“Thursday, October 14, 2021: It is with sadness that we add one additional light to the string of lights illuminated in memory of an Acushnet resident who recently passed away from Covid.

Our Town Clerk has received documentation of the 16th death of a fellow resident. An additional light symbolizes those earlier deaths that were not officially reported.

To the family who lost a loved one, your community shares your grief.”-Acushnet Fire & EMS Department.

COVID-19 vaccination clinics are planned for the next several days in New Bedford. No appointment is needed at these walk-up clinics. Available vaccines can change according to supplies.

Upcoming New Bedford Vaccination Clinics

Friday, October 15:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., J&J
Fire Station 8 (1599 Acushnet Ave.) – 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Saturday, October 16:

• Riverside Park (North End) – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Sunday, October 17:

• Riverside Park (North End) – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Pfizer and J&J
Fire Station 8 (1599 Acushnet Ave.) – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Monday, October 18:

• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Tuesday, October 19:

• Former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., J&J
Greater New Bedford Community Health Center (874 Purchase St.) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J

Friday, October 22:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., J&J

Important: Clinic Cancellations

Friday, October 15:

• New Bedford High School (230 Hathaway Blvd.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, October 19:

• Normandin Middle School (81 Felton St.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, October 20:

• Keith Middle School (225 Hathaway Blvd) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday, October 21:

• Roosevelt Middle School (119 Frederick St.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, October 22:

New Bedford High School (230 Hathaway Blvd.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)

Background on Cancellations: Earlier this week, state health officials withdrew state support for certain COVID-19 vaccination clinics in New Bedford, and elsewhere in the region. Therefore, effective immediately, clinics that had been scheduled as part of the state’s Block-by-Block vaccination initiative, as well as clinics at New Bedford Public Schools, are cancelled.

Clinics at four City public schools—Normandin Middle School, Keith Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School, and New Bedford High School—that had been planned for October and November will no longer take place. The City of New Bedford Health Department and New Bedford Public Schools are exploring other options for reestablishing school-based clinics.

The changes mean that outside of vaccine access through health providers and participating pharmacies, limited vaccination clinics remain in the city.

Reminder on the importance of vaccinations, especially ahead of the holidays: Vaccination levels in the region remain low, and daily case rates remain high. Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is not only about protecting yourself – it’s also about protecting your family, friends, and community. This week’s state withdrawal of support for local clinics comes at pivotal time ahead of the holiday season, when large family gatherings could lead to super-spreader events, without vaccinations.

For people who are unvaccinated and want to have a safe holiday season with loved ones, the coming week is a great time to start, and be fully vaccinated by Thanksgiving.
City leaders and health officials are urging unvaccinated residents to get their first shot by Monday, Oct. 18, to have safe and healthy holidays. People who get their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine by Oct. 18 can be fully vaccinated by the week of Nov. 22, including three weeks between shots and two weeks after the second shot.

Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is not only about protecting yourself – it’s also about protecting your family, friends, and community. For people who are unvaccinated and want to have a safe holiday season with loved ones, the coming week is a great time to get started, and be fully vaccinated by Thanksgiving.

City leaders and health officials are urging unvaccinated residents to get their first shot before Oct. 18, to have safe and healthy holidays. People who get their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine before Oct. 18 can be fully vaccinated by the week of Nov. 22, including three weeks between shots and two weeks after the second shot. Pfizer and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine are commonly available at local clinics and vaccination sites.

There are several local opportunities for vaccinations between now and Oct 18.

Here’s a quick list for easy reference, followed by a detailed list below:

• Friday, Oct. 8, 2 – 6:30 p.m., Loretta Bourque Park
• Saturday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Ashley Park
• Sunday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Ashley Park
• Sunday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Loretta Bourque Park
• Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., McCoy Rec Center
• Tuesday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., GNB Community Health Center
• Wednesday, Oct. 13, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., GNB Voc Tech
• Thursday, Oct. 14, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., GNB Community Health Cemter
• Friday, Oct. 15, 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Fire Station 8
• Saturday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Riverside Park
• Sunday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Riverside Park
• Sunday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Fire Station 8

Upcoming New Bedford Vaccination Clinics:

COVID-19 vaccination clinics are planned for the next several days in New Bedford. No appointment is needed at these walk-up clinics. Available vaccines can change according to supplies.

