The following was posted by Mirasol’s Cafe’s Instagram account:

“In strict compliance with the guidelines set forth by the CDC, Dartmouth Board of Health and OSHA and to provide the highest degree of transparency, we are informing our community that a staff member at our cafe has recently tested positive for COVID-19.

We excused this staff member from any work-related activity shortly after arriving at the cafe. The staff member had some underlying symptoms of COVID-19, so was promptly sent home. According to the Dartmouth Board of Health and the Massachusetts Department of Health, we are cleared to resume operations as normal, but we are taking it upon ourselves to close in order to sanitize, using an outside firm and get additional testing, so we will close on Tuesday (5/12) and Wednesday (5/13) and re-open on Thursday – Saturday of this week.

Mirasol’s Cafe has exceeded the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our staff and customers. These steps include:

The staff member will not be permitted to return to work until meeting all CDC guidelines. These include: allowing at least seven (7) days to pass, testing negative twice within a 24 hour period in secondary COVID-19 testing, and/or they must be without fever and symptoms (under 100.4° F without fever-reducing medication) for 72 hours, with or without secondary COVID-19 testing.

Performing a comprehensive investigation of the employee’s contact with others throughout the cafe. From this investigation, we have informed the necessary staff, third-parties, and authorities to ensure that the issue is contained to the highest degree. Any staff members who are symptomatic but have not been tested for COVID-19 will not be permitted to work.

We will continue our rigorous cleaning and sanitizing program of the entire workspace throughout our hours of operation as well as having our PPE on at all times and taking staff temperatures before staff members start to work, random checks throughout the day and a final one upon exiting the cafe.

As always, the community’s and our staff members’ continued health and wellness are always our top priority and we will do everything in our control to make Mirasol’s Cafe the safest customer experience possible.

Thank you for your understanding.” – Mirasol’s Cafe.

Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced a four-phase approach to reopening the Massachusetts economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and published Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards that will apply across all sectors and industries once reopening begins.

The goal of the phased reopening, based on public health guidance, is to methodically allow certain businesses, services, and activities to resume, while protecting public health and limiting a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases.

Phase 1 will be “Start:” limited industries resume operations with severe restrictions

Phase 2 will be “Cautious:” additional industries resume operations with restrictions and capacity limits

Phase 3 will be “Vigilant:” additional industries resume operations with guidance

Phase 4 will be the “New Normal:” development of vaccine and/or therapy enables resumption of new normal

Businesses and activities that provided “COVID-19 Essential Services,” per Governor Baker’s March 23rd order, will continue to operate. Certain businesses and activities with a lower risk of COVID-19 transmission will open in earlier phases. Decisions and timing will be influenced by public health metrics for when the first phase of reopening begins, as well as when it is safe to move into concurrent phases.

CLICK HERE for more information about the four-phased reopening approach.

CLICK HERE for today’s presentation from the Reopening Advisory Board.

Additionally, the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the COVID-19 Command Center, in consultation with the Reopening Advisory Board and based on feedback from industry, labor, and community coalitions, has developed Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission as employees and customers begin to return to workplaces during the first phase of reopening. These Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards are applicable to all sectors and industries that will be open in phase one, and create new workplace requirements for social distancing, hygiene, staffing and operations, and cleaning. These standards are being released to give workplaces time to plan and prepare for reopening.

For social distancing:

– All persons, including employees, customers, and vendors should remain at least six feet apart to the greatest extent possible, both inside and outside workplaces
– Establish protocols to ensure that employees can practice adequate social distancing
– Provide signage for safe social distancing
– Require face coverings or masks for all employees

For hygiene:

– Provide hand washing capabilities throughout the workplace
– Ensure frequent hand washing by employees and adequate supplies to do so
– Provide regular sanitization of high touch areas, such as workstations, equipment, screens, doorknobs, restrooms throughout work site

For staffing and operations:

– Provide training for employees regarding the social distancing and hygiene protocols
– Employees who are displaying COVID19-like symptoms do not report to work
– Establish a plan for employees getting ill from COVID-19 at work, and a return-to-work plan

For cleaning and disinfecting:

– Establish and maintain cleaning protocols specific to the business
– When an active employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, cleaning and disinfecting must be performed
– Disinfection of all common surfaces must take place at intervals appropriate to said workplace

CLICK HERE for more information about the Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards.

In addition to these Mandatory Standards which apply to all workplaces, the Reopening Advisory Board is developing Sector Specific Safety Protocols and Best Practices that will detail how particular industries should operate upon reopening.

The Reopening Advisory Board is scheduled to provide its full report to Governor Baker on Monday, May 18th.

Kingston Fire Chief Mark R. Douglass and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said the cause of Saturday’s fire at 131 Country Club Way in Kingston was a hoverboard. Residents reported the fire at about 7:30 p.m. and were able to put it out using a fire extinguisher. There were no injuries and damages are estimated at $10,000.

