Baker-Polito Administration, Mass League of Community Health Centers to Launch Public Awareness Campaign

Baker-Polito Administration, Mass League of Community Health Centers to Launch Public Awareness Campaign

BOSTON – In partnership with the Mass League of Community Health Centers, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced an upcoming new COVID-19 public awareness campaign, “New Tools, New Rules – Same Great Care.”

Community Health Centers throughout the Commonwealth are open and accepting patients, and this campaign encourages residents to continue to seek care for their medical conditions and reminds individuals not to delay treatment as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

In additional to implementing additional, onsite safety protocols, many Community Health Centers have introduced and expanded telehealth care options. Furthermore, MassHealth contracts with three telehealth providers to offer additional support for members with questions about symptoms that might be related to COVID-19.

Featuring diverse patients with common conditions such as asthma, diabetes and pregnancy, these ads will run for free on WCVB in the Greater Boston area and on WWLP-22News and The CW Springfield in Western Massachusetts.

Digital video advertisements on Facebook will be in English, Spanish and other languages, and will specifically target regions with the highest populations of families in need of services.

Last week, the Baker-Polito Administration announced an expansion of its initiative to boost testing in community health centers across the Commonwealth.

The Baker-Polito Administration will continue to update the public on developments related to COVID-19. Residents can visit www.mass.gov/covid19 for the latest information, call 2-1-1 with questions, and subscribe to text-alerts by texting “COVIDMA” or “COVIDMAESP” (for Spanish alerts) to 888-777. 

波士頓華埠社區中心聘新執行長Ben Hires

Ben Hires。(BCNC提供)

             (Boston Orange) 波士頓華埠社區中心(BCNC)將於6月1日迎接新任執行長Ben Hires。

               波士頓華埠社區中心董事會董事長馬以正(Eugene Mahr)5月6日發出通告，正式宣佈，甫於2019年慶祝成立50週年的BCNC，今年下半年起，行政事務換人領導。

               根據BCNC的公告，Ben Hires初入職場時，擔任治療項目輔導員，其後在波士頓兒童合唱團擔任項目領導，負責策略，外展關係，一直都在為青少年及家庭服務，更在提升合唱團的社會正義使命上扮演關鍵角色，把背景多元的青年及家庭團結為一個大家庭。

               目前，Ben Hires 在波士頓公共圖書館擔任策略夥伴主任，在教育，文化及公民參與上，為該機構建立了牢固關係，讓波士頓所有居民在這些領域可以免費得到更豐富體驗。在大學時他主修哲學及政治學，其後在波士頓大學取得神學碩士，以及藝術行政碩士學位。

               由於他本身的韓裔美人養子背景，又在大哥哥大姊姊項目，以及波士頓華埠中心的進大學項目中，曾輔導波士頓華埠青少年，Ben Hires將把他對亞裔社區的熱情與了解，帶進執行長的角色中。從2016年起，他一直在包氏文藝中心顧問委員會服務，協助BCNC衍變成華埠社區的文化支柱。

               在Ben Hires 就任前，波士頓華埠社區中心由David Jacobs，邱文蓉(Yoyo Yau) 以及盧穎(Joann Yung)等人代理領導任務。波士頓華埠社區中心董事會在公開信中表示，相信在Ben Hires的領導下，該中心將持續提升兒童，青年及家庭的能力，打造更健康的家庭，更強壯的社區。

               據悉，波士頓華埠社區中心原行政主任李隆華，現已轉往Barr基金會擔任資深藝術及創意項目專員。(更新版)

Secretary of Commerce allocates $300 million in CARES Act aid to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries impacted by COVID-19

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the allocation of $300 million in economic relief to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were allocated as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on March 27 by President Trump.

Commercial fishing, charter/for-hire businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, processors, and parts of the seafood sector in coastal states and territories are among those eligible to apply for funds. Tribes are also eligible for funding including for any negative impacts to subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial fisheries. The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will work with the three Interstate Marine Fishery Commissions, organizations with a demonstrated track record of success in disbursing funds, to quickly deliver financial assistance into the hands of those who need it.

