MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES COVID-19 DATA DASHBOARDS FOR RESIDENTS

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES COVID-19 DATA DASHBOARDS FOR RESIDENTS  Dashboards provide up-to-date information about COVID-19 BOSTON - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - Building on his commitment to keeping residents of Boston informed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the launch of two data analytic dashboards that allow Boston residents to easily track the number of cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Boston and throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The dashboards are part of a suite of digital tools available to residents, which include a  texting service available in six languages, online City services, and frequently updated resources and factsheets available on  boston.gov/coronavirus. The first dashboard includes a day-by-day breakdown graph of the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, and tracks daily updates from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the number of COVID-19 cases.  The second COVID-19 dashboard  includes information specific to the City of Boston, including total daily cases, recovered cases, and total cases over time. The dashboard also tracks the levels of testing done throughout the United States. Together, these dashboards reflect up-to-date information about the status of coronavirus in Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the United States as a whole.  "Ensuring residents have accurate, up to date information about the coronavirus is critical during this challenging time," said Mayor Walsh. "These dashboards are another resource for residents to gather information and stay informed as we follow public health guidelines to keep ourselves and each other safe."  This data is updated when public data is released by the  Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). The CDC updates their numbers each afternoon, Monday-Friday, and the MDPH updates their numbers each afternoon. The dashboards were created by the Department of Innovation and Technology's Citywide Analytics Team.  Additional resources and information about COVID-19 is available on boston.gov/coronavirus. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments, including support for small businesses; free meals for Boston students; free toiletries for Boston students; emergency childcare centers -- including 27 centers in Boston -- support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; transportation options for healthcare workers; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources.  For additional questions or programs, please visit  boston.gov/coronavirus or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 99411 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in six languages.

MAYOR WALSH EXTENDS ORDER PAUSING NON-ESSENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH EXTENDS ORDER PAUSING NON-ESSENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

BOSTON - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - Due to the public health emergency caused by the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced he is affirmatively extending the City of Boston's order to pause non-essential construction for City of Boston permitted sites. Mayor Walsh first announced this order on March 16, 2020, and sites should have been locked down for safety by March 23. Due to the public health emergency in Boston and across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this pause is still in effect until further notice.  "The safety and health of construction workers and all residents of Boston is my first priority, and I am not willing to put that at risk as the virus spreads throughout our communities," said Mayor Walsh. "Large gatherings such as those at construction sites have been proven to escalate the spread of the virus, and Boston must do everything in its power to flatten the curve, and stop the spread of coronavirus."  Mayor Walsh is working with various partners including construction firms and the building trades to determine protocols that would allow these sites to safely re-open in Boston.  This policy only applies to projects permitted by the City of Boston. The City will still allow work that is essential to the safety and well-being of Boston's residents at this time, particularly work related to the COVID-19 public health crisis. In addition to these construction projects, the City will, on a case-by-case basis, review requests for exemptions to the temporary construction moratorium. These may be granted by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services (ISDCommissioner@boston.gov) for building-related work or the Commissioner of Public Works for street-related work. These will be granted if they support increased public health and safety and precautions are taken to mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 among workers.   Additional details about the order can be found on boston.gov. The guidance order is available online. ###

麻州學校停課至5月4日 政府將保護公屋租戶免於逼遷

麻州州長查理貝克和副州長白莉朵匯報疫情最新狀況。

                         (Boston Orange 編譯)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(25)日宣佈，所有公私立學校及非緊急托兒中心關閉日期延至五月四日，並將採取步驟保護屋主及低收入租戶，讓他們免於被逼遷(eviction)或贖回權被取消(forclosure)。

麻州公共衛生廳也就超市、藥店發佈了新命令，包括要求這些企業每天至少撥出一小時專供60歲以上人士採購，提供洗手液或消毒濕巾，以及清潔採購車，經常會接觸的表面。

查理貝克在3月15日時下令學校從3月17日起關門三週，直至4月7日為止。現在關閉日期延長至5月4日，各學校原定春假的一週之後。波士頓市官員之前是要求學校關門至4月27日。

                 查理貝克表示，這不是學校假期延長，麻州中小學教育廳將在這段時間和各學區合作，進一步研發學生在家可以用的教育性項目，這也將是各學區為所有學生提供遠程學習的最佳機會。

