麻州政府將公佈市鎮確診率顏色圖 雀喜等4市鎮感染率最高

麻州州長查理貝克強調，私人聚會現在是最讓人頭痛的防疫弱點。
(周菊子攝自疫情匯報視頻)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(11)日中午匯報新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)疫情，指出在麻州351個市鎮中，有 33個可歸類為中等或高危社區，州府將加強在這些市鎮的防疫行動。

               麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudders並向雀喜市(Chelsea)，艾佛瑞(Everett)，林市(Lynn)，以及里維爾(Revere)等這4個市鎮喊話，”你們的社區COVID-19確診率特別高，請促請你們的市民戴口罩，保持6英尺的安全社交距離，勤洗手，如果不舒服就別出門”。

               查理貝克和Marylou Sudders表示，州政府將開始公佈以顏色標示的市鎮地圖，用紅黃綠白標示每10萬人的確診比率，讓民眾更容易的一目了然州內各市鎮的疫情輕重。

               查理貝克指出，疫情雖然還在持續，好消息是有318個麻州市鎮的COVID-19病毒感染確診率都在每10萬人低於4人以下，和全國平均率差不多，或者更低。不過人們要注意的是，不管各人住在哪個社區，疫情還未消散。州政府的跨部會防疫行動小組將深入各市鎮，協助地方防疫。

               查理貝克也報告到，8月11日的疫情數據為，有11276人做了檢測，使得麻州總檢測人數已超過175萬人，新增確診個案有214宗，累計為12,607宗，連續7日的確診率為1.8%，目前有318人住院，60人在重症病房。

               查理貝克坦言，州政府正在推跨部會防疫行動，主要是因為地方市鎮反應，希望州政府協助防疫，因為民眾不遵守防疫規定時，他們拿不出什麼好辦法。查理貝克表示，州政府上週已更新了防疫措施規定，把戶外群聚人數從100降至50，室內群聚保持25，但是要求如果室內聚會有10人以上來自不同家庭，就必須戴口罩。他強調，州政府也不希望處罰民眾，但經驗告訴大家，遵守戴口罩，保持社交安全距離，勤洗手的是避免病毒散布、傳染的最好方法，希望大家都能保護自己，保護身邊的人。

Baker-Polito Administration Releases Enhanced Community Level Data on Spread of COVID-19

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration released additional data on community level spread of COVID-19 in order to target additional resources and implement community specific strategies to stop the spread of the virus.

Last week, Governor Charlie Baker announced a new set of initiatives aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, especially in higher risk communities that have seen a recent uptick in cases. While Massachusetts has seen an overall decrease in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations since May, there has been a slight uptick in certain communities in recent days.

The Administration today released data on the average daily cases per 100,000 residents, average percent positivity, and positive tests, for all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns over the last two weeks.

Based on the average daily cases per 100,000 residents, each city or town has been designated as a higher risk, moderate risk, or lower risk community. Going forward, this information will be updated and included in the Department of Public Health’s weekly public health dashboard, which is published each Wednesday.

Any city or town designated higher risk is considered to have a high level of COVID infection, and will receive additional support from the Commonwealth to address the spread of the virus.

Last week, Governor Baker announced a targeted cross-agency COVID Enforcement and Intervention Team that will be responsible for ramping up enforcement statewide and coordinating intervention efforts at the local level in these higher risk COVID-19 communities.

Member agencies include the Executive Office and Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), who will serve as coordinators of the team, the Command Center, the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), the Department of Labor Standards (DLS), the Division of Professional Licensure (DPL), the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Division of Local Services (DLS), the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) and the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS).

Statewide Enforcement and Intervention supports will include: 

• Targeted interventions and inspections by a range of member agencies, including Local Services, Labor Standards, DPH, MSP and ABCC, coordinated by EOPSS and MEMA.

• Increased enforcement, including fines, of sector guidance for businesses to ensure businesses and residents are aware of and following COVID-19 orders.

• Cease and desist orders as necessary for businesses and organizations in violation of the COVID-19 orders.

• Support for ABCC and local licensing boards in exercising their existing authority to fine restaurants or suspend or cancel liquor licenses when restaurants do not comply with required COVID-19 safety measure or sanitation codes.

• Targeted public messaging to alert residents of higher risk COVID communities (road signs, PSAs, reverse 911, etc.).

• Technical support to local government officials to support enhanced local COVID-19 prevention efforts such as assistance in accessing CARES Act funding.

• Potential restrictions or shutdowns for parks, playgrounds, businesses or other entities and locations believed to be contributing to the COVID-19 spread in higher risk COVID-19 communities.

• Additional public health support such as testing, tracing and quarantining.