Here are the coronavirus numbers by county in Massachusetts as of Saturday, March 14. There is now one case in Bristol County, but the exact location has not been reported.
Out of 138 total cases, 104 are from a Biogen meeting in Cambridge held in late February. Of the 138 cases, only 11 needed to be hospitalized.
Source: Massachusetts Public Health.
The Baker-Polito Administration continues to take action to expedite COVID-19 testing and ensure access to treatment. The Department of Public Health (DPH) and MassHealth released guidance related to access to clinical testing and care, respectively, in response to COVID-19. This announcement was made this morning at a press conference where Governor Baker announced the creation of a new COVID-19 Response Command Center.
Under DPH’s new clinical guidance, clinicians no longer need to receive testing approval from the State Lab prior to submitting specimens for patients that meet the following specific criteria:
· Symptomatic health care workers and emergency medical services personnel who have worked while sick
· Hospitalized individuals suspected of having COVID-19 infection
· Individuals who have had close contact with a someone with confirmed COVID-19 while symptomatic in congregate settings and clusters of acute respiratory illness in congregate settings
· Those with symptoms linked to recent travel to high-risk countries
For patients who do not meet these criteria, clinicians will continue to follow the existing protocols – call the EPI line to gain testing approval and then submit specimens to the State Lab.
Additional changes to procedures include that clinicians only need to collect one specimen type for testing at both the State Lab and commercial labs. This change was based on new CDC guidance that now requires one nasal swab instead of two. As clinicians change their practice and follow the new guidance, this change will allow more individuals to be tested.
Clinicians can also send specimens from suspected COVID-19 patients without approval from DPH to commercial labs that received federal approval to conduct COVID-19 testing.
The Department of Public Health will be releasing the number of people tested for COVID-19 in Massachusetts Beginning on Wednesday, March 18. Updated numbers will be provided weekly by 12pm on mass.gov/COVID19. This is in additional to daily case updates posted online at 4pm.
MassHealth – Massachusetts’ Medicaid program – released new policies to provide guidance and clarification for MassHealth plans to ensure access to care in response to COVID-19. These policies expand telehealth coverage, allow 90-day refills of prescriptions and early refills, make billing for COVID-19 tests easier for providers, and remind providers that there are no copays for lab tests and pharmacies that they cannot deny medications if a member cannot pay. This announcement follows other focused efforts by Massachusetts to ensure that residents can access coverage for testing and treatment for COVID-19, including the Massachusetts Health Connector announced a special enrollment period to ensure everyone who wants access to covered coronavirus services has it, and the Division of Insurance announced that Massachusetts health insurers are now required to cover the cost of testing and treatment for members who may be affected by the COVID-19.
The public is reminded that real-time COVID-19 information, resources, and referrals in multiple languages can be found by calling Massachusetts 2-1-1. Callers dialing 2-1-1 will hear an automated menu of options. Callers press 2-6 for coronavirus. Residents can also reach 2-1-1 through a live chat option on the Massachusetts 2-1-1 website. Through this partnership with Massachusetts 2-1-1 announced yesterday, DPH subject matter experts are expanding access to information 24/7, and empowering call operators to provide the latest information about prevention, symptoms, and treatment, information about testing, and guidance for travel. This new service is in addition to a dedicated site mass.gov/COVID19, which is updated daily with information and resources.
Governor Charlie Baker declared a State of Emergency to support the Commonwealth’s response to coronavirus. The Administration has updated guidance to the general public, specifically urging older adults and those with health issues to avoid large crowds and events. The Administration also released new policies to protect individuals in long-term care facilities, and those served in community-based and congregate care settings from respiratory illnesses.
Individuals who live in households with vulnerable people, like elderly parents, should also consider avoiding crowds to mitigate risk. This guidance is posted on the Department of Public Health’s website, mass.gov/COVID19.