                 這一學校關門日期的展延，並不適用於居家式特殊教育學校。

                已經生效了的學校關門命令，在全州各地已讓許多家長陷入困境。在波士頓，許多學生家裏沒有電腦，學區行政單位得為有需要的學生到處找Chromebooks。

               許多老師，家長，倡議教育者都慫恿州政府教育當局取消今年的麻州標準測試(MCAS)，稱學校關門時間的延長很可能造成重大的學習落差，會損害考試結果。

                  查理貝克表示，州政府將和WGBH公共電視台合作，為全州學童提供網上教育資源。WGBH也承諾在週一到週五的中午至下午5點之間，播出教育性內容。

                  查理貝克還說，麻州住宅部門官員將發佈指導原則給社區，暫緩由州政府資助低收入住宅的所有非緊急逼遷。

                    由於病毒大流行而面對居住危機的家庭，可經由州政府項目尋求最高4000元資助，申請細節可上網查mass.gov/dhcd。

             查理貝克表示，州政府已告知金融機構首長，希望他們的取消贖回權行動能展延60天，向信用機構報告未繳款也至少緩個60天。

             在公共衛生命令方面，州政府下令所有的雜貨店，藥店，要確保社交距離，每天至少撥出一小時，專門服務60歲以上人士。所有店鋪都得為員工提供洗手液，消毒濕巾。自助食物站必須關閉，塑膠袋禁令取消。這些店鋪的員工如果覺得生病了，就不應該去上班。

             查理貝克在每日疫情匯報中表示，州政府已經在處理數以千計、萬計的失業福利申請，以申請數量之高來說，工作人員的表現很好，已經有人能夠從失業救濟系統中每週領到錢了。

             波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)今日稍早也做了疫情匯報，指出如果人們都能體察目前的限制，留在家中，遵守社交安全距離，就不需要再進一步的訂立什麼限制。

             他補充表示，由退休將軍Stanley McChrystal 所率領的McChrystal 集團正在和市政府合作，為最終可能無法避免的封城做準備。

麻州COVID-19確診病例暴增679宗 15人死亡

(Boston Orange編譯)麻州公共衛生廳(DPH)今(25)日宣佈，州內新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)確診人數新增679，總數升為1,838。死亡人數增至15，比昨天多了4人。迄今總共有19,794人做過病毒檢測，之前的數據是13,749。

昆士市 COVID-19 疫情更新 36人確診

取自臉書(From facebook):

Tom Koch 市長3月25日新冠狀病毒資訊：大家晚安。今晚資訊如下：昆士市居民中有36例COVID-19新冠狀病毒陽性病例，昨天是24例。已經有八人康復，70人無症狀正自我隔離。我知道我們所有家長都不會太高興聽到今天省長發出關閉所有學校至少到5月4日的命令，作出這命令毫無疑問是為了每個人的安全著想。省長今天還稱暫時禁用可重用的環保袋，因重用的傳播病毒機會高，我知道我們花了幾個月告訴您放棄用膠袋之後，現在我們是用回紙袋和膠袋了。省長還提供了附加指引有關為何仍允許地盤繼續進行建設項目，還包括發佈一些條件，我們的檢查員將在項目現場執行這些條件。還有的是省長今天的命令指出，各個社區無權以自己的指令推翻省長的命令。

Good evening, everyone. Tonight's update below. There have been 36 positive COVID-19 cases involving Quincy residents, up from 24 yesterday. Eight people have recovered and 70 people are in self-isolation without symptoms.
I know all of our parents probably were not too thrilled to hear the Governor's order today closing all schools until at least May 4, but it is without question in the best interest of everyone's safety. The Governor today also prohibited the use of re-usable grocery bags for the time being. So we're going back to paper and plastic for a bit -- yes, I know, after we spent months telling you to give up the plastic. He also provided additional guidance on why construction projects are allowed to continue, including issuing a number of conditions that our inspectors will be enforcing on project sites. The order today stated that individual communities do not have the authority to overrule a state order with their own directives.

昆士市政府提供 (From City of Quincy):

The City of Quincy is working with the Federal & State Government to provide continued updates relative to resources available to the Business Community on COVID-19 information and alerts for funding/disaster business resources. This document will be updated regularly so please stay tuned….

The following is a list of resources for the business community:
COVID-19 – Disaster Relief with helpful links for immediate connection to these agencies. https://www.mass.gov/infodetails/covid-19-resources-and-guidance-for-businesses

Small Business Administration Economic Disaster Loan (EDIL) Program

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program has been activated statewide in Massachusetts. Updated details about the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan and how to apply is available here:

• To learn more, go to: www.sba.gov/DISASTER
• It is recommended that you apply on-line here at: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
• Customer Service Center can be reached at: 1-800-659-2955 or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
• No cost to apply, small businesses are urged to submit applications immediately.
• NEW 12-Month Deferment period for the first payment was approved for EIDL program.
• NEW Expedited Processing for loans under $500,000 where the submission of current tax return is not required for small businesses.
• Loans are available to assist with working capital needs.
• SBA EIDL loans are for small businesses and private non-profits (of any size) that were previously profitable, but whose revenues have been adversely impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19 (since January 31, 2020). Loans can be up to $2 million and have a long-term repayment schedule of up to 30 years.
• Sign-up for the latest updates at www.sba.gov/MA or follow @SBA_MA
• Businesses can learn more about the SBA’s response to COVID19 here: https://www.sba.gov/page/guidance-businessesemployers-plan-respond-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

Resources for businesses and employees relating to employee benefits can always be found at the Office of Labor and Workforce Development's website.