“This relief package will support America’s fishermen and our seafood sector’s recovery,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “Thank you President Trump, Secretary Mnuchin, and our Congressional leaders of both parties for your work to pass the historic legislation that is bringing much needed relief to America’s fishermen. This Administration stands with the men and women working to provide healthy and safe seafood during this uniquely challenging time, while our U.S. fisheries work to continue to support 1.7 million jobs and to generate $200 billion in annual sales. The Nation is grateful to our fishermen for their commitment.”

Acting NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., lauded today’s announcement.

“For generations, our coastal communities have taken great pride in delivering protein-rich seafood to dinner tables across the country and enabling access to our world class recreational fisheries,” said Jacobs. “NOAA thanks our partners in the interstate marine fisheries commissions, states, territories, and tribes for their assistance. Together, we will work to distribute these funds as quickly as possible.”

In addition to these funds, the President recently signed into law other Federal financial assistance programs, including several programs at the Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture, that can provide help to fishermen and related businesses.

Industries can find additional NOAA financial assistance information on our websit

麻州重新開放第一波? 高爾夫球場今起可營運

                (Boston Orange) 今(7)日起，麻州和全美其他49州一樣，高爾夫球場可以開放了。

               全麻州360個已關門45天的公立，私立高爾夫球場，只要遵守以下限制，就可以開放，包括不准用高爾夫球車，開球時間的間隔增加15分鐘，不准練習推桿，不能用練習場，打高爾夫球的人還得彼此保持至少6英尺的社交安全距離。

               麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)表示，他和美國東北部的其他幾州一直保持聯絡，大家都在考慮重新開放，彼此都不會做任何令鄰州驚詫的舉措。查理貝克的決定是在佛蒙特州和馬里蘭州州長都表示有意開放高爾夫球場之後宣佈的。

               麻州高爾夫會執行長Jesse Menachem表示自己簡直是欣喜若狂，該會85,000名會員也都可以舒一口氣了。

               法蘭克林(Franklin)高爾夫球手Joe Marin發起的”請讓麻州人打高爾夫球” 網上請願，收集到42,000個簽名，間接促成此事。

               法蘭克林鄉村俱樂部的董事長Tom Mercer表示，消息一出來，他的電話就響個不停。打球名單已經排得滿滿的了。

               高爾夫球協會的人強調這休閒運動的經濟價值，稱八年前做的麻州高爾夫球經濟報告顯示，高爾夫球活動每年為麻州經濟貢獻17億元，如果把週邊的旅遊業，零售業，房地產及貨物，服務再加近來，總值會增加到27億元。

               在2012年，高爾夫球業在麻州意味著2萬5000個工作機會，將近8億元的工資。

               全國高爾夫球基金會董事長Joe Beditz表示，高爾夫球活動對麻州的經濟貢獻應該已增加到30億元了。

查理貝克籲請民眾接廳接觸追蹤者打來的電話

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)強調檢測，追蹤的重要。
(攝自疫情匯報視頻)

              (Boston Orange) 麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(7)日在新型冠狀病毒疫情的每日匯報中強調，州政府正在積極推動”接觸追蹤(contact tracing)”，呼籲民眾看到顯示為MA-COVID-19 Team打來的電話時，請接電話，或稍後回覆電話，以加強抗疫效果。

麻州政府在四月中時推出”社區追蹤合作(Community Tracing Collaborative ，簡稱CTC)”計畫，由新型冠狀病毒指揮中心徵招公衛學院學生和確診者聯絡，並追蹤確診者都接觸過那些人，再提供隔離，以及預防染病的各種方法及資源。

報告"接觸追蹤"推展概況。(攝自疫情匯報視頻)

由於坊間曾有各種電話詐騙事件，很多民眾已養成不接陌生電話的習慣，州政府特地強調，”接觸追蹤”者只會用833或857這兩個區域號碼，而且撥打的電話會在來電顯示出"MA COVID team"字樣，希望民眾在接到這樣的電話時，能夠接聽，或者稍後回覆。

從4月12日迄今，麻州政府的”接觸追蹤”團隊已召集了1600人和14,000名確診者接觸，並整理出7,500人的接觸資料。他們從每名確診者那兒取得的接觸者中位數為2人。

新貝福市代表說明接觸追蹤在該市推動概況。(攝自疫情匯報視頻)

查詢有關”接觸追蹤”團隊資訊可上網www.mass.gov/MATracingTeam。

               在疫情匯報中，查理貝克還強調，麻州如何重新開放，主要還是看數據，麻州整體的抗疫成果，在全美算是名列前茅，尤其是在檢測上，全州迄今已有34萬餘人做過檢測，確診率低於16%。