The public is reminded of steps to take to limit the spread of COVID-19:
– Cover your mouth – when you cough or sneeze use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands
– Wash your hands – with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based sanitizing gel
– Stay home if you are sick – and avoid close contact with others
The Administration will continue to update the public on further developments and individuals are encouraged to consult both the Department of Public Health and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites for the most up to date information.
The latest information and guidance regarding COVID-19 is always available at mass.gov/COVID19.
By Colin A. Young
State House News Service
Massachusetts gaming regulators and its licensees agreed to a two-week shutdown of the state’s slots parlor and two resorts casinos Saturday and are working to finalize the plan as state government takes serious steps to try to staunch the spread of the coronavirus that’s infected 123 people in the state.
Gaming operations are expected to cease by late Saturday night and other operations at the casinos — hotels, restaurants, clubs and retail shops — would have to shut down by Sunday under the plan the commission authorized its staff to put into writing for final approval. Another meeting is expected to finalize the plan.
The casino operators said they would need some time to ensure the closures are orderly and safe, and to rebook overnight guests at other hotels.
The Mass. Gaming Commission held an emergency meeting via conference call at 10 a.m. Saturday morning to discuss the “operational status of gaming licensees in light of the coronavirus.” Representatives from Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor in Everett participated in the call and each business said it was fully on board with the commission’s action.
Commission staffers said discussions around the plan were collaborative with the casino companies and evolved over the last few weeks. Interim Executive Director Karen Wells said the licensees agreed to “an orderly closure from the commission.”
Brian Gullbrants, president of Encore Boston Harbor, said he thinks it is “prudent at this time to pause our operations.” A representative of MGM Springfield said the company is “fully supportive of whatever your decision may be.”
The change will have economic impacts on the state’s coffers, and the pocketbooks of the thousands of people who have found jobs in the relatively young Massachusetts gaming world. All three companies pledged during Saturday’s meeting to pay its full-time employees during the two-week shutdown.
The commission is due to publish February revenue figures on Monday, but the state can typically rely on about $21 million in monthly revenue from its three gambling halls.
Commissioner Eileen O’Brien called the decision “the only prudent thing to do” given the public health emergency.
“I agree that we need to be better safe than sorry,” commissioner Enrique Zuniga said.
The commission said its operations staff will coordinate with the casinos to figure out the fine details of the “orderly closure” and expects to hold another meeting this weekend to discuss those details.
All three facilities said they expect to maintain a small team of staff — management and security, mostly — during the closures.
Around the country, other states have shut down or limited casino operations as American society adjusts to social distancing in a public health emergency.
Illinois on Friday suspended riverboat casino operations and Ohio ordered its gaming facilities to either close or keep the number of customers and workers present below 100.
On Friday, Gov. Charlie Baker banned most gatherings of 250 people or more, the Catholic Church in Boston suspended Masses until further notice and many local school systems have canceled classes for at least a week. In Boston’s case, schools will likely be closed until late April.
Sporting events, concerts, theater performances and conferences have been called off. A massive chunk of the state’s workforce is adjusting to working remotely and state agencies like the Gaming Commission are operating in uncharted waters.
Saturday morning’s unusual virtual emergency meeting was made possible by the fact that Baker this week suspended parts of the Open Meeting Law in an attempt to allow government to function without putting people in physical proximity of one another.
The commission posted a public notice of the meeting — including the dial-in information for any member of the public who wanted to “attend” the meeting — around 11 p.m. Friday.
The following is a press release from Will Gardner, Executive Director Alma del Mar Charter School in New Bedford:
“Out of an abundance of caution, Alma del Mar will be closed Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17. Alma staff will spend these days further assessing the rapidly changing situation surrounding the Coronavirus, and whether we need to close school for an extended period of time. Any updates will be communicated to families through mass text, social media, and www.almadelmar.org
As of this writing, there are no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus in our schools, or in the city of New Bedford. We are making this difficult decision in order to prioritize the health and safety of our community.
Today, March 13, scholars have been sent home with homework packets in the case of an extended closure. Our goal for this at-home work is that it will be independent and not require the use of the internet, a computer, or a phone. Should we need to close school for a more extended period, we will be in touch with additional work for scholars and resources for at-home learning.
