The Town of Acushnet was informed of its first positive case of COVID-19. Due to privacy requirements, the demographics of this case will remain confidential. The close contacts of the positive case have been notified and are following CDC guidelines for self-quarantine.

With increased testing capabilities and community spread of COVID-19, having a positive case in Town was inevitable. This is a crucial time in infection control. Maintaining social distancing, limiting exposure to others, avoiding crowded places and vigilant handwashing are vital steps in slowing the spread of this disease.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), other Federal agencies and our local Board of Health to share the most up to date information available. The DPH website is updated constantly with the latest guidance, including printable fact sheets in multiple languages at www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus.

Information about coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19, can be found at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website, by calling 2-1-1 or visiting https://mass211.org/ where citizens are able to live chat with a person. For specific questions, call the DPH Epidemiology Line at 24 hours a day/7 days a week at 617-983-6800.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation today announced it will contribute $40,000 to Coastal Foodshed to sponsor and coordinate the New Bedford COVID-19 Meal Delivery Project. Starting Monday and running for four weeks initially, Tia Maria’s European Cafe and Destination Soups will prepare 100 daily meals for older adults and others in need in New Bedford, Mass. As part of this project, meals will be delivered to homes by New Bedford-based Yes! We Van commuter transportation services. As a result of Coastal Foodshed’s sponsorship of the meals program, at least eight local people will now be back to work helping others.

“Through Coastal Foodshed’s ability to work with Tia Maria’s, Destination Soup, and Yes! We Van, this four-way partnership will deliver nutritious and timely meals to our most vulnerable neighbors during these challenging times,” said Michael Carson, president and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and chair of the Foundation’s board of directors. “It is designed to support social distancing, take care of those most at-risk for complications from COVID-19, and help put people whose jobs have been impacted by COVID-19 closures back to work. The Harvard Pilgrim Foundation is looking to further expand this project to other areas in the region and we remain committed to providing the necessary resources to support community-focused initiatives.”

As part of this project, Immigrants Assistance Center will identify New Bedford residents most in need. To apply for meal delivery, call (508) 996-8113.

“As a current Healthy Food Fund partner with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, we are very committed to coordinating this local initiative and getting freshly cooked and healthy meals to those in our community who need it most,” said Kim Ferreira, MS, RD, LDN, Co-Executive Director & Co-Founder of Coastal Foodshed, which operates a Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation supported Mobile Market.

The Foundation will continue to work closely with nonprofit organizations, community leaders and government stakeholders to support their efforts in addressing the COVID-19 crisis.

“This tremendous opportunity from Coastal Foodshed and Harvard Pilgrim Foundation comes at just the perfect time,” said Jessica Coelho, owner of Tia Maria’s European Café. “We are all in unchartered territory and now our team has a new-found purpose as we can prepare meals for homebound seniors and others in the community who need food. Because of this effort, we are able to provide work for three of our employees. We are excited to be a part of this and are very thankful that we can contribute.”

Additionally, Yes! We Van transportation services can offer three of its employees additional payable hours which it otherwise would have reduced due to impacts of COVID-19.

Harvard Pilgrim Foundation recently announced support for two other local organizations as part of its $3 million COVID-19 relief efforts: United Way of Greater Fall River and United Way of Greater New Bedford each received a $10,000 grant for their COVID-19 Relief Fund.

“I want to say something to make people understand how serious they need to be taking this pandemic. Most people with good health will never really understand the true meaning of how bad this is for other members of our society who are not as lucky to have good health. To those people, I say how lucky you are!

Let me explain to you what the potential of this virus is if we do not take every precaution there is to keep from allowing it to spread.

If you live with a loved parent grandparent or other family member or friend that has health issues such as COPD, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis. You need to socially distance yourself (6 feet) from all other people. That means hanging out at someone’s house. Riding around with others in vehicles and using caution with public transportation. And if you choose to not take these precautions, this is what happens!