               談到很多人還沒領到失業金時，查理貝克指出，令人很驚訝的是最大的原因之一竟是很多人沒寫對自己雇主的名稱。

麻州的5月7日新型冠狀病毒數據。(圖片來自州政府網站)

               根據麻州公共衛生廳公佈的數據，5月7日麻州新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)的確診人數新增1,696，累計73,721，死亡人數新增132，累計4,552。目前有852人住在重症病房，今日有11,993人做了病毒檢測，泉州做過病毒檢測的人數增至351,632。

               根據麻州公共衛生廳公佈的族裔感染數據，非西班牙亞裔有1147人確診，79人死亡，在族裔分類中的數額及比率都最低。其他的非西班牙白人17,283確診，1739死亡，非西班牙黑人5,403確診，243人死亡，西班牙裔9620確診，247死亡。不過在確診的73.721人中，有約佔總數一半的37,668人，州政府不知道他們的族裔資料，所以州政府公佈的這族裔資料，僅有聊供參考的價值。

AG HEALEY HIGHLIGHTS RESOURCES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

AG HEALEY HIGHLIGHTS RESOURCES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMICLaunches Information Campaign Including Online Resources and Statewide Distribution of Multilingual Resource Flyers to be Displayed in Essential Businesses

            BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today launched an information campaign highlighting critical resources available for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault during the COVID-19 pandemic. The AG’s Office created a dedicated webpage compiling these resources and partnered with the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) to create and distribute multilingual resource flyers across the state. The AG’s Office worked with the business community to display these flyers where survivors can see them—in open essential businesses that are still regularly accessed during the public health crisis.

“During times of crisis and especially now as people are staying home, we know that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are particularly vulnerable,” said AG Healey. “I want survivors and victims to know that they’re not alone and that help is available at any time during the COVID-19 crisis. We will continue working with service providers, advocates, and businesses across the state to ensure that these survivors have access to the critical support they need.”

“The strategies we have put in place to ensure the health and safety of our community have left survivors of intimate partner violence especially vulnerable,” said Liam Lowney, Executive Director of MOVA. “While survivors are quarantined in their homes, it is critical we let them know that they have options to keep their families and themselves safe. Massachusetts has a dedicated field of victim service providers who are working non-stop through this pandemic and are available to help them.”

While physical distancing guidelines and the statewide stay-at-home advisory are vital to slow the spread of COVID-19, they may make it more difficult for those who live with an abuser and experience intimate partner violence—including physical violence, sexual violence, or psychological harm—reach out for help. Social isolation has made it more difficult for some survivors to find the right opportunity to safely reach out for help. Survivors may not be aware that services and assistance are available, or it may be difficult for them to access those resources. Also, while now might not be the right time for some to leave, it’s important to let survivors know that help and support is available when they are ready.

“Since the beginning of this pandemic, our biggest concern has been that people experiencing physical, sexual or emotional abuse have been isolated from the supports they need,” said Debra Robbin, Executive Director of Jane Doe Inc., (JDI), the MA Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. “Sexual and domestic violence programs across Massachusetts rapidly transitioned to offer remote support and services. Local businesses can play a crucial role in letting the public know that these programs continue to be open and ready to help.”

The AG’s Office created a webpage compiling resources, services and support available for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including the following:

• SafeLink, a 24/7 statewide domestic violence and sexual assault hotline, at 1-877-785-2020.
• The Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance offers free resources for victims, survivors and providers at 844-878-MOVA or mass.gov/askMOVA.
• If you have experienced domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available 24/7. Text LOVEIS to 22522, call 1-800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.org/help.
• If you have experienced sexual violence, you can get access to confidential services, including a sexual assault kit, at no cost. Visit this site for more information and to find local resources in your area: janedoe.org/find_help.
• If you or someone you know has been the victim of a violent crime, you can get an application for the Victim Compensation program here. For help with the application, please call 617-963-2160.

 

The website also provides information on how to request an abuse protection order or harassment protection order and reminds survivors that these orders are still available during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Advocates have attested that the best time to reach survivors is when and where they are alone – away from those who abuse them – and usually during their normal everyday routines. The AG’s Office created a resource flyer, in conjunction with MOVA, to provide information in a quickly digestible format for survivors. The AG’s Office partnered with MOVA to distribute the flyers to various essential businesses by working closely with the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, the Massachusetts Food Association, the Coin Laundry Association, and the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. The flyers are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese and Chinese. 