Programs include:

Updated information regarding unemployment resources can be found here.

The WorkShare program, a tool to help employers avoid layoffs during a downturn – read more about WorkShare here.

The Rapid Response program, which works closely with companies to avert layoffs and keep a skilled workforce
engaged in the existing regional economy or industry; read more about how the Rapid Response Team can help businesses at the site found here.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Unemployment Assistance will be hosting virtual town hall meetings featuring a step by step process to achieve a
successful unemployment claim. They will also take questions from claimants across the Commonwealth.

The current virtual town hall schedule is:

• Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 11:10 AM
• Friday, March 27, 2020 at 9:00 AM
• Saturday, March 28, 2020 at 12:00 PM (Spanish Town Hall)

Click here to sign up for a virtual town hall via phone or online. A web link to the daily visual presentation can be viewed here. You can also download the step by step presentation.

The Division of Insurance

Click here for bulletin regarding flexibility in the issuance and administration of insurance during covid-19.

From the Governor

Governor Baker issued an emergency order requiring all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential Services” to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers, and the public as of Tuesday, March 24th at noon until Tuesday, April 7th at noon.

Detailed list of the services and operations deemed essential.

Governor’s press release with additional updates here. The latest information and guidance regarding COVID-19 is always available at mass.gov/COVID19.

MA’s Emergency Operations Center’s Private Sector Hotline

The Hotline will be staffed Monday – Friday from 8am to 4pm. The hotline is 508-820-2094.

City of Quincy Contacts

Maureen Geary
Director of Business & Government Relations
mgeary@quincyma.gov
617-435-1824

James Scribi
Business Relations
jamesscribi@quincyma.gov
617-780-2247

Please reach out to our State Business Partners:

Margaret Laforest
Regional Director, Greater Boston
Massachusetts Office of Business Development
margaret.laforest@mass.gov
617-939-3097
1515 Hancock Street, Suite 402
Quincy, MA 02169
www.mass.gov/mobd

Sue Whitaker
Regional Director – Greater Boston
Massachusetts Office of Business Development
617-620-1005
susan.whitaker@mass.gov
1515 Hancock Street, Suite 402
Quincy, MA 02169
www.mass.gov/mobd

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care Program Closures and Steps to Ensure Housing Stability To Support COVID-19 Response

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care Program Closures and Steps to Ensure Housing Stability To Support COVID-19 Response

All schools, child care programs will remain closed through May 4

BOSTON – 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 and non-emergency child care programs and steps to protect homeowners and low-income tenants from eviction and foreclosure. The Department of Public Health (DPH) also issued an order relative to pharmacies and grocery stores.

Schools and Non-Emergency Child Care Programs: Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order extending the closure of all public and private schools, and all non-emergency childcare programs, until May 4 in an effort to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.

• This order expands on previous orders issued on March 15 and March 18 suspending normal educational operations at schools and non-emergency child care programs until April 6, and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) established a process to approve Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs to serve vulnerable children and families of first responders and essential workers.

• This closure extends one week beyond scheduled spring vacation week on most school district calendars.

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

• This extension will allow school administrators and educators added planning time to ensure students can complete course requirements, as well as provide teachers with time to expand remote learning opportunities.

Read the Orders here: K-12 School Order | Early Education School Order

Remote Learning and Education: During this time, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is requesting that educators continue to develop and assemble high-quality educational materials to provide students with effective remote learning resources through the month of April. The Department is also creating a model for districts to use and modify in collaboration with local stakeholders to fit their school district’s needs, and will continue to work with schools to identify best practices for implementing effective remote learning.  

Remote learning encompasses a wide variety of learning methods, including both analog and online. While technology is an excellent tool, districts should also consider ways students can continue to learn offline.

This could include exploring nature, activities to support students’ local communities (with appropriate social distancing) and engaging in hands-on projects and artistic creations that stem from students’ experiences.

Additionally, through a new partnership between DESE and WGBH, educational resources will be posted on the department’s website, and middle and high school students can access WGBH and WGBY educational programming on WGBH and WGBY on the WORLD channel from noon to 5 p.m.

Housing Stability for Vulnerable Populations: The Baker-Polito Administration announced steps to keep vulnerable families in their homes, preserve the health and safety of low-income renters and homeowners, and prevent homelessness due to reduced or lost income. These steps include the following:

• DHCD is moving to temporarily suspend terminations of federal and state rental vouchers under their purview.