You have just socially spread Covid 19 into your home. Your mother, father or grandparent are now going to get very sick. If, and this is a big if, they recover you and they are very lucky! Think about the ones that are not that lucky. You will need to say goodbye to them at the nearest medical facility because you will not be allowed in with them. With luck, the facility will have the proper medical equipment to help them.

They will be hooked up to a ventilator and be alone for long periods of time, only to have an overworked health professional check on them occasionally while they have dozens of other patients to check on. Your loved one will possibly die scared and alone instead of surrounded by their loved ones.

Think about this when you say it won’t hurt anyone if I go hang out for a short while.” -‎Kelly Timms Hinckley‎.

“In this era of ‘social distancing,’ we are supposed to be concerned about spreading the virus, and protecting ourselves and others, right? But then we have piggish slobs who think it’s OK to throw their ‘protection’ on the ground who pollute and potentially spread the virus to others.

Just think of some little child picking this up off the ground because he/she doesn’t know any better. It could be your child or your nieces, nephews, cousins…

Photo by Dennis Malenfant.

Got to laugh, and it’s not even funny (nor, I’m sure, to those of you affected). THINK, PEOPLE! This was at Market Basket in Fall River.” -Dennis Malenfant.

“When I went to the Stop & Shop in Fairhaven this afternoon. You’re pigs! Do you alone deserve protection? Lazy, look ahead: there is a trash can. Irresponsible pigs! The white gloves are not the same they are in different points. ? It is a lack of respect for the employees who are there to serve you too. ??Lazy idiots. ???” -Mari Rowe.

Photo by Mari Rowe.

On Saturday, March 28, 2020 at approximately 4:45 p.m., Dartmouth Police responded to an alleged armed robbery, which had occurred in the parking lot of the Dollar General store located on Dartmouth Street.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with the juvenile victim, who informed them that two (2) males on bicycles, one (1) of whom displayed a firearm and a knife in the waistline of his pants, had stolen his AirPods when he exited the store.

While conducting a search of the area, officers were able to develop information which led them to identifying to two (2) suspects as juveniles who live in close proximity.

With the assistance of their parents, both suspects were eventually identified, and a BB gun which matched the description of the gun brandished during the commission of the crime, was seized as evidence.

As a result of this incident, one juvenile male from Dartmouth, and one juvenile male from New Bedford, were placed under arrest and charged with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Both juveniles will be arraigned on a later date.

No one was injured as a result of this incident.

The New Bedford Mayor’s office reported that greater New Bedford has approximately 20 cases of COVID-19 with 12 of the cases in the City of New Bedford alone. This comes within a short time frame – just three days ago we reported that the City of New Bedford had 3 official cases of the virus that has now spread worldwide.

In addition, on Friday afternoon, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell issued a statement regarding summer residents returning to the Greater New Bedford area “…in the midst of a global public health crisis, all of us must be mindful of the risks posed by infected individuals traveling here. For those summer residents from outside of Southeastern Massachusetts, we urge you upon arrival to remain on your property for fourteen days and avail yourselves of delivery services for food and other essentials whenever possible.”

As of yesterday, Massachusetts Governor Baker reported that there were 10 more deaths with the state and that more than 29,000 state residents had been tested.

There were 823 new positive cases reported in the state within the last 24-26 hours alone, bringing the total number of positive cases to 3,240 in Massachusetts.

“Please join me in WELCOMING, our two newest Part-time officers, Officer Dominik Sullivan-Souza and Nathaniel Turgeon. Officer Sullivan-Souza and Officer Turgeon were sworn in at the Acushnet Police Station by Town Clerk Pam Labonte!!

Keep an eye out for them as they will soon begin their Field Training!!

Welcome to the force gentlemen!”

