The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of May 18, 2020 –May 22, 2020 and they are as follows:

Eversource:

Eversource will replace the gas mains at the following locations:

• Tarkiln Hill Rd. and Park Ave. from Tarkiln Hill Rd. to Church St.
• Brook St. from Collette St. to Earle St.
• Davis St. from Riverside Ave. to 389 Davis St.
• Johnathan St. from Arnold St. to 57-59 Johnathan St.

Eversource will be doing final street and sidewalk restoration at various locations citywide.

Other:

• Contractor (PA Landers) to continue work at MassDOT Project #606709, New Bedford- Roadway Reconstruction and Related Work (including signals) along a section of Kings Highway and Tarkiln Hill Road, Construction to take place during regular working hours (Monday – Friday), police details and traffic controls will be in place.
• Contractor (PA Landers) to resume work on JFK Blvd, Griffin St to Cove St.
• Department of Public Infrastructure will be filling potholes on a continuous basis throughout the city.
• Department of Public Infrastructure conducting its annual street sweeping program city-wide.
• The contractor (WES Construction) is scheduled to continue construction of the new pumping station and installation of the site utilities at the Front St./ Elm St. site. Elm St, between JFK Memorial Highway (RTE 18) and Macarthur Dr. will be closed to westbound traffic. Westbound traffic will be detoured via MacArthur Drive. There will be detour signage and traffic controls in place.
• Due to ongoing construction at the High Hill Reservoir residents may experience discolored water. The water is safe, and the discoloration will be temporary. We recommend allowing the water to settle for a few hours and then flushing your service line by letting the bathtub run for a few minutes until the water clears.

** Please note: contractors will continue to follow guidelines and protocol regarding COVID-19 social distancing while conducting work in construction zone.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation the Department of Public Infrastructure will be closed to the public entry. Office staff is available to assist by email and telephone.

New Bedford officials reported two more COVID-19 related deaths today, nine in the past two days.

Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office reported 64 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Bedford on Thursday, bringing the total positive cases in the city to 1,295, up from 1,231 on Wednesday. The two additional deaths bring the total death count attributed to COVID-19 to 45 in the city.

The City of New Bedford is offering a mask to any New Bedford resident who wants one at no cost, at a series of drive-through distribution events in late May and June. Full details here.

97 additional cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Fall River, according to the Mayor’s Office. This brings the total in Fall River to 888. Fall River saw 3 more deaths, bringing the total to 17. Full details here.

On May 13, the Massachusetts Public Health Department reported that the state added 1,165 more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing to total to 80,497. This is an increase from Tuesday’s 870 reported cases. Full details here.

Several Republican legislators on Tuesday urged Gov. Charlie Baker to not delay the reopening of the economy any longer, expressing frustration that other states around Massachusetts are allowing businesses to resume activities while owners and employees in their districts remain in limbo. Full details here.

Mayor Jon Mitchell announced that the City of New Bedford has launched MaskNB, an initiative in partnership with the Southeastern Massachusetts chapter of the American Red Cross and Joseph Abboud Manufacturing Corporation, to continue to promote the widespread use of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by offering a mask to any City resident who wants one at no cost, at a series of drive-through distribution events in late May and June.

Mayor Mitchell explained the reason for making the masks available: “The scientific basis for widespread mask use is growing stronger, but in order for that knowledge to make a difference, we need to take individual and collective action. At an individual level, that means remembering to always wear a mask whenever you cannot practice social distancing.

Mitchell added, “Collectively, it means finding ways to help each other adjust to the ‘new normal’ of daily mask-wearing. By supplying enough masks for all our residents, we are not only taking an important step in that direction, but we are doing something unique that few cities have been able to undertake. In this case, the commitment of American Red Cross volunteers, the creativity and determination of Joseph Abboud workers, and key city government departments, all came together to make the impossible, possible. They all deserve our thanks and admiration.”

“We’re proud to partner with the City of New Bedford and Joseph Abboud Manufacturing Corporation to distribute masks to local citizens. Public safety is an important mission of the Red Cross, and together we can help stop the spread of the COVID virus and protect our loved ones and neighbors,” said Barbara Cotton, executive director of the Southeastern Massachusetts chapter of the American Red Cross.

