Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office reported 61 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Bedford Wednesday morning, bringing the total positive cases in the city to 339, up from 278 on Tuesday. On Monday, Mayor Mitchell reported that the City of New Bedford’s COVID-19 count was more than 33% higher than the Massachusetts Department of Health count for New Bedford. Full statement here.

New Bedford added one more COVID-19 related death on Tuesday bringing the total to 10. No specific details (age, sex of the patient, etc) is available.

Sadly, Teresa Maria Raposo Cordeiro, New Bedford Police Chief Joeseph Cordeiro’s mom, passed away on Saturday to COVID-19. She was 84 years old. Full details here.

New Bedford’s Zeiterion stage will be dark through August 2. Full details here.

While New Bedford’s Cape Verdean Recognition Parade and Memorial Day parade have been canceled, and Fall River’s Day of Portugal has been postponed, the 2020 Feast of the Blessed Sacrament in New Bedford is still moving forward as planned. This year’s festival is scheduled for July 30-31 and August 1-2. Full details here.

New Bedford’s 2020 Memorial Day parade, scheduled for Monday, May 25, has been canceled due to social distancing measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Full details here.

Fall River announced 5 more confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. According to Mayor Coogan, Fall River has seen 189 total positive cases. Full details here.

On April 21, the Massachusetts Public Health Department reported that the state added 1,556 more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing to total to 41,199. This is a slight decrease from Monday’s 1,566 reported cases. 152 new COVID-19 related deaths were reported since yesterday, up from 103, bringing the total deaths in Massachusetts to 1,961. As of 4 pm today, 175,372 people in Massachusetts have been tested for COVID-19. Full details here.

Massachusetts school buildings will remain closed to students for the rest of this school year, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday, a dramatic step aimed at preventing a rebound in COVID-19 transmission once the state emerges from the worst of the outbreak. Full details here.

The Massachusetts Division of Banks (DOB) has joined a multi-state initiative to secure payment relief options for Massachusetts student loan borrowers and issued a Consumer Advisory with important information and resources for private student loan borrowers. Full details here.

Governor Charlie Baker signed a housing security bill on Monday to put a pause on evictions and foreclosures until after the coronavirus pandemic abates, finalizing an effort that took weeks for the Legislature to negotiate. Full details here.

United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and nine of her Senate colleagues today called for investigations into the Trump Administration’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response, including whether political expediency rather than the country’s urgent public health needs has driven the Trump Administration’s distribution of life-saving medical supplies and equipment and other key public health and economic decisions. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Warren in her letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Offices of the Inspector General. Senators Warren, Blumenthal and Markey also called for the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), the new entity established by the CARES Act and given broad authority to oversee the COVID-19 response, to investigate the partisan and political nature of the White House’s actions.

The Trump administration has been unable to deliver urgently-needed medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators, and has created confusion and distress among states by seizing equipment orders and providing little transparency about decision-making. The Trump Administration appears to have made decisions about distributing life-saving supplies based on the electoral concerns of President Trump and his political allies rather than the most urgent public health needs. The senators also raised concerns about Jared Kushner’s involvement in Project Airbridge and evidence he may have fast-tracked shipments at the requests of donors and other friends.

“This confusion has been exacerbated by President Trump’s public statements suggesting that governors’ political support for his administration could influence how much support they receive from the federal government,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter to HHS and FEMA Inspectors General. “This obfuscation underscores the need for clarity as to how decisions regarding the seizure and redistribution of supplies are being made, and whether or not they are tainted with political interference.”

In their letter to the PRAC, Senators Warren, Blumenthal, and Markey also raised additional concerns regarding reports that (1) the Trump Administration may have delayed payments to American taxpayers in order to attach President Trump’s name to their checks, solely for either vanity or political benefit; and (2) President Trump inserted crass political propaganda into his public briefings, which, if created during employee work hours, could be in violation of campaign laws, like the Hatch Act.

“(T)hese incidents appear to indicate that the Trump Administration has infused political and partisan interests into its response to both the public health and economic crises,” Senators Warren, Blumenthal, and Markey wrote in their letter to PRAC. “Americans should not have to wonder whether their lives are being put at risk by the President’s concern for his political prospects amidst a public health and economic calamity.”