“The Massachusetts Food Association and many of its grocery store members are pleased to support this important initiative of Attorney General Healey to distribute vital information that will provide access to information and services needed during these trying times,” said Brian Houghton, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications of the Massachusetts Food Association. “For everyone’s safety, please take advantage of these services as appropriate.”

“Coin Laundry Association is appreciative and proud of this opportunity to do our part to support the important work of Attorney General Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance,” said Brian Wallace, President and CEO of Coin Laundry Association. “Raising awareness for the resources available to those vulnerable to domestic violence is vitally important especially given the unique circumstances brought forward during the COVID-19 crisis. The laundromat industry has always proven to be an effective channel for reaching local families with the information and resources they need most.”

“May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and never before has awareness and education been more important than in May 2020,” said Jon Hurst, President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. “We urge our members to be an important part of the public education effort to protect the survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault by displaying in store and virtually these resources.”

“We want to make sure that survivors of domestic violence or other abuse have access to assistance during this difficult time,” said Patricia M. Noga, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Vice President, Clinical Affairs, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association. “We are grateful to join this initiative to help ensure that survivors can find resources where and when they are able to.”

Recognizing the increased risks that domestic violence victims and survivors face during the COVID-19 pandemic, AG Healey joined 24 attorneys general earlier this week in calling on the U.S. Senate to immediately reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which expired more than a year ago. The Act provides billions of dollars for the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, as well as financial support to women in need.

Visit AG Healey’s COVID-19 resource page for information about how the AG’s Office can provide support during this crisis. 

Baker-Polito Administration, Partners in Health, Public Health Officials Provide Update on Community Tracing Collaborative

Baker-Polito Administration, Partners in Health, Public Health Officials Provide Update on Community Tracing Collaborative

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration joined Partners in Health and local public health officials to provide an update on contract tracing efforts through the COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) launched last month. The initiative focuses on tracing the contacts of confirmed positive COVID-19 patients, and supporting individuals in quarantine, building on COVID-19 Response Command Center efforts to leverage public health college students to augment the contact tracing being done by local boards of health.

If an individual tests positive for COVID-19, the MA COVID Team will reach out by phone to connect the confirmed case with support and resources necessary for quarantine, and to identify any close contacts that may have been exposed. As the CTC continues its contact tracing work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, it is critical that Massachusetts residents answer the phone when a contact tracer calls or texts. Contact tracers will only reach out from phone numbers with 833 or 857 area codes, and the phone’s caller ID will say MA COVID Team.

Since calls began on April 12, tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents have participated in contact tracing. Staffed with more than 1,600 tracers, the Tracing Collaborative has reached nearly 14,000 confirmed cases and established more than 7,500 of their contacts since calls began on April 12. In part due to effective social distancing measures, the median number of contacts reported by each confirmed case remains approximately two.

To learn more about the MA COVID Team and the Community Tracing Collaborative, visit www.mass.gov/MATracingTeam.

華人前進會送口罩、手套進屋村

華人前進會義工整理收到的防疫物資。
(CPA Boston 提供)

(Boston Orange)華人前進會(CPA)近日派員工拜訪屋村，分發口罩，洗手液，送上中領館和波士頓第二區市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)的愛心，請屋村居民們”齊心抗疫，共克時艱”。

               華人前進會是座落在波士頓華埠內，為移民及勞工爭取權益的一個非牟利組織，因為新型冠狀病毒大流行，辦公室已從3月13日起關閉，但工作人員週一至週四的早上9點至下午5點，週六早上的10到12點，仍然接聽電話，為有需要的人提供服務，專線是：617-433-8522。

華人前進會行政主任陳玉珍和麻州總檢察官辦公室，大波士頓法律援助處，以及地方官員舉辦了兩場網路會議，為社區解答申請失業金，以及在疫情期間如何維護工人權益等問題。該會也和麻州小企業行政局，華埠主街，以及曾任亞美社區發展協會行政主任，現以其豐富經驗及知識擔任志工的林志琰合作，舉辦了一場座談，解說在疫情期間聯邦政府及州政府為民眾提供的各種紓困方案內容及申請辦法，流程。