“We are proud to continue to support New Bedford’s efforts to fight COVD-19,” said Joe Bahena, CEO of Joseph Abboud Manufacturing Corporation. The designer menswear manufacturer, based in the City’s North End, retooled its facility to produce masks early in the COVID-19 response effort, and has continued to refine its operations to meet the City’s needs.

Under the MaskNB distribution plan, interested residents in each of the City’s six Wards will have an opportunity to obtain free cloth face masks at New Bedford High School, 230 Hathaway Boulevard, on the following assigned dates and times:

Ward 1 Saturday, May 30 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Ward 2 Sunday, May 31 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Ward 3 Saturday, June 6 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Ward 4 Sunday, June 7 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Ward 5 Saturday, June 13 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Ward 6 Sunday, June 14 – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The dates are listed at www.masknb.com. Additional dates may be announced based on available supplies.

Residents should arrive at the main vehicle entrance of New Bedford High School, located at 230 Hathaway Boulevard, and remain in their vehicles as Red Cross volunteers hand out masks based on their requests. Residents are asked to limit their mask requests to those in their household and/or any elderly or vulnerable neighbors (who have been advised against leaving their homes).

In late April the City announced the first phase of its mask distribution effort, with a goal of delivering roughly 50,000 Abboud-made masks to first responders, essential workers, and vulnerable populations, including residents and staff of nursing homes, long-term care facilities, senior living facilities, shelters, and New Bedford Housing Authority facilities. Masks are also being provided to staff and patients of the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, the staff and clients of the Meals on Wheels program, and elderly clients of the Immigrants Assistance Center. To date, the City has distributed more than 20,000 masks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the wearing of cloth face coverings in public where social distancing is difficult to maintain; cloth face coverings are not a substitute for medical-grade masks, but provide more protection against the spread of viruses than not covering one’s face. More information about the use and effectiveness of cloth face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.

Mayor Mitchell declared a state of emergency in New Bedford on March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City has since announced a range of measures to safeguard public health, including stringent requirements on nursing homes and senior living facilities, workplace safety protections, and regulations on food vendors and restaurants to protect their staff and customers.

Bishop Stang High School is proud of the accomplishments of our students and recognizes those students earning Honor Roll distinction.

Students on the President’s List have an average 95 or above, and a 90 or above in all courses. Students receiving First Honors have an average 90 or above, and an 85 or above in all courses. Those with Second Honors have an average 85 or above, and an 80 or above in all courses.

The following students from our area are being recognized for their academic achievement at Bishop Stang High School for their performance in the third quarter:

ACUSHNET

President’s List:
Brightman, Mikayla ‘23

First Honors:
Lenihan, Kerry ‘20
Peirce, Kaitlynn ‘20
Pereira, Cameron ‘22
Seiders, Jacob ‘22
Sylvia, Aaron ‘22

Second Honors:
Araujo, Connor ‘21
Carreau, Kate ‘23
Hamel, Ellen ‘21
Plante, Caden ‘23

ASSONET

First Honors:
DiGiammo, Alexander ‘22
DiGiammo, Andrew ‘20
Fernandes, Abigail ‘21
Joncas, Maya ‘20
Moore, Caitlyn ‘20

Second Honors:
Honeycutt, Lindsay ‘20

DARTMOUTH

President’s List:
Cabral, Aimee ‘22
Caldwell, Isabella ‘23
Caldwell, Sophie ‘23
da Silva, Katia ‘22
Fernandes, Alexander ‘23
Habboosh, Neda ‘22
Hunt, Tyler ‘22
Joaquim, Gabriella ‘20
Kippe, Madeleine ‘22
Marshall, Iliana ‘23
Mourato, Marcus ‘23
Pacheco, Ella ‘23
Ridolfi, Dominic ‘20
Rosenberg, Julia ‘21
White, Patrick ‘20
Zhai, Yangyang ‘20

First Honors:
Bonneau, Judith ‘22
Brum, John ‘23
Canastra, Sophia ‘22
Clark, Cody ‘22
Correia, Cali ‘22
Costa, Landen ‘23
Da Rosa, Sierra ‘22
Dumas, Jiniah ‘21
Ferreira, Nicholas ‘23
Franco, Michelle ‘23
Gardner, Harrison ‘23
Gaughan, Steven ‘23
Habboosh, Nashwan ‘21
Hirschmann, Nicolas ‘22
Hughes, Caleb ‘20
Kelly, Drew ‘20
Landers, Jake ‘23
Magalhaes, Andrew ‘21
Markey, Bridget ‘23
Martins, Ryan ‘22
Mello, Benjamin ‘20
Menard, Charles ‘23
Mills, Shawn ‘20
Oliveira, Taylor ‘23
O’Malley, Aidan ‘21
Pacheco, Ava ‘23
Patys, Katherine ‘22
Vescio, Patrick ‘21
Whelan, Liam ‘21