We recognize that many of our scholars, families, and staff are increasingly concerned about the COVID-19 situation. Our Leadership Team and Operations Teams are working diligently to ensure we have a thoughtful response. At the same time, we realize what a strain our schools’ closure for any period puts on families and working parents. We do not make this decision lightly. We want to do our part to ensure we are protecting the public and mitigating community spread of infectious disease.
We recommend that all scholars, families, and staff follow all public health guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Health and the CDC. Medical questions and concerns should be brought to a school nurse, your own doctor, or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800.
Thank you for your help to keep our community healthy and safe. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any school leader.”
New Bedford Public Schools will be closed until March 23. Details here.
Effective immediately, as a preventative action New Bedford Public Schools will close through at least Friday, March 20, 2020, Superintendent Thomas Anderson announced late today. “Out of an abundance of caution and to support the effort to stem the potential spread of coronavirus in our region, New Bedford Public Schools will be closed Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20, 2020. Schools are currently scheduled to reopen on Monday, March, 23, 2020. This action is being taken after close consultation with all other school districts in our region and across Massachusetts, the Mayor’s office and City officials.”
Due to rolling cancellations across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the likelihood of mass absenteeism has increased significantly since the City of New Bedford’s announcement earlier this morning. New Bedford Public Schools will ensure that students’ learning remains a priority during the city’s state of emergency.
While schools are closed, students and their families will receive updates and information regarding academic opportunities and services such as school-provided meals. New Bedford Public Schools will continue to keep families informed via social media and announcements.
All central office and school administrators as well as all 12-month personnel, including facilities and maintenance staff, will report to work as scheduled. All other staff do not need to report during this time.
NBPS encourages students to make every effort to continue their learning by reading as much as possible. This adjusts the last day of school to Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
While Monday, March 23, is the designated reopening date, Superintendent Anderson advised students, staff and families to continue to closely monitor the NBPS website, district social media, and local media outlets for any updates to closure status during this rapidly evolving situation. The closings are effective Monday, March 16; SATs scheduled for this weekend will remain available for students who have signed up and plan to complete the tests.
“Dear New Bedford Public Schools Community,
As referenced in several previous communications, the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve. We are following all recommended measures and remain in close collaboration with local agencies including Southcoast Health (St. Luke’s Hospital), the City of New Bedford Health Department and City agencies. We are following guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Boston Public Health Commission. I encourage you to visit their websites in addition to the CDC’s website, for more information.
As this situation continues to develop, in consultation with the office of Mayor Jon Mitchell, the School Committee, and the City Health Department, New Bedford Public Schools will implement the following directives, effective Friday, March 13, 2020.
Athletics:
• We will use guidance from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), the governing body for high school sports, regarding athletic contests
Events – Large Gatherings:
• We are presently monitoring all future school events with large crowd gatherings and will decide on future postponements and/or cancellations on a case by case basis
• We will monitor all events and continue to work with key agencies on all decisions to cancel and/or postpone events based on updated information through April 30, 2020
Out-of-State travel/field trips:
• We are canceling all planned out-of-state travel through April 30, 2020. This includes:
• Student field trips
• Staff professional development / conferences
• We will revisit ALL previously approved out-of-state travel scheduled to occur after April 30, 2020, to make informed decisions for the remainder of the school year
In-State field trips/travel:
• We will limit in-state field trips to the Greater New Bedford area
• As always parents should use their discretion to allow their child to participate
Health Reminders:
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose
• Stay home from work or school if you feel sick
We have added links on our District homepage to provide everyone with access to health-related communications and other helpful information concerning coronavirus.