Investigators determined that a hoverboard charging on the third floor of the single family home ignited the fire. A newly purchased charging cord was being used for the first time. The battery pack exploded, causing the fire.

The fire was jointly investigated by the Kingston Fire and Police Departments and State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

This is the second fire in about a month from a hoverboard while charging in Massachusetts. In April, there was a similar incident in Andover.

Hoverboard fires were a national problem in 2016 after many were received as holiday gifts in 2015. They are powered by lithium-ion batteries and must now be compliant with national safety standards.

Chief Douglass said, “Use only chargers supplied with the hoverboard or by the manufacturer. Only charge a hoverboard when you are there to watch it and do not charge unattended, especially overnight. Overcharging can cause a fire.”

State Fire Marshal Ostroskey said, “It is important to purchase a hoverboard that has been approved by an independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratory. When purchasing online, be on the lookout for fraudulent claims.” For more information on hoverboard safety or how to check if the UL listing is legitimate, go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s webpage.

New Bedford officials reported four more COVID-19 related deaths and 109 new cases since Saturday.

Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office reported 109 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Bedford on Monday, bringing the total positive cases in the city to 1,151, up from 1,042 on Saturday. The four new deaths bring the total death count attributed to COVID-19 to 34 in the city. New Bedford officials do not report COVID-19 data on Sundays.

22 additional cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Fall River. This brings the total in Fall River to 759. Full details here.

On May 10, the Massachusetts Public Health Department reported that the state added 1,050 more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing to total to 77,793. This is a decrease from Saturday’s 1,410 reported cases and a drop for the fourth straight day. Full details here.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday Massachusetts State Police patrol units, detectives and crime scene specialists, along with Boston Police officers and detectives, responded to the Stony Brook Reservation in the West Roxbury section of Boston after human remains were discovered.

The body was located in a swampy wooded area adjacent to the Enneking Parkway. The remains were observed by a passerby who reported the observation to police.

The body is believed to be an adult female. Detectives are currently working to identify the body.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has begun a post-mortem examination; the cause and manner of death is pending as part of the ongoing investigation.

In order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, no further information is being released at this time.

United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, and Congressman Denny Heck (D-WA) in announcing the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020.

The legislation would establish an Emergency Rental Assistance program to provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to help families and individuals pay their rent and remain housed during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. Stabilizing renters and the rental market through this crisis will help the economy recover from the economic aftershocks of the pandemic.

“Stable housing is a basic need for Americans struggling under the weight of this public health emergency,” said Senator Warren. “I’m glad to partner with my colleagues on a bill to help families and individuals in Massachusetts and across the country pay their rent, utility bills, and remain stably housed during and after this devastating pandemic.”

“This pandemic is yet another painful reminder of just how vulnerable millions of workers are to a single setback – whether it is losing your job, a broken-down car, or just being late on rent,” said Senator Brown. “Congress must act now to keep families in their homes. That’s why I am introducing the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020 to ensure that renters remain safely and affordably housed during and after this crisis.”

“This legislation would create a $100 billion emergency rental assistance fund to help struggling renters across the nation as well as mom and pop landlords relying on rental payments for their retirement,” said Chairwoman Waters. “We must take immediate action to prevent the COVID-19 crisis from turning into a national eviction crisis. It is absolutely essential for the next COVID-19 relief package to include this bill.”

“Millions of Americans are facing new financial uncertainty, through no fault of their own,” said Congressman Heck. “This bill will help tenants pay their rent, without placing the burden on landlords, many of whom are relying on payments from renters to pay their mortgages. It is vital to our recovery and to the wellbeing of Americans that we do everything we can to keep people in their homes. I will continue working with Chair Waters, Ranking Member Brown, and congressional leadership to ensure we quickly get rent relief to Americans.”

Specifically, the bill would:

– Authorize $100 billion for an Emergency Rental Assistance program to help families and individuals pay their rent and utility bills and remain housed during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
– The program would send funds to communities, states, and tribes through an existing federal temporary rental assistance program to facilitate the rapid distribution of funds through an already-available administrative and reporting system.

The bill is co-sponsored in the Senate by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), and Michael F. Bennet (D-CO).

More information about the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020 can be found here. The bill has been endorsed by a diverse list of housing, state and local government, child advocacy, faith, health care, women’s, civil rights, disability rights, and social welfare organizations. These groups include the National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Low Income Housing Coalition, Children’s Defense Fund, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Counties, National Urban League, and National League of Cities.

Senator Warren has made it a priority to ensure families and individuals have access to stable housing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, she sent a letter with Senator Merkley and Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Katie Porter (D-CA) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development asking for a moratorium on evicting renters during the coronavirus pandemic. She published an op-ed in which she called for a grassroots economic stimulus package that would protect and expand housing, among other measures. Senator Warren has also introduced legislation to protect individuals experiencing homelessness during the pandemic, and has called on Congress to provide $11.5 billion in the next COVID-19 relief package for states and localities responding to the needs of those experiencing homelessness.