Second Honors:
Alves, Christian ‘21
Baker, Liam ‘20
Baker, Ronan ‘22
Brousseau, Olivia ‘23
Cardoza, Aiden ‘23
Costa, Harrison ‘23
Costa, Samuel ‘21
Couto, Miah ‘22
DeAlmeida, Mason ‘23
Desmarais, Ethan ‘23
Fortin, Hannah ‘23
Gardiner, Ava ‘23
Gomes, Emma ‘23
Howarth, Kassidy ‘20
Kulpinski, Joshua ‘22
Loranger, Isabella ‘20
Markey, Declan ‘21
Medeiros, Nina ‘20
Meehan, Ava ‘23
Moses, Zachary ‘21
Oliveira, Leah ‘20
Perriera, Olivia ‘21
Pianfetti, Logan ‘21
Rocha, Benjamin ‘22
Roderick, Aiden ‘22
Silva, Makayla ‘22
Souza, Noah ‘21
Tingley Prince, Jackson ‘23
Weeks, Randall ‘21
White, Colin ‘21

EAST FREETOWN

First Honors:
Beard, Kaitlyn ‘20
Chausse, Julia ‘20
Ramirez, Ismael ‘21
Ramirez, Jacqueline ‘21

Second Honors:
Bergeron, Rook ‘22

FAIRHAVEN

President’s List:
Arede, Hannah ‘20
Garde, Cameron ‘20
Guay, Aiden ‘22
Liarikos, Emma ‘21

First Honors:
Carreiro, Noah ‘22
Clough, Julia ‘20
Hankins, Justin ‘20
Johnson, Collin ‘22
Martin, John-Paul ‘21

Second Honors:
Arede, Christian ‘23
Borba, Brayden ‘22
Cardelli, Brandon ‘21
Dias, Jennifer ‘21
Jones, Ryan ‘23
Martin, Andrew ‘23
Massari, Luke ‘20
Miguel, Khloe ‘23
Pereira, Allison ‘22
Saber, Francesca ‘21

FALL RIVER

President’s List:
Nagpal, Alisha ‘23
Silvia, Matalin ‘22

First Honors:
Brady, Evan ‘20
Ferrara, Giovanna ‘23
Mullin, Sara ‘20
Resende, Brendan ‘23
Tetreault, Catherine ‘22

Second Honors:
Bell, Mackenzie ‘23
Medeiros, Veronica ‘23
Nasiff, Hailey ‘20
Reis, Sean ‘22
Saucier, Paul ‘20
Timberlake, Molly ‘21

LAKEVILLE

President’s List:
Sferrazza, Jillian ‘22
Vincze, Noelle ‘21

First Honors:
Clarke, Alyssa ‘22
Cooper, Naomi ‘22
Govoni, Julia ‘20
Ramsden, Aili ‘21
Shaw-Nelson, Tayden ‘23
Shields, Lily ‘22

Second Honors:
LeFever, Abigail ‘23
Pauliks, August ‘20

MARION

President’s List:
da Costa, Raquel ‘21
Wilkinson, Aaron ‘20

First Honors:
Egger, Maeve ‘22
Lonergan, Fiona ‘20
Russo, Catherine ‘20
Tougas, Luke ‘23
Wilkinson, Laurenne ‘20
Zygiel, Nellie ‘22

Second Honors:
Clavell, Bridget ‘21
Lynch, Sophie ‘21
Miedema, Morgan ‘22
Podkowa, Redmond ‘23

MATTAPOISETT

President’s List:
Downey, Julia ‘23
Downey, Kathleen ‘20
Downey, Liam ‘21
Senna, Eleanor ‘23

First Honors:
Lapointe, Lauren ‘20
Meninno, Ella ‘21

Second Honors:
Lanagan, Chloe ‘20
Letourneau, Cameron ‘23
Michaud, Joel ‘21
Surprenant, Claire ‘22