Facilities teams throughout our schools are following a comprehensive deep cleaning protocol focused on performing a targeted environmental cleaning regimen, which is documented by checklist and signed by custodians doing the work. All schools are being cleaned 100% and this work continues on weekends. The deep cleaning protocol includes use of electrostatic handheld sprayers to disinfect large areas. Special attention is being paid to all common surfaces including cafeteria tables/chairs, all classroom furniture, coat hooks, copy machines, desks, chairs, door hardware, door surfaces (interior/exterior), computers (keyboard/mouse/peripherals), light switches, lockers, serving stations, sinks/faucets, stair railings, telephones, and water fountains.
I would like to remind you that the most effective precautions against the spread of germs are thorough and frequent handwashing, covering coughs/sneezes, and avoiding touching your face. If children or family members have a fever and symptoms of a respiratory illness, please keep them home and contact your doctor. This applies to staff as well.
Please monitor these websites:
www.newbedfordschools.org/coronavirus
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/emergencyplan/covid19.html
https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
Please be assured that the health and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority. I remain particularly grateful for the strength and togetherness of this community.
Sincerely,
Thomas Anderson”
Mayor Jon Mitchell joined City officials on Friday to update the public on the City’s response to COVID-19. In accordance his legal authority, Mayor Mitchell has declared that a state of emergency now exists in New Bedford. This allows for the suspension of certain rules to expedite the procurement of goods and services, as well as allowing the Mayor to take reasonable steps to ensure public safety.
The Mayor and City officials offered the following guidelines on Friday, March 13:
Events
Public events: All non-essential public community events greater than 100 people will be postponed or cancelled.
In particular, the Mayor’s state of the city address, which is the second-largest of its kind in the state, will be postponed.
Special event permits: All special permits will be reviewed. Effective this Monday, the City will revoke all permits for indoor activities greater than 100 people, and all other special event will be subject to review of the Health Department to assess the risk of transmission.
School events: Superintendent Thomas Anderson has announced a similar curtailment of school events.
Other events: With respect to events that do not require some form of public approval or permit, Mayor Mitchell strongly discouraged the holding of non-essential indoor events of greater than 100 people.
City Facilities and Board/Commission Meetings
City facilities:
In addition to curtailing events at public places, certain facilities will be closed.
Effective Monday morning: All senior centers in the city will be closed until further notice. Likewise, the City is closing the adult day facility in Brooklawn Park, but will provide the families of the facility’s patrons a reasonable opportunity to find alternate care during the day.
Buttonwood Park Zoo: All indoor events at the Buttonwood Park Zoo will be postponed or cancelled.
Board and Commission meetings:
Last night, the Governor issued an executive order that liberalizes the requirements of the state’s opening meeting law. The City’s attorneys are reviewing the order now, but in any case, the City will take every step consistent with the law to minimize the attendance at board and commission meetings, including the deferring of items for which board action is not urgent.
City employees
The City is working hard to ensure the safety our employees. For starters, the City’s custodial staff is strenuously cleaning buildings, and is emphasizing of course proper hygiene.
All out-of-state employee travel through the end of April will be postponed or cancelled, as well as any non-essential employee travel of greater than twenty miles. The Superintendent has announced a similar curtailment of school field trips.
The City is advising department heads that employees whose duties and responsibilities allow them to work at home, should make arrangements to do so.
The City strongly encourages all employers to employ similar protections and accommodations for their employees.
Paying bills online or by mail
To decrease person-to-person contact in public buildings, and help protect the health of employees and residents, the City is encouraging residents to pay bills remotely, either online or by mail. Payments can be made online at the City’s website, www.newbedford-ma.gov, and selecting ‘Pay Bills’ directly on the home page. To mail payments, residents can use the mailing address printed on their bills or mail their bills directly to the City Treasurer at the following address:
City Hall – Treasurer’s Office
133 William Street, Room 103
New Bedford, MA 02740
Mayor Mitchell made the following statement at Friday’s update:
“Good morning. There’s a great deal of anxiety in our city, across our country and indeed around the world about the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. Nothing quite like this has happened in our lifetimes, so it is understandable that people are on edge. I am here today to provide an update on the city’s latest efforts and to help you stay informed, prepare yourself and your family, and take actions to stem the spread of the virus.