Friday, October 8:
• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., J&J
• New Bedford High School (230 Hathaway Blvd.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)
Loretta Bourque Park (Ruth St. & Ashley St.) – 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Saturday, October 9:
• Ashley Park (Rivet St. & Bolton St.) – 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Sunday, October 10:
• Ashley Park (Rivet St. & Bolton St.) – 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Pfizer and J&J
• Loretta Bourque Park (Ruth St. & Ashley St.) – 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Tuesday, October 12:
• Greater New Bedford Community Health Center (874 Purchase St.) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J
• Former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., J&J
• Normandin Middle School (81 Felton St.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)
• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Wednesday, October 13:
• Keith Middle School (225 Hathaway Blvd) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)
Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School (1121 Ashley Blvd) – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Pfizer
• Thursday, October 14:
Greater New Bedford Community Health Center (874 Purchase St.) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J
• Roosevelt Middle School (119 Frederick St.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)

Friday, October 15:
• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., J&J
• New Bedford High School (230 Hathaway Blvd.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)

Monday, October 18:
• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Early in the pandemic, on March 10th, 2020, Massachusett’s Gov. Baker declared a state of emergency which gave him power to shut down a variety of businesses, events, and large gatherings, and mandating masks in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.

For those actions, he was sued by a group of pastors and small businesses across the state who felt that he had no authority to issue public health-related orders under the state’s Civil Defense Act and that the governor’s actions infringed on people’s constitutional rights to due process and free assembly and was an act of “legislative police power.”

However, in December the state’s highest court, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, rejected the challenege and stated that the pandemic clearly merited action by the governor under the Cold War-era law. In that ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declared that “Given that COVID-19 is a pandemic that has killed over a million people worldwide, it spreads from person to person, effective vaccines have not yet been distributed, there is no known cure, and a rise in cases threatens to overrun the Commonwealth’s hospital system, it is a natural cause for which action is needed.”

The group went throught the legal process of appealing that ruling and brought the case to the U.S. Supreme court. On Monday, the nation’s highest court announced without comment that it would not consider the appeal, in essence. finding that Gov. Charlie Baker did not overstep his authority.

The City of New Bedford Health Department and New Bedford Public Schools are hosting weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics through early November at Keith, Normandin, and Roosevelt middle schools, and New Bedford High School. Students, parents, faculty, and staff members all are welcome at the free, walk-up clinics.

The Pfizer vaccine will be offered for those 12 and older, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available for those 18 and older. Minors will need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in person at the clinic.

Pre-registration is available but not required, through the link and QR code on the attached flyers. All clinics are from 2 to 5 p.m.

Normandin Middle School clinics began this week and will be held every Tuesday through Nov. 2; Keith Middle School clinics begin today and will be held every Wednesday though Nov. 3; Roosevelt Middle School clinics will be held every Thursday through Nov. 4; and New Bedford High School clinics will be held every Friday through Nov. 5.

Upcoming New Bedford Vaccination Clinics:

• COVID-19 vaccination clinics are planned for the next several days in New Bedford. No appointment is needed at these walk-up clinics. Available vaccines can change according to supplies.

Wednesday, September 29:

• Keith Middle School (225 Hathaway Blvd) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)

Thursday, September 30:

• Roosevelt Middle School (119 Frederick St.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)

Friday, October 1:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., J&J
•
New Bedford High School (230 Hathaway Blvd.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)

• Dennison Memorial Community Center (755 S. 1st St. #1706) – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the center)

Monday, October 4:

• Andrea McCoy Rec Center – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Tuesday, October 5:

• Former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., J&J

• Normandin Middle School (81 Felton St.) – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)

• New Bedford High School/National Night Out (230 Hathaway Blvd.) – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer for ages 12+ and J&J for ages 18+ (Minors need parental consent, provided either in advance online, or in-person at the school)

Project Beacon’s appointment-based COVID-19 testing, part of the state’s Stop the Spread program, is adjusting its schedule at New Bedford Regional Airport, at 1569 Airport Road. As of Oct. 3, Project Beacon will offer appointments for COVID-19 tests on Thursdays, rather than Wednesdays, while remaining open Sunday through Tuesday.

The updated hours for testing will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Appointments can be made at beacontesting.com. Airport officials ask that people access the testing site via the airport’s side entrance on Downey Street.

Other testing sites remain available in New Bedford and can be found on the state’s Stop the Spread website, www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test.

COVID-19 vaccination clinics are planned for the next several days in New Bedford. No appointment is needed at these walk-up clinics. Available vaccines can change according to supplies.