Massachusetts Coronavirus Update

On May 10, the Massachusetts Public Health Department reported that the state added 1,050 more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing to total to 77,793. This is a decrease from Saturday’s 1,410 reported cases and a drop for the fourth straight day.

139 new COVID-19 related deaths were reported on Sunday bringing the total deaths in Massachusetts to 4,979. As of 4 pm today, 388,389 people in Massachusetts have been tested for COVID-19 – 11,852 new tests since yesterday.

As of May 5, 32,019 individuals in Massachusetts were subject to quarantine with 22,148 no longer in quarantine. 9,871 individuals are undergoing monitoring/under quarantine.

New Bedford Coronavirus Update

New Bedford officials reported one more COVID-19 related deaths since Friday or 11 deaths since May 2 bringing the total to 30 in the city.

Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office reported 98 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Bedford on Saturday, bringing the total positive cases in the city to 1,042, up from 944 on Friday. New Bedford does not provide COVID-19 statistics on Sundays.

As of Thursday, none of the 26 people who have died from COVID-19 in New Bedford were under 50 years old and 98% of those who have died in Massachusetts have had at least one preexisting health condition. New Bedford’s breakout by age here.

Fall River Coronavirus Update

22 additional cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Fall River. This brings the total in Fall River to 759. Full details here.

With more people turning to video-teleconferencing platforms as a way of communicating, the Dartmouth Police Department has received some reports of video-teleconferencing hijacking (also called “Zoom-bombing”).

As individuals continue the transition to online lessons and meetings, the FBI recommends exercising due diligence and caution in your cyber security efforts. The following steps can be taken to mitigate teleconference hijacking threats:

• Do not make meetings or classrooms public. In Zoom, there are two options to make a meeting private: require a meeting password or use the waiting room feature and control the admittance of guests.
• Do not share a link to a teleconference or classroom on an unrestricted publicly available social media post. Provide the link directly to specific people.
• Manage screensharing options. In Zoom, change screensharing to “Host Only.”
• Ensure users are using the updated version of remote access/meeting applications. In January 2020, Zoom updated their software. In their security update, the teleconference software provider added passwords by default for meetings and disabled the ability to randomly scan for meetings to join.
• Lastly, ensure that your organization’s telework policy or guide addresses requirements for physical and information security.

If you were a victim of a teleconference hijacking, or any cyber-crime for that matter, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

Chris Lisinski
State House News Service

Groups that work with domestic violence survivors warned Friday that a federal judge’s order allowing gun retailers to reopen during the pandemic “may further jeopardize the personal safety of victims of abuse.”

In a joint statement, Jane Doe Inc. Executive Director Debra Robbin and Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance Liam Lowney pointed to research in the American Journal of Public Health indicating that women face a 500 percent higher risk of homicide when a gun is present in a domestic violence situation. During the pandemic, with residents urged to remain at home whenever possible and thus facing isolation and stress, risks of domestic violence are higher, they said.

“While these concerns are not new, the compounding stressors brought on by coronavirus add fuel to those fires,” they said. “For people experiencing domestic violence or at risk for committing suicide, more guns in the home at a time of greater isolation and barriers to services can be especially dangerous.” Robbin and Lowney urged the public to be attentive to others’ mental health needs and to check in on friends, family and neighbors.

Massachusetts Coronavirus Update

On May 9, the Massachusetts Public Health Department reported that the state added 1,410 more positive cases of COVID-19 bringing to total to 76,743. This is a decrease from Friday’s 1,612 reported cases.

138 new COVID-19 related deaths were reported on Saturday bringing the total deaths in Massachusetts to 4,840. As of 4 pm today, 376,537 people in Massachusetts have been tested for COVID-19 – 10,514 new tests since yesterday.

As of May 5, 32,019 individuals in Massachusetts were subject to quarantine with 22,148 no longer in quarantine. 9,871 individuals are undergoing monitoring/under quarantine.

New Bedford Coronavirus Update

New Bedford officials reported one more COVID-19 related deaths since yesterday or 11 deaths since last Saturday bringing the total to 30 in the city.

Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office reported 98 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Bedford on Saturday, bringing the total positive cases in the city to 1,042, up from 944 on Friday.

As of Thursday, none of the 26 people who have died from COVID-19 in New Bedford were under 50 years old and 98% of those who have died in Massachusetts have had at least one preexisting health condition. New Bedford’s breakout by age here.

Fall River Coronavirus Update

26 additional cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Fall River for the second straight day. This brings the total in Fall River to 737. The Fall River Health Department is in contact with the individuals who have tested positive as well as their contacts. Full details here.