2020.04.21 Letter to PRAC re politicization of covid response 2

Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Senator Warren has pressed the Trump Administration to respond effectively to deliver the robust set of resources needed to address this public health emergency. Senator Warren’s calls for the PRAC and HHS and FEMA Inspectors General investigations today follow numerous letters urging the Trump Administration to establish a clear chain of command following the Trump administration’s handling of the Diamond Princess cruise ship evacuation; a March 9th letter raising concerns President Trump has used his press conferences to spread misinformation; and her March 11th letter urging Vice President Pence to protect the coronavirus response from political interference.

2020.04.21 Letter to FEMA and HHS OIG re Distribution of Medical Supplies

The Massachusetts Division of Banks (DOB) has joined a multi-state initiative to secure payment relief options for Massachusetts student loan borrowers and issued a Consumer Advisory with important information and resources for private student loan borrowers.

Through this initiative, DOB has secured relief options with 15 private student loan servicers to expand on the protections the federal government granted to federal student loan borrowers. These new options stand to benefit over 182,000 Massachusetts borrowers with privately held student loans.

This response builds on the federal CARES Act, which provided much needed relief for students with federal loans, including the suspension of monthly payments, interest and involuntary collection activity until September 30, 2020, as well as the recently announced Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s deferment of payments in its No-Interest Loan Program until August 1, 2020.

Under this initiative, borrowers with commercially-owned Federal Family Education Program Loans or privately held student loans who are struggling to make their payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible for expanded relief. Borrowers in need of assistance must immediately contact their student loan servicer to identify the options that are appropriate to their circumstances. Relief options include:

– Providing a minimum of 90 days of forbearance
– Waiving late payment fees
– Ensuring that no borrower is subject to negative credit reporting
– Ceasing debt collection lawsuits for 90 days

Working with borrowers to enroll them in other borrower assistance programs, such as income based repayment.

Additional information and resources, including a full list of participating private student loan servicers, are included in the Division’s Consumer Advisory.

Sadly, Teresa Maria Raposo Cordeiro, New Bedford Police Chief Joeseph Cordeiro’s mom, passed away on Saturday to COVID-19. She was 84 years old.

Funeral arrangements will be private due to the Corona Virus protocols. A celebration of her life will tentatively be held on June 20th. Details to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a kind gesture, or donations to Teresa’s Patron, Santo Cristo c/o Albert Cordeiro at 380 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740

You can read her full obituary and sign the guest book here.

We cherish the traditions at The Z, from the annual The New Bedford Folk Festival to the summer Broadway musicals by New Bedford Festival Theatre. But unfortunately, the next several of months will mean a change in some long-held traditions. We are committed to keeping our city and each other safe, and have decided to cancel or reschedule all performances through August 2.

This is a time of immense shared loss, throughout our city and the world. The Zeiterion and its resident companies, The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and New Bedford Festival Theatre, will bear financial losses, reductions in staffing, and most heartbreakingly, the loss of our ability to gather and share in the magic of live performances.

Though our stage will remain dark through early August, our commitment to our mission will burn brighter than ever. We will work tirelessly to bring you glorious work by incredible artists, and continue to find safe ways to connect until we can be together again. Thank you for all you do to keep the magic alive at The Z. Be safe. We’ll see you soon!

With this pause in revenue from performances and programming, your support plays an even bigger role. How can you help? You can become a member, buy a gift card or make a tax-deductible donation to support the non-profit Zeiterion Performing Arts Center during this time of uncertainty. Thank you!

Samantha Johnson’s performance will help raise money for Southcoast Health’s Covid relief efforts! Find out more about this special event here.

Performance Update
For the health and safety of our audiences, artists, volunteers, and staff, we have postponed or cancelled all performances through August 2. Stay tuned to The Z’s Facebook, Instagram and web site for the most current information. We know, like us, you believe the show will go on!