Wednesday, September 22:

• New Bedford YMCA (25 S. Water St.) – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pfizer and J&J
• Presidential Heights (Mount Pleasant & Van Buren St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J
• Westlawn (Hillman St. & Liberty St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Thursday, September 23:

• Presidential Heights (Mount Pleasant & Van Buren St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J
• Westlawn (Hillman St. & Liberty St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Friday, September 24:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., J&J and Moderna
• Brooklawn Park (1997 Acushnet Ave.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J
• NBFD Fire Station 8 (1599 Acushnet Ave.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Saturday, September 25:

• Cape Verdean Veterans Association Hall (561 Purchase St.) – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pfizer and Moderna
• NBFD Fire Station 8 (1599 Acushnet Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J
• Riverside Park (Belleville Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Sunday, September 26:

• Riverside Park (Belleville Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J
• NBFD Fire Station 8 (1599 Acushnet Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Monday, September 27:

• Andrea McCoy Rec Center – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J

Tuesday, September 28:

• Former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., J&J and Moderna

In-school testing reveal some team members test positive.

New Bedford High School Athletics Department is cancelling a scheduled varsity football game after several members tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, Thomas Tarpey, NBHS Athletics Director, announced this afternoon. “It is unfortunate, but we knew going into this season that it was a possibility, not only for our Whalers but for teams across the country. Football is a high-contact sport so regular testing vigilance is critical to stemming the spread.”

The New Bedford’s game with Attleboro, scheduled for Friday, September 24 has been canceled out of an abundance of caution. A determination regarding other games have not yet been made.

“Wanda Nunes, NBPS Director of Nurses, stated “This instance is precisely why in-school testing with parental consent was instituted. It is a mitigation strategy that adds another layer of proactive protection. Schools need to know in real-time if students and staff have been exposed to the virus so that immediate action can be taken to stop the virus from spreading. We are following all protocols and guidelines from the CDC, the state and city Health Departments.”

Superintendent Thomas Anderson stated, “As disappointing as this news is for our team, it is not unexpected that we would see positive test results as we enter the traditional flu season. We were ready for this; we did it last year and now we have additional tools in place to help stem the virus. In-school testing quickly exposed this situation, allowing the school to halt further spread. The NBPS COVID Tracker will go online in the coming days to keep the community informed.

I urge parents and guardians to consent to in-school testing if they have not already done so. We will be providing regular updates as this very challenging time continues for all of us. As always I urge everyone to continue practicing good hygiene, wear masks and get vaccinated as it is the best tool of all.”

Yesterday Gov. Charlie Baker stated that he is looking at the possibility of a vaccination identification system similar to what some other states are currently doing. He had resisted talk of so-called vaccine “passports” this past spring.

“We’ve been talking to those folks and working through how that would work here in the Commonwealth. I certainly think it’s going to be an important thing to have.” he said on GBH radio.

The Governor was referencing Arizona, California, Hawaii, and specifically New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “Excelsior Pass program” which is a voluntary digital vaccination verification system that you can use with your smartphones. Residents in states like Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia have digital access to their vaccination records, and pairing that with a phone app would be a relatively easy way to demonstrate proof of vaccination.

“It’s getting to the point where there’s a relatively simple process for people to credential the fact that they’ve been vaccinated and this will be important for a whole bunch of reasons…especially in case they don’t have access to their vaccination card.” he continued.

Recently there has been an increase in the number of bars, clubs, restaurants, and theaters that have opted to require vaccination proof for entrance, most noticeably the Zeiterion Theater.

The following information was pulled from the Zeiterion Theater’s website:

“Effective September 15 and until further notice, The Z requires all attendees over the age of 12 be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus or submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test (PCR test within 72 hours or antigen test within 24 hours of the show that you are attending). The same is expected of all Zeiterion staff, event personnel, and volunteers.

In addition, because of the virulent and highly contagious nature of the Delta variant, we require properly fitting masks or facial coverings are worn at all indoor events, regardless of vaccination status, when not actively eating or drinking.

Proof of vaccination or a negative test as described above will be required before entering any Zeiterion indoor venue along with a photo ID.

When entering the lobby well-fitting face masks covering both nose and mouth are required for all guests regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings must be worn at all times unless actively eating or drinking while in your seat.

To expedite our safety screenings as you enter, please bring minimal personal items with you. No lingering or congregating will be permitted. We will carefully manage lines to enforce social distancing and avoid overcrowding in restrooms.

To ensure we can gather safely, The Z will enforce the COVID-19 guidelines in effect on the day of the event. By accepting, you accept responsibility that the people for which you are buying tickets will also adhere to these guidelines. You can find more about our policy here.”

Zeiterion theater photo.