On Friday afternoon, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell issued the following statement regarding summer residents returning to the Greater New Bedford area:

“Thousands of summer houses dot the coastal areas of Greater New Bedford, including in the city itself. Under ordinary circumstances, their owners and renters alike can enjoy all that our region has to offer, including its public spaces, restaurants, and much more, and we welcome their presence and business. But in the midst of a global public health crisis, all of us must be mindful of the risks posed by infected individuals traveling here. For those summer residents from outside of Southeastern Massachusetts, we urge you upon arrival to remain on your property for fourteen days, and avail yourselves of delivery services for food and other essentials whenever possible. Thank you for your understanding.”—Mayor Jon Mitchell

The Massachusetts Sheriffs are committed to serving the communities they are sworn to protect. This responsibility includes the health and well-being of their justice-involved populations and the dedicated men and women on their teams of corrections professionals. Every sheriff sees it as their duty to ensure that the public safety and public health needs of all who live and work within their facilities are fully met. That responsibility only grows during global emergencies, and the sheriffs are meeting the COVID-19 pandemic head-on.

Although the authority to release a detainee lies with the courts and the respective District Attorney’s Office, the sheriffs are committed to working with the judiciary as well as Law Enforcement partners to identify appropriate persons eligible for release. The priority of Sheriffs is always to have a re-entry release plan that helps individuals transition back into the community. A lack of community support services, particularly during a public health crisis, could set individuals and the communities up for failure.

The Massachusetts Sheriffs and their staff are working tirelessly to safely manage their staff and inmate populations and to curb the spread of COVID-19 to their county jails and houses of correction. They provide an exceptional level of care in their facilities, and are prepared for public health scenarios such as this. The sheriffs have implemented proactive and strategic steps to limit the transmission of COVID-19 including:

• Providing in-service training on infectious diseases and emergency preparedness for staff before, during and after this crisis.
• Deploying enhanced intake screening protocols to evaluate new arrivals for symptoms of COVID-19 and limit potential transmission.
• Providing a high level of medical care for all individuals while employing specific protocols when potential or confirmed cases of COVID-19 arise.
• Engagement with medical experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) to ensure that their medical practices are maximally effective and responsive to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Encouraging staff and their justice-involved populations to follow the CDC-recommended practices regarding handwashing, social distancing, continuous sanitizing of facilities and general transmission prevention. Signage has increased throughout the facilities to serve as a reminder of these practices.
• Enhancing screening of staff entering the facility.
• Temporarily suspending in-person visits for families and friends while enhancing alternative means of communication. This includes a range of options such as additional phone calls, mail services or, where available, increased access to text messaging and video conferencing.
• Working with the courts, enhancing videoconferencing and teleconferencing technology to ensure that an inmate’s access to the court is continued.

In addition to strategic efforts the Sheriffs have implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their facilities, the Sheriffs are working proactively with other law enforcement agencies and community advocates to review the individualized cases of those in their custody to ensure appropriate care and release information is provided.

It is crucial to each sheriff that every individual leaves their custody with an individualized and specialized care plan. Releasing individuals without that level of preparation would be a dereliction of the sheriff’s duty – and would not set up the justice-involved individual or their communities for a successful reentry.

During this uncertain and unsettling time, we understand many are concerned about the safety and protection of the justice-involved populations. As an association, we share this same concern. No one, however, is more concerned with the health and well-being of those in their care than our Sheriffs. The safety, health and wellbeing of the staff and inmates are always at the forefront of the sheriffs’ minds in their daily decision making. Our sheriffs are continuously meeting and evaluating their protocols relating to COVID-19 to ensure the safety and welfare to those they serve. Should the sheriffs see change in the status of the safety of their institutions they will not hesitate to make any decision or take any measure necessary to keep their population healthy and safe.

The Rochester Fire Department responded with mutual aid to Freetown yesterday with their tanker to assist the Freetown Fire Department with a residential structure fire.

Photos below show a quick knockdown by FFD crews containing the fire to just the south portion of the home.

Rochester Fire Department photos.