“I want to begin by saying that the virus is coming, if it’s not already here. While there has yet to be a confirmed case in Greater New Bedford, we should not be fooled. As has been well chronicled, the limited number of test kits in the United States has inhibited the ability of the medical community to determine with confidence who has been infected. And we know, based on the recent outbreaks in China, Italy and other places, the virus has the potential to spread faster than our healthcare system can address.
“Our work has been focused on three goals: to slow the transmission of the virus in our city and region, make preparations to continue essential city services, and ensure the heath and safety of city employees and our residents. The strategy is to “flatten the curve” of viral spread, that is, to slow the transmission of the disease so that our health care system can keep up with the flow of patients until the virus eventually peters out. Getting out ahead of the virus through appropriate social distancing and encouraging proper hygiene is essential. That is why, even though residents in our region may not be infected yet, we have been taking proactive steps, including the cancelling of this weekend’s half marathon.
“Our decisions are informed by the advice of health care experts, and are consistent with guidance from federal and state agencies. Every morning I am briefed by our health director and our public safety agencies on the latest developments, so that as the situation evolves, we can make informed decisions in the public interest. Under the authority vested in me under law, I have declared that a state of emergency now exists in New Bedford. The authority allows the mayor to suspend certain rules concerning procurement of good and services, and generally affords the mayor the ability to take reasonable steps to ensure public safety.
“This is one of the challenges our city and our country faces in which the actions of private individuals is indispensable to success. More than anything else, proper hygiene is a must. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, with soap and hot water. Make sure your loves ones do the same.
“Be especially conscience of what you touch. Avoid as much as possible highly touched surfaces, such as railings, door knobs, and elevator buttons. Don’t touch your face. Stop shaking hands.
“And again, if you feel sick, go home and call your doctor.
“All of these measures and more, along with links to relevant state and federal guidance, can be found on the City’s website. We’ll continue to push out more updates so that you and your family remained informed, and I ask you to share with others.
“Our work here is about serious preparation, not panic. Each of us has a role to play to ensure the health and safety of our fellow New Bedfordites. I thank you in advance for your understanding, but more importantly, for the role you play in this collective effort.”
By Colin A. Young and Matt Murphy
State House News Service
As the state works to manage the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday issued his most forceful call yet for the federal government to allow private labs and hospital facilities to test for the virus as the number of cases statewide climbed to 108.
Testing has emerged as a key aspect of the national response to the outbreak of the newest coronavirus and the COVID-19 respiratory illness it causes. Without enough tests, public health officials are not able to wrap their arms around the full scope of the outbreak.
Guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control generally determine who should be tested, but anecdotal evidence suggests that not all people who have been exposed to the virus qualify to be tested at this point.
After meeting with local officials in Pittsfield, where it appears the coronavirus has spread among the community without a known link to an infected person or high-risk region of the world, Baker said Massachusetts recently got enough testing supplies to test an additional 5,000 people but still needs to significantly ramp up its testing.
“We certainly believe we have what I would describe as an adequate supply today, but as I said in my remarks, we need the federal government — the CDC and FDA in particular — to give hospitals and testing facilities here in Massachusetts that have the capacity to test the material and then the approval they need to actually begin to test themselves,” Baker said.
“The fact that the state lab is the single source of testing at this time is not adequate,” he said.
Baker would not say exactly how many people have already been tested in Massachusetts, but said the state now has the ability to test 5,000 people in addition to the “several thousand” it had the ability to test before getting the latest supply.
On Tuesday, Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel said the state had recently received enough kits and supplies to test 2,000 new people and had already tested roughly 400 patients. Bharel said an approval from the federal government to automate part of the testing process would also allow the state to increase its testing capacity from 50 to 200 per day.
“Thankfully, the Massachusetts DPH lab is more advanced than some other states. That enables the lab to now process four times as many samples as it was last week,” Baker said Thursday. “But we need more testing capability. And we need the federal government to get there.”