NEW BEDFORD

President’s List:
Antonio, Rebecca ‘23
Barboza, Sarah ‘22
Carlisle, Katie ‘23
Demers, Sydney ‘22
Gonsalves, Samantha ‘22
Marcotte, Thomas ‘20
Paiva, Izabel ‘22
Santiago, Kevin ‘23
Scarano, Ellen ‘21
Shea, Savannah ‘23

First Honors:
Amado, Mikayla ‘21
Babineau, Sophia ‘22
Bala, Julia ‘22
Barros, Ryan ‘22
Benavides, Ashley ‘22
Carreiro, Phoenix ‘20
Carusi, Matthew ‘23
Chan, Alex ‘20
Duncan, Jasmine ‘23
Fillion, Mackenzie ‘20
Golden, Rachel ‘21
Hyacinth, Sariah ‘20
Kofton, Savannah ‘21
Lima-Soares, Solange ‘21
Marcotte, Katherin ‘21
Markey, Xavier ‘20
Martin, Samuel ‘23
Mimoso, Aaron ‘20
Morrissey, Henri ‘23
Morrissey, Zoelle ‘20
Murphy, Morgan ‘22
Pereira, Sara ‘21
Wang, Jonathan ‘21
Wong, Myra ‘20

Second Honors:
Abu-Raya, Aryana ‘23
Ackah, Kiera ‘21
Bailey, Ethan ‘20
Braga, Alee ‘22
Carola, Cassandra ‘20
Carusi, Andrew ‘20
Dee, Jonathan ‘22
Escoto, Isabella ‘21
Fernandes, Elayna ‘20
Figueiredo, Jacob ‘21
Figueroa, Samuel ‘21
Fillion, Lindsey ‘23
Forgue, Myles ‘20
Frias, Tiana ‘20
Gomes, Carmen ‘20
Gonsalves, Vanessa ‘21
Guo, Xiaoxi ‘20
Halloran, Jack ‘22
Henderson, Kailani ‘20
Hernandez-Manon, Francisco ‘21
Jin, Yutong ‘20
Jones, Emily ‘23
Marshall, Seamus ‘22
Okafor, Chikamadu ‘20
Oliveira, Lilly ‘21
Rivas, Yoselin ‘21
Rosa, Myles ‘21
Samanica, Skylar ‘20
Santos, Chloe ‘21
Texiera, Isaiah ‘21
Yu, Xincong ‘20
Zhang, Kaihan ‘20

ROCHESTER

First Honors:
Aguiar, Dylan ‘21

Second Honors:
Brulport, Maxwell ‘21
King, Michelle ‘20
Pothier, Briana ‘22

WAREHAM

President’s List:
Burman, Lavina ‘22

First Honors:
DeMarco, Zachary ‘22
Gowell, Benjamin ‘21
Gowell, Olivia ‘21
Morrison, Jacqueline ‘21
Sylvester, Tyler ‘23
Voner, Taylor ‘21

Second Honors:
Baldwin, Sarah ‘20
Consoletti, Alessio ‘21
Farias, Alyssa ‘21
James, Aaron ‘20
Farias, Kyle ‘23
Morrison, Natalie ‘23
Petronelli, Casey ‘20

WESTPORT

President’s List:
Campbell, John ‘22
d’Almeida, Nicole ‘20
Gendron, Camille ‘22
Macomber, Avery ‘20
Pacheco, Christopher ‘23
Raposo, Victoria ‘21
Reis, Zoey ‘22
Salem, Chantel ‘23
Sullivan, Quinn ‘20
Walsh, Matthew ‘20
Walsh, William ‘20

First Honors:
Aguiar, Deirdra ‘20
Bao, Yihan ‘20
Botelho, Grace ‘20
Cambra, Ava ‘23
Costa, Emily ‘20
Erickson, Holland ‘23
Leonard, Lindsey ‘20
Li, Tongtong ‘20
Manchester, Philip ‘21
Martin, Caleb ‘20
Perry, Megan ‘21
Resendes, Gina ‘20
Silva, Katelyn ‘23
Silva, Samantha ‘20
Sullivan, Ellie ‘22

Second Honors:
Allen, Devin ‘20
Andrews, James ‘22
Borden, Brody ‘22
Caldera, Andrew ‘23
Cambra, Luke ‘22
DeFreitas, Emily ‘22
DeSousa, Cristina ‘23
DiNardo, Taylor ‘20
Donaldson, Maeve ‘23
Dos Santos, Evan ‘22
Ferreira, Griffin ‘21
Hurteau, Sean ‘23
Hyland, Nicholas ‘22
Kiely, Emily ‘21
Lavoie, Julia ‘21
Lima, Mae ‘23
Lima, Sophia ‘21
Oliveira, Gabrielle ‘22
Resendes, Tyler ‘21
Walsh, Collin ‘20

Congratulations to these outstanding students!