• A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN April 6 screening cancelled
• BOSTON COMEDY JAM rescheduled to August 20, 2020
• BUSTER KEATON DOUBLE FEATURE rescheduled to Sunday, August 30, 2020
• COLIN & BRAD: SCARED SCRIPTLESS rescheduled to Saturday, April 10, 2021
• DOO WOP XVIII: THE HITMAKERS rescheduled to Saturday, August 22, 2020
• EMISUNSHINE – Stage Door Live! reschedule pending
• FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF June 1 screening cancelled
• GRACE MORRISON – Stage Door Live! rescheduled to September 17, 2020
• HE NAMED ME MALALA March 18 screening cancelled
• HOWIE MANDEL LIVE rescheduled to Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 8PM
• INTERNATIONAL PORTUGUESE MUSIC AWARDS April 25 performance cancelled
• LLAMA LLAMA – LIVE! April 5 performance cancelled
• MARIZA reschedule pending
• MARK BITTMAN May 30 appearance cancelled
• MAX HATT AND EDDA GLASS – Stage Door Live! May 28 performance cancelled
• MONICA LEWINSKY presented by the NB LYCEUM May 15 appearance cancelled
• NATALIA ZUKERMAN – Stage Door Live! March 19 performance cancelled
• NB FESTIVAL THEATRE’S ANNIE reschedule pending to summer 2021
• NBSO: BREAKING BOUNDARIES March 14 performance cancelled
• NBSO: HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUDWIG! rescheduled to Friday, August 21
• NBSO: HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUDWIG! – matinee April 19 performance cancelled
• NBSO: THE FINNISH LINE May 23, 2020 performance cancelled
• NEW BEDFORD FOLK FESTIVAL July 11 & 12, 2020 rescheduled to July 10 & 11, 2021
• ON A WINTER’S NIGHT rescheduled to Friday, February 5, 2021
• ONE FUNNY MOTHER rescheduled to Friday, October 23, 2020
• RAIN: ABBEY ROAD rescheduled to Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 2PM and 7PM
• SCHOOLTIME performances through June are cancelled
• SELENA May 11 screening cancelled
• SEVEN April 2 performance cancelled
• STAR WARS MARATHON May 4 screening cancelled
• THE BEACH BOYS rescheduled to Tuesday, March 30, 2021
• THE COLOR PURPLE May 16 performance cancelled
• THE PEKING ACROBATS rescheduled to Friday, October 9, 2020
• ULTIMATE 70’S TOUR rescheduled to Thursday, October 2

Ticket Options
Do you have tickets for any of these recently rescheduled or cancelled performances? Let us know if you’d like to keep, exchange, donate, or refund your ticket here.

While New Bedford’s Cape Verdean Recognition Parade and Memorial Day parade have been canceled, and Fall River’s Day of Portugal has been postponed, the 2020 Feast of the Blessed Sacrament in New Bedford is still moving forward as planned. This year’s festival is scheduled for July 30-31 and August 1-2.

The following was sent out last week by Club Madeirense S. S. Sacramento Inc President Michael Canasta:

“Good afternoon Fellow members of Club Madeirense S. S. Sacramento Inc., family and friends, residents of our great City of New Bedford and Feast patrons from close and afar,
 
I hope that at the time this message gets out to you, that you and your families are all healthy and safe knowing what our city, state and country are going through dealing with this life threatening COVID-19 virus. At this point and time our Club and grounds have been temporarily closed, resulting

In the cancellation and postponement of all events scheduled at Madeira Field, presently up to the end of May. However, this was done for the safety of our members and their families, organizations renting our grounds and the public. Just a reminder that our organization has extended the deadline for applications to both the academic scholarships and the vocational awards to June 1st, 2020.
   
I hope I put you at ease knowing that I am in constant touch with our Club’s Executive Officers as well as our Club’s Board of Directors, meeting as often as needed each month, as we all strive to get through this period of time of home confinement to beat the COVID-19 virus.
    
In my opinion, our Club is the best at what we do, with each year learning and growing to give you all the best and safest Feast possible as we enter our 106th year. Feast President Richard Fernandes and the 2020 Feast Committee are presently moving forward with their plans for the 2020 Feast of the Blessed Sacrament. As always and even more so now with what our society is dealing with, the safety and well-being of everyone is our primary concern, not just for our members and their families, but for all our volunteers and all you people that support our organization and the Feast, year after year, during our pride filled celebration of the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament.
    