Baker said his administration has been in touch with the state’s Congressional delegation and the Trump administration about securing approvals for additional testing sites, including hospitals and private labs.
“We have hospitals in eastern Massachusetts, central Massachusetts, western Massachusetts, we have labs not related to hospitals, independent privately operated labs, all of which have the capacity to do this if they can get several requirements and authorizations from the feds,” Baker said.
The number of cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts reached triple digits on Thursday, with the Department of Public Health reporting a total of 108 cases, including six confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. That’s 13 more cases than were reported on Wednesday.
A total of 82 cases, up from 77 a day earlier, are being linked to the Biogen leadership meeting at the Long Wharf Marriott in late February.
Worcester County was the only county with known exposure to COVID-19 to not see an uptick in cases Thursday, while there still have been no reported cases Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.
Berkshire County, where Baker was in the afternoon, now has a total of nine cases. Public health officials also added a new category to its tracking to report that eight cases are associated with Berkshire Medical Center.
At that hospital, Baker said from Pittsfield, officials are concerned about their ability to appropriately staff the facility given the fact that some workers have been quarantined out of concern that they might have been exposed to the coronavirus.
But because of the emergency declaration he ordered this week, Baker said the state’s Board of Registration in Nursing “put in place an emergency procedure that will make it possible for licensed out-of-state medical professionals and nurses to get licensed here in Massachusetts in one day.”
“One of the things we heard from the delegation and from the mayor about was a more aggressive process for nurses and other medical professionals who are licensed and qualified in other states to be able to get licensed and qualified in Massachusetts quickly,” the governor said after meeting with Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Sen. Adam Hinds and others.
Hinds tweeted Thursday afternoon that the steps the state has taken so far to help Berkshire County are only the start.
“The Berkshires is the first area of the Commonwealth where we are seeing community transmission of COVID-19 of unknown origin. Approving interstate medical licenses to practice in Massachusetts, supporting public and private labs to test and expedite COVID-19 results, and provide cutting-edge equipment to hospitals and healthcare organizations in our region is just the beginning of what is necessary for the Berkshires to mitigate and curb the virus’ spread,” the Pittsfield Democrat posted.
Reps. William “Smitty” Pignatelli and John Barrett III, both from the Berkshires, also have filed legislation to create a new fund to assist hourly wage workers who may have to miss work due to infection, quarantine or isolation related to COVID-19.
OFF: Thursday, March 12, 2020: Dual Enrollment Info Session at NBHS
The Dual Enrollment Information Session scheduled for tonight at New Bedford High School from 5:30-6:30 has been canceled. Information about the program will be posted on the New Bedford High School website nbhs.newbedfordschools.org along with the application. Please contact Mrs. Cardoza directly with questions regarding the program or application process at jcardoza@newbedfordschools.org or 508-997-4511 x20507.
POSTPONED: Friday, March 13, 2020: Pops Concert at NBHS
Out of an abundance of caution, the New Bedford High School Pops Night, which was scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2020 has been postponed until further notice.
ON: Saturday, March 14, 2020: SAT Testing at NBHS
College Board SAT Testing at New Bedford High School remains on schedule for Saturday, March 14. Students registered to take the SAT are to report on time per College Board instructions. Students will be divided into small groups throughout the high school.
“For the health and safety of our audiences, artists, volunteers, and staff, we have decided to postpone or cancel all performances, classes and events through March 31.
We understand that many of you had concerns about gathering in a large group. We share those concerns and are taking the precautions necessary to stem the tide of this virus. For updates, please visit www.zeiterion.org/coronavirus-update.
If you are attending a performance, event or class in the month of March, you’ll receive an email about next steps. Right now, we are working with artists and their representatives to evaluate all our options, and will keep you informed as the details emerge.
We thank you for your continued support and understanding during these challenging times. Like all nonprofits, The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is dependent on its patrons, members and donors who are the heart and soul of our mission to bring people together to experience the magic of live performance.
Wishing everyone good health,
-Zeiterion”