• MassHousing is transferring $5 million to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for a COVID-19 Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) fund to assist families facing rent insecurity.

• The Division of Banks (DOB) has issued new guidance to Massachusetts financial institutions and lenders urging them to provide relief for borrowers and will advocate for a 60-day stay on behalf of all homeowners facing imminent foreclosure on their homes.

• DHCD is issuing guidance recommending that all owners of state aided low-income housing, including Local Housing Authorities and private owners, suspend both pending non-essential evictions and the filing of any new non-essential evictions.

• Affordable housing operators are urged to suspend non-essential evictions for loss of income or employment circumstances resulting in a tenant’s inability to make rent.

• This guidance urges operators to establish reasonable payment plans, notify Section 8 or public housing residents about interim income recertification to adjust rent payments, and to consider offering relief funding for residents ineligible for income reassessment.

Read the DHCD Guidance Here:

Guidance to owners of state aided low-income housing

Guidance to affordable housing operators

Notices and guidance regarding federal and state rental assistance programs:

• Guidance for Administering MRVP
• Guidance for Administering ARVP
• Initial policies and procedures for federal rental assistance administered by DHCD

Read the DOB Guidance Here.

Pharmacies and Grocery Stores: Today, DPH issued a new order to support pharmacies and grocery stores and their employees during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This order will require grocery stores and pharmacies to:

• Provide at least one hour per day of shopping for adults over 60-years-old.

• Offer sanitation options, such as hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, as available, to clean shopping carts and points of frequent contact.

• Appropriate social distancing policies, including a marked “Social Distancing Line,” beginning six feet away from all checkout counters.

• Close any self-serve food stations.

• Instruct store employees who are ill to stay home, and for stores to accommodate employees who fall in the high-risk category with alternative assignments to limit exposure.

Read the Order Here.

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.

AG HEALEY CALLS ON AMAZON AND WHOLE FOODS TO IMMEDIATELY IMPROVE PAID LEAVE TO EMPLOYEES DURING COVID-19 EMERGENCY

AG HEALEY CALLS ON AMAZON AND WHOLE FOODS TO IMMEDIATELY IMPROVE PAID LEAVE TO EMPLOYEES DURING COVID-19 EMERGENCY

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today led a group of 15 attorneys general in calling on Amazon and Whole Foods to strengthen paid sick and family leave to their employees during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

In the letter, the attorneys general ask the companies to provide paid sick and family leave as smaller businesses are required to do under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Families First Act), which was enacted by Congress on March 19 to ensure paid leave for workers during this crisis.

“Amazon and Whole Foods need to provide their entire workforce with adequate paid leave so they can care for themselves and their families during this pandemic,” said AG Healey. “These companies must act quickly to minimize the risk of transmission in their stores and warehouses.”

            The attorneys general write that the recent offer from Whole Foods, and its owner Amazon to provide two weeks of paid leave to employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in quarantine is far less than what the Families First Act requires.

Under the Families First Act, employers with fewer than 500 employees must provide two weeks of fully paid time off to full- and part-time workers to self-quarantine, seek preventative care, or receive treatment for COVID-19; two weeks paid time off at two-thirds their regular pay for full- and part-time workers to care for family members; and 12 weeks of job-protected leave, including 10 weeks of paid leave at no less than two-thirds of their usual rate of pay (capped at $200 per day) to take care of their children if their school or daycare closes.

                                                                                                    

In the letter, the attorneys general urge Amazon and Whole Foods to adopt the requirements in the Families First Act for smaller employers and additionally to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for workers who must stay at home to care for children due to school closures or for themselves and family members if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, , diagnosed with COVID-19 or quarantined. Finally, the attorneys general ask Amazon not to overlook their delivery drivers who are classified as independent contractors and to provide additional money to their Emergency Fund for those workers so that they also receive comparable benefits as their other employees. 

Grocery stores such as Whole Foods remain one of the few places where people are regularly congregating in close quarters, and the attorneys general write that it is especially important to ensure these stores do everything possible to minimize the risk of infection. Additionally, with consumers relying more than ever on online shopping, Amazon warehouses are a significant site for possible transmission of the virus both from worker to worker and to the general public. 

AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including minimum wage, overtime and earned sick time laws. Call the AG’s Fair Labor hotline at 617-727-3465 for more information on the state’s earned sick time laws, or file a complaint online if you think your rights have been violated. Read the AG’s FAQs on employee rights and employer obligations during the COVID-19 emergency and visit the AG’s COVID-19 resource page for information about how the AG’s Office can help during this crisis. 

AG Healey led today’s effort and was joined by the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.