$50 Million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) to Fund Schools and Colleges Across the Commonwealth
The Baker-Polito Administration announced today it will allocate more than $50 million in federal CARES Act funds to benefit education in elementary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities. The funding from the federal Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund will improve early literacy, expand remote learning opportunities, and cover costs associated with reopening certain schools and colleges, as well as boost financial aid for college students in greater need of financial assistance. Read more about this funding here: https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-allocates-50-million-from-the-governors-emergency-education-relief
As COVID-19 clusters rise, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker holds off on reducing public gathering sizes
A 90-person prom party in Cohasset. An unauthorized sports camp in South Weymouth. A lunch break in Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
Baker cited these gatherings where people didn’t wear masks or didn’t keep their distance, or sometimes both, as the sources of some recent COVID-19 outbreaks in Massachusetts. The Republican governor called them a “recipe for disaster,” and said they need to stop if the state is to continue reopening, but he stopped short of reducing the public gathering limits from 100 for enclosed outdoor spaces. Read the full article here: https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/07/as-covid-19-clusters-rise-massachusetts-gov-charlie-baker-holds-off-on-reducing-public-gathering-sizes.html
What are the chances someone at your gathering in Massachusetts will have coronavirus? County-by-county map offers estimates
As coronavirus cases are spiking across the United States, questions and debates are cropping up about how risky it is to go to barbecues, parties and more.
A tool created by the Georgia Institute of Technology may offer some insight. Using information from API’s COVID Tracking Project as well as population data from the 2019 U.S. census, the university’s online map projects the threat level of going to gatherings in all 50 states, breaking down the risks county by county. Try out the tool and read more about it here: https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/07/what-are-the-chances-someone-at-your-gathering-in-massachusetts-will-have-coronavirus-county-by-county-map-offers-estimates.html
Travel Order: Starting August 1, all visitors and Massachusetts residents returning home, including students returning to campuses for the fall semester, must fill out a “Massachusetts Travel Form” and quarantine for 14 days unless they are coming from a COVID-19 lower risk state or they can produce a negative COVID-19 test result administered no more than 72 hours prior to arriving in Massachusetts, or they are included in one of the other, limited exemptions. Individuals who get a test must remain in quarantine until they receive their negative test results. Failure to comply may result in a $500 fine per day.
Travelers are exempt from this requirement if they are coming from a state that has been designated by the Department of Public Health as a lower risk COVID-19 state or fall into another narrow exemption category. The travel order and other information is available at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order
Free COVID Testing Available in Springfield and Agawam Until August 14th
The Commonwealth is launching a strategic testing program in communities across Massachusetts that have continued to see a higher number of residents testing positive for COVID-19. Springfield and Agawam are two of those communities. Get the full information here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread
Currently there are 997 positive COVID cases in Holyoke <1% increase
7467 confirmed cases in Hampden County < 1% increase
1136 in Hampshire <1% increase
405 in Franklin < 1% increase
657 in Berkshire <1% increase
Weekly Public Health Report (Updated Wednesday) Contains town-by-town numbers, long-term care facility information, and more: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting#covid-19-weekly-public-health-report-
Massachusetts comprehensive daily “dashboard” illustrating the spread of this virus across regions and demographics: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting#covid-19-daily-dashboard-
Testing has a turnaround time of 4-6 days and many cases are being clinically diagnosed (no testing or reporting involved). All are advised to behave as though they are carriers of Covid-19.
The curve we need to flatten: County numbers graphed over time can be found here: https://www.wmasscovid.com/
Massachusetts has now experienced a total of 8,417 deaths among the 110,430 confirmed Covid-19 cases. *Massachusetts is now reporting “probable” Coronavirus deaths in addition to confirmed cases.