Now that we have recently opened the door to spring, I know that there are many of you that are getting fidgety with cabin fever, especially since we have been asked to implement home confinement and social distancing. As the President and leader of our amazing organization, I can only ask that we all remain positive and to please listen and adhere to what our government officials are asking of us. The goal of Club Madeirense S. S. Sacramento Inc. is to bring all our Feast families back to Madeira Field as soon as it is safe and as soon as we can. Remember, www.feastoftheblessedsacrament.com

We will get through this together.
Be safe and God’s Blessings to You All.”

Do meu coração para o teu,
Have a Blessed Easter!

Michael R. Canasta, President
Club Madeirense S. S. Sacramento Inc.

Massachusetts Coronavirus Update

On April 21, the Massachusetts Public Health Department reported that the state added 1,556 more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing to total to 41,199. This is a slight decrease from Monday’s 1,566 reported cases. 152 new COVID-19 related deaths were reported since yesterday, up from 103, bringing the total deaths in Massachusetts to 1,961. As of 4 pm today, 175,372 people in Massachusetts have been tested for COVID-19.

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced new actions to support the ongoing COVID-19 response, including 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. The Administration also announced further support for students and families impacted by COVID-19. Full details here.

A fifth Bristol County staff member to test positive for COVID-19. Full details here.

Massachusetts workers would receive 80 extra hours, or 10 days, of job-protected paid sick time to use during the COVID-19 crisis, under a bill recently filed by Rep. Paul Donato and Sen. Jason Lewis. Full details here.

New Bedford Coronavirus Update

Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office reported 90 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Bedford Tuesday morning, bringing the total positive cases in the city to 278, up from 188 on Monday. Yesterday, Mayor Mitchell reported that the City of New Bedford’s COVID-19 count was more than 33% higher than the Massachusetts Department of Health count for New Bedford. Full statement here.

New Bedford added one more COVID-19 related death since Monday bringing the total to 10. No specific details (age, sex of the patient, etc) is available.

New Bedford’s 2020 Memorial Day parade, scheduled for Monday, May 25, has been canceled due to social distancing measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Full details here.

New Bedford’s Annual Cape Verdean Recognition Parade has been canceled. This year’s parade would have been the 48th year. Full details here.

Fall River Coronavirus Update

Fall River today reported 5 more confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. According to Mayor Coogan, the Fall River has seen 189 total positive cases. Full details here.

“He’s feeling fine,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson said Tuesday. “It’s encouraging he’s feeling well and we hope he makes a full, quick recovery.”

The corrections officer works third shift at the House of Corrections on the Dartmouth complex. He was last at the facility on Monday night, April 13, when he worked alone in a control room. He was off Tuesday and Wednesday, April 14 and 15. He didn’t feel well on Wednesday, reported to a COVID-19 testing site on Thursday, April 16, and received a positive test result on Friday, April 17.

He is the fifth Bristol County staff member to test positive for COVID-19. A nurse who tested positive last month has recovered and returned to duty, as has a K9 Officer who tested positive a few weeks ago. A corrections officer who tested positive earlier this month is returning to duty today, and a mental health professional that also tested positive is feeling well and expected to return soon. No one incarcerated in a Bristol County corrections facility has tested positive for the virus as seven symptomatic individuals have all tested negative.

Over the past month, the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office has instituted many protocols to protect inmates, detainees and staff from the Coronavirus outbreak. Some of those measures include:

• All employees were given masks that must be worn inside the secure perimeter of our facilities. All inmates and detainees have also been given masks to wear for protection.
• All areas of the facility are being cleaned\disinfected every day on every shift.
• All staff members are being screened before entering the buildings; new arriving inmates are being screened before being accepted into custody.
• In-person visitation has been suspended to limit the number of people coming in and out.

“The precautions we’ve taken are working, and the staff has been amazing,” Sheriff Hodgson said. “Our essential workers leave their families every day and come to work. From the security staff to food services, health care, maintenance … everyone has been amazing during these extremely challenging times. Massachusetts has been hit very hard by the Coronavirus and the next few weeks are expected to be pretty rough, so I hope everyone stays safe, practices social distancing, and follows strict sanitation recommendations.”

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced new actions to support the ongoing COVID-19 response, including 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. The Administration also announced further support for students and families impacted by COVID-19.

Schools and Non-Emergency Child Care Programs: Governor Charlie 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.

· This order expands the March 25 order suspending normal educational operations at schools and non-emergency child care programs. The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) established a process to approve Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs to serve families of first responders, medical personnel and essential workers.