Yesterday morning, at approximately 9:20 a.m., troopers from the State Police Millbury and Charlton Barracks responded to reports of a serious crash on the ramp from I-90 Eastbound to the Route 20 Connector in Millbury.

Upon arrival, troopers discovered that a 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser, operated by Richard Nichols, 66, of Braintree, had crossed over the median, and struck a 2019 Isuzu Box Truck head-on. The Isuzu was operated by a 53-year-old man from North Providence, Rhode Island. The Rhode Island man was transported to UMass Memorial in Worcester by medical helicopter with life threatening injuries. Nichols, the driver of the Toyota, was determined to be deceased on scene.

The ramp system at Exit 10A from the Massachusetts Turnpike, I-90, was closed for the duration of the crash and crash reconstruction. The ramp system was opened when the scene cleared at approximately 1:30 p.m.

The remaining facts and circumstances remain under investigation by troopers assigned to the State Police Charlton Barracks, Troop C Headquarters, State Police Detective Unit assigned to Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, State Police Crime Scene Services Section (CSSS), State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section (CARS), Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MA DOT) all assisted on scene.

“To the woman from Watertown who sent the enclosed letter to the BPD’s official Facebook account on Thursday, May 7, 2020, praising Officer James Hosea of District C-11 in Dorchester for his empathy and professionalism, we say, ‘Thank you.’

In addition to being forwarded to the Office of Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, the letter will also be added to Officer Hosea’s permanent personnel file.

The letter reads as follows:

‘Good evening. I live in Watertown. I just wanted you to know what a wonderful person Officer James Hosea is. I was at the Angell Memorial in Jamaica Plain with my dog when I saw Officer Hosea bring a couple in with a dog that had been hit by a car. He was absolutely wonderful to those people. To the point of sitting on the ground with the woman to console her. He has a beautiful soul.

I feel grateful to have witnessed such a beautiful act of humanity. So much so, I actually took a picture of the moment and called Officer Hosea over to me so that I could tell him what a beautiful thing he did for that woman. He was very humble.”

The facts and circumstances surrounding the original incident are included below:

At about 10:13pm, on Thursday, May 7, 2020, Officer Hosea responded to a radio call for a dog struck by a vehicle in the area of 538 Talbot Avenue in Dorchester.

On arrival, Officer Hosea observed Boston EMS on scene applying oxygen to a small dog wrapped in a blanket. When the dog’s owners arrived on scene, due to the dog’s grave condition, Officer Hosea asked and instructed them to get into his police cruiser so that he could transport them to the MSPCA Animal Hospital in Jamaica Plain.”-Boston Police Department.

“On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, Fairhaven Police Department notified Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers that a possible ‘for hire’ trip had left a marina in Fairhaven with clients from Connecticut aboard.

Environmental Police Officers observed the vessel return to a dock in Fairhaven at approximately 12:00 p.m. A subsequent inspection of the vessel and catch found that the Captain did not possess a valid Massachusetts DMF Charter Permit and the permit he did offer was for a different vessel.

The Captain faces numerous fishing violations and will appear in court at a later date. The 250-pound catch of scup was seized and donated to the New Bedford Salvation Army.”-Massachusetts Environmental Police.

Matt Murphy
State House News Service

Public education activists, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association, are calling for the cancellation of a substantial amount of student debt to ease the financial crunch brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Group leaders from the MTA and the Fund Our Future Coalition plan a Facebook Live event Wednesday night at 7 p.m. to draw attention to a report written in 2015 by UMass Amherst doctoral candidates Anastasia Wilson that found the state forgoes $2.5 billion in savings, equity and economic activity due to student debt. The study has been updated to reflect the current conditions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, and the event will be streamed on the pages of the MTA and the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts.

