planning(Will include how to plan with PPP funds) |
| Friday, May 29 | 3:00 PM | Healthy Spaces |
BOSTON HOPE MEDICAL CENTER UPDATE
- As the number of new coronavirus cases have continued to decline, and capacity at local hospitals has returned to near-normal levels, the Boston Hope Medical Center at the BCEC stopped taking new patients on May 26th.
- The facility will continue operating until the last patient has been discharged to a safe place, and it will stay in place as a ready resource should it be needed again.
- In total, Boston Hope has treated more than 700 patients since it opened in early April.
COMMUNITY CARE KIT DISTRIBUTION
- Over the weekend, the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) distributed 10,000 care kits to various community outreach partners, meal sites, and testing sites in Boston, building on the Mayor’s commitment of making critical resources available to residents.
- Each kit contains a mask, hand sanitizer, gloves, anti-bacterial wipes, soap, and a booklet with information from the City on COVID-19 facts and resources.
- Providing residents with the tools they need to stay safe during this time was one of the recommendations of the Mayor’s Health Inequities Task Force, which has been working to provide guidance to the City of Boston on addressing current inequities in data analysis, testing sites, and health care services for blacks, Latinos, Asians and immigrants, and advocating for an equitable reopening and recovery for all of Boston’s communities.
- The care kits were assembled by a team of 130 volunteers from 25 City departments, who supported the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) in preparing for the distribution. The care kits are being made available in part through community partners, who play an integral role in providing residents with the resources needed to keep people safe during this public health crisis.
- ONS is assembling another 10,000 care kits for a second round of distribution this week.
GENERAL REMINDERS
- Stay home. If you must go outside, practice physical distancing from others (6 feet apart); avoid crowded places.
- Wear a face covering if you absolutely must go outside. Face covers help reduce the risk of a person spreading the virus, especially if they are asymptomatic. Visit CDC guidelines on face coverings for more information and guidance.
- Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911. The City of Boston’s EMTs and hospitals have the capacity and ability to treat everyone.
- Observe the recommended curfew for everyone in Boston except for essential workers to stay at home from 9 pm to 6 am daily.
- 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 and Fridays, 9 am – 5 pm. Learn more about the status of city departments and hours of operation here.
- Fill out the 2020 Census. The Census informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years. It’s more critical than ever to ensure that all Bostonians are counted.
- Tell the Parks Department where you would like to see more open space in our neighborhood here.
STAY INFORMED
Receive the latest COVID19 info from reliable sources.
Visit: bphc.org/coronavirus; boston.gov/coronavirus; mass.gov/2019coronavirus.
Call: 311 or 211.
Best,
Shanice–
Shanice Pimentel
Neighborhood/Constituency Liaison for
Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway, Kenmore, and Mission Hill
Mayor Martin J. Walsh
Office of Neighborhood Services
617-635-2679
Sign up for neighborhood news here.