· Emergency Child Care programs approved by EEC will continue operating. Currently there are 523 emergency child care programs statewide serving families of essential workers. Weekly attendance averages about 2,500 children in these programs across the Commonwealth.

· EEC will continue to pay subsidies to child care providers based on their pre-COVID-19 enrollment, in order to support the workforce.

· The order does not apply to residential special education schools.

Read the Orders here: K-12 School Order Link | Child Care Program Link

Child Care Program Resources: The Department of Early Education and Care is reviewing its regulations and funding programs to develop new approaches to incrementally restore child care capacity for family child care and center-based programs in the coming months.

To support families of essential workers and families with children who have special needs, EEC and Care.com have partnered to assist currently unemployed child care workers and provide skilled in-home care. Care.com is offering both eligible families and child care workers free 90-day premium memberships, accessible here.

Complementing the existing partnership between WGBH and DESE, EEC is launching further collaboration with WGBH to provide resources and activities for parents with young children.

Remote Learning Resources: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will issue updated guidelines for schools to support remote learning efforts through the duration of the school year, including expanded STEM learning, and will prepare recommendations to strengthen summer learning opportunities for students.

DESE has launched a Remote Learning Essentials initiative, focused on addressing access to tools, Internet connectivity, and educator training necessary to enhance remote learning during school closures.

The department is conducting a survey of school districts to identify barriers that inhibit effective remote learning, including challenges around inequitable access to technology.

An advisory group of administrators, educators, parents, students and business leaders will engage external partners to mobilize resources for schools, including philanthropic gifts and in-kind contributions.

DESE will also solicit input from national and local education vendors regarding the potential to create a statewide online education platform for districts to opt into and customize.

STEM Learning: In partnership with EEC, DHE, the STEM Advisory Council and Regional STEM Networks, DESE has established online STEM education resources to provide continued support for remote learning opportunities. This includes virtual STEM learning opportunities for both students and teachers, and is accessible here.

No-Interest Student Loan Program: The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) is deferring scheduled repayments for its No-Interest Loan Program for a duration of four months to support relief efforts during the COVID-19 public health emergency. These deferments will help approximately 12,000 students that participate in the $5 million program annually funded through the repayment of loans.

All no-interest loan accounts currently in repayment will automatically be placed in a deferment from April 2020 through July 2020. This deferment will not count toward the program’s permissible 36 months of available deferment.

If a payment has already been made for April, that payment will be applied to the outstanding balance and not refunded. While accounts are in deferment, borrowers who wish to continue monthly payments may do so, without incurring late fees until July 31, 2020.

Accounts currently 120 days past due will not be placed into collections until August 2020, and regular credit bureau reporting will resume at the end of August.

Eviction and Foreclosure Protections: Yesterday, Governor Baker signed legislation into law to protect homeowners and tenants from eviction and foreclosure. An Act providing for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 emergency ensures housing stability for residents and families, and can be read in its entirety here.

Chris Lisinski
State House News Service

Massachusetts school buildings will remain closed to students for the rest of this school year, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday, a dramatic step aimed at preventing a rebound in COVID-19 transmission once the state emerges from the worst of the outbreak.

Baker also ordered non-emergency child care programs to remain closed until June 29. K-12 schools had been closed until May 4 under Baker’s most recent executive order, and Tuesday’s announcement extends the physical shutdown through the end of the academic year. Remote learning will continue this spring, he said. During a Tuesday press conference, Baker warned that COVID-19 is “an insidious and at times invisible virus.”

“It’s the right thing to do considering the facts on the ground associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. At this point in time, there is no authoritative guidance or advisory with respect to how to operate schools safely and how to get students to and from schools safely,” he said. “We believe students therefore cannot safely return to school and avoid the risk of transmitting the virus to others.”

The state is in the midst of the coronavirus surge, with confirmed cases likely to surpass 40,000 in the administration’s Tuesday afternoon daily updated. More than 1,800 residents have already died as a result of the highly infectious virus, which public health experts warn can be spread even by those who are showing no symptoms. On April 10, Baker signed a law allowing Education Commissioner Jeff Riley to vacate MCAS testing for the year and instructing the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to modify or waive graduation requirements. Several other governors have shuttered schools in their states into the summer, including New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.