“The student debt crisis was bubbling over even before the coronavirus crisis, but now as we enter a second Great Depression, we must cancel all student debt and make the economy work for working families,” said Zac Bears, executive director of PHENOM. “Billionaires are getting even richer while students and workers lose their jobs and wait for food in breadlines. We have to do better.”

The coalition said it would like to see Congress pass legislation to cancel up to $30,000 in student debt for individuals.

Massachusetts Coronavirus Update

On May 13, the Massachusetts Public Health Department reported that the state added 1,165 more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing to total to 80,497. This is an increase from Tuesday’s 870 reported cases.

174 new COVID-19 related deaths were reported on Wednesday bringing the total deaths in Massachusetts to 5,315. As of 4 pm today, 410,032 people in Massachusetts have been tested for COVID-19 – 8,536 new tests since yesterday.

As of May 12, 48,372 individuals in Massachusetts were subject to quarantine with 27,812 no longer in quarantine. 20,560 individuals are undergoing monitoring/under quarantine.

Several Republican legislators on Tuesday urged Gov. Charlie Baker to not delay the reopening of the economy any longer, expressing frustration that other states around Massachusetts are allowing businesses to resume activities while owners and employees in their districts remain in limbo. Full details here.

New Bedford Coronavirus Update

New Bedford officials today reported seven more COVID-19 related deaths – the highest one day total to date.

Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office reported 62 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Bedford on Wednesday, bringing the total positive cases in the city to 1,231, up from 1,169 on Saturday. The seven additional deaths bring the total death count attributed to COVID-19 to 43 in the city.

Mayor Jon Mitchell has announced that events in New Bedford with more than 10 people in attendance, and which require a City permit, have been cancelled through Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2020, to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full details here.

Fall River Coronavirus Update

97 additional cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Fall River, according to the Mayor’s Office. This brings the total in Fall River to 888. Fall River saw 3 more deaths, bringing the total to 17. Full details here.

Mayor Jon Mitchell and Southcoast Health have announced that, together, they are expanding a program to reach more at-risk areas and essential workers with COVID-19 testing.

The program is based on a joint pilot effort undertaken earlier this month to test commercial fishing crews on the New Bedford waterfront using the Southcoast Mobile Health Van for on-site, targeted COVID-19 testing, officials said.

That round of testing was a trial run to prepare for expanded testing capability, as targeted testing for essential and high-risk employees will be key to continuing to plan for reopening of the local economy and adjusting social distancing in the workplace, while keeping those employees safe both at the workplace and at home.

The City and Southcoast Health are partnering with the Immigrants Assistance Center to provide additional services and resources as part of the program. Medical interpreters from Southcoast Health will be on site, and literature in multiple languages will be available at the mobile testing site. Southcoast Health has also developed educational videos in multiple languages for employers to screen for their employees.

“Compared to other urban areas in the Northeast, a large portion of Greater New Bedford’s residents work in factories and other industrial facilities,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “Targeted testing at these facilities, coupled with the City’s safe-workplace orders, will help to stem transmission of COVID-19. I am grateful for the productive partnership with Southcoast Health, the Immigrants Assistance Center, and other services to protect the residents of our region.”

These plans align with Southcoast’s comprehensive efforts on COVID-19 education and testing across the not-for-profit community health system’s service area, officials said. A drive-up testing center opened in Dartmouth in April, and a walk-up testing site at Tobey Hospital opened in early May. In addition, Southcoast has provided testing for homeless populations in Fall River with plans to assist and support communities throughout the region. Southcoast is currently processing test results in house after the acquisition of two analyzers, reducing turnaround times.

“We are immensely proud of our entire region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re fortunate to partner with our local municipalities in serving the healthcare needs of our region,” Southcoast President & CEO Keith Hovan said. “Throughout this battle, we have worked closely with municipal leaders, including Mayor Mitchell, our legislative delegation and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to ensure all residents have the access they need to healthcare services.”

Last week, Mayor Mitchell and the Board of Health announced two emergency orders to keep employees safe at their place of work, and to outline reporting requirements of COVID-19 in the workplace. The orders include strong measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in industrial facilities including social distancing, stringent cleaning and disinfection, employee temperature checks, and accommodations for any employees to use sick time in compliance with federal and state laws.