The City of Holyoke’s Public Health Director, Sean Gonsalves, issued orders, effective Sunday, April 26th, 2020, at 12:01 a.m., establishing that all consumers and employees must wear face coverings at all times when social distancing can not be maintained, at any businesses providing essential services within the City of Holyoke. This letter has been adopted from … Continued
The Baker-Polito Administration announced expanded access to high-speed internet for unserved cities and towns throughout Massachusetts that do not yet have a completed last-mile broadband network. The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech, KCST and local internet service providers will offer communities new WiFi hotspots, building off the Commonwealth’s MassBroadband 123 fiber-optic network. The Massachusetts … Continued
Governor Baker issued an emergency order extending the closure of all public and private schools through the end of the school year, and the closure of all non-emergency child care programs until June 29, 2020 in an effort to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Yesterday, Governor Baker signed legislation into law … Continued
“Because the Commonwealth of Massachusetts remains in its emergency posture due to COVID-19 response, Military Honors during burial are un-available to those veterans who pass during this public health crisis. As such, Governor Charlie Baker has ordered that the United States of America flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag at the Massachusetts Soldiers’ Home … Continued
It is believed that we are entering the “surge” in Massachusetts, which means that the number of new cases is increasing quickly. The danger of a surge greatly lies in the potential that the number of sick patients in need of critical care will surpass hospital capacity. This is why emergency field hospitals have been, … Continued
Today Governor Baker urged all residents to participate in the new contact tracing efforts. Contact tracing is the strategy of isolating anyone who has come in contact with a person who has tested positive. The steps of contact tracing involve self-isolating if you are aware of contact with someone who has received a positive test, … Continued
Massachusetts is now reporting data by City for those municipalities in which it will not violate HIPPA confidentiality. The Boston Globe has visual breakdowns of the data here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/10/nation/latest-coronavirus-numbers-massachusetts/ Mass reports by town and by hospital are attached. The Baker-Polito Administration today outlined ongoing steps to support long-term care facilities, including $130 million in new … Continued
Massachusetts is now offering expanded data, updated at 4pm each day, on the following topics: • Testing • Hospital Capacity and Bed Occupancy • PPE Distribution Reports The COVID-19 Public Resources Map shows the location of resources available to the public during COVID-19 pandemic, such as food banks, houses of worship and Project Bread site … Continued
A Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (M-ERT) has been created in MA. The M-ERT is a coordinated response by the Baker-Polito Administration and leading academic and industry stakeholders to support the Commonwealth’s manufacturers in their efforts to produce much-needed supplies for front-line workers and the health care system.The M-ERT is being launched alongside $10.6 million in … Continued
The Battelle N95 mask decontamination site, the fourth in the US, is being hosted by Partners HealthCare and will operate out of Somerville. The decontamination service will be offered free to health care facilities in MA and can decontaminate 80,000 masks a day. A Spanish-Language Unemployment Application is now available at mass.gov/desempleo. In the … Continued