華人前進會送防疫物資到公路村。(CPA Boston 提供)

                                  近日，華人前進會收到轄區包括華埠的波士頓市第二區市議員愛德華費林贈送的一批洗手液，口罩，中國駐紐約總領事館發來的總領事黃屏”祖籍國總在你身後，總領館總在你身邊”慰問信和中華海外聯誼會籌集的近萬口罩，數千手套，除了發給要上班的工友之外，還從5月2日起，派該會社區組織員鄺寶蓮和該會榮譽會長李素影召集的一批義工，陸續拜訪波士頓市南端(South End)的統一樓，聯合公園(Union Park)80號，以及華埠的公路村，美順樓，康樂樓，南灣東，南灣西，美華村等大樓，分送這些防疫物資，供居住在這些大樓內的耆英們領取。

華人前進會員工鄺寶蓮送防疫物資給居民。
(CPA Boston 提供)

                               

昆士市一亞裔員工辭世 Walmart現關閉3家麻州分店

             (Boston Orange 編譯)沃爾瑪(Walmart)在一名昆士市分店員工死於新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)的消息傳出後，5月6日又再關閉2家在麻州的分店。

             69歲的Yok Yen Lee是4月20日下班後，被緊急送到醫院，5月3日傳出死訊。她在那兒工作的昆士市”瀑布大道(Falls Boulevard)”沃爾瑪分店，5月4日(週一)下午3點半關閉。該店現有11名員工確診。昆士市公共衛生當局宣佈，將在該店員工全部都做了新型冠狀病毒檢測後，再決定應該採取甚麼樣的適當措施。

             5月6日，沃爾瑪宣佈，分別在Avon和Abington，再關閉2家麻州分店。該公司發言人表示，其中Abington分店是第二次關閉。

             沃爾瑪位於屋斯特(Worcester)，有400名員工的分店，早前傳出有81名員工感染病毒後，被該市當局勒令關閉，本週又重新開張。

             沃爾瑪是全美第一批實施安全措施的大公司之一，但在因應病毒侵襲上，一直處於掙扎狀態。根據支持沃爾瑪員工的組織，”為尊嚴團結(United for Respect)”，全美已有21名沃爾瑪員工死於新型冠狀病毒。

             Yok Yen Lee的女兒，住在衛斯理鎮(Wellesley)的Elaine Eklund表示，她不覺得昆士市沃爾瑪採取了足夠措施來保護她母親的生命。她感到很憤怒，說她從來沒想到會發生這種事，她現在仍然感到震驚，心中十分酸楚。

             Elaine Eklund說她媽媽是個充滿活力，有愛心，想得很週到的人，在她有需要時，總是在那兒。她媽媽還喜歡和3歲及剛出生的外孫玩，享受天倫之樂，聽他們喊她婆婆。然後竟然她就死了。

             Elaine Eklund形容她母親身材合宜，很活躍，從來不會很容易生病，一直很健康，每天跳尊巴舞(Zumba)。她母親的死訊真的讓人很震驚。

在Yok Yen Lee死前，沃爾瑪已在當地公衛人員的觀察名單上。昆士市公衛局局長Ruth Jones表示，有民眾抱怨，昆士市沃爾瑪店裡人太多，還不遵守社交安全距離要求，所以在4月27日至5月1日間，她都派有人員駐店監督。沃爾瑪企業辦公室也派了地區代表到該店觀察，也看到社交安全距離不足情況。

Elaine Eklund表示，她媽媽早在昆士市公衛局及沃爾瑪企業部採取行動前二星期，就已經住院了。沃爾瑪明知她母親住在重症病房，卻沒做任何改變。

沃爾瑪店人員回應表示，該店一直都有保護員工及顧客的措施，包括進店要保持距離，收銀員有打噴嚏的保護，輪班前要量體溫等等。

沃爾瑪表示，從四月初開始，該店已採行了每1000平方呎面積限放行5名顧客的措施，約等於正常客容量的20%，比週政府規定的40%還嚴格。

不過昆士市公衛局卻發現昆士市沃爾瑪未嚴格執行顧客進店時的間距要求，也沒貼出鼓勵購物者保持6英尺距離的告示。

Elaine Eklund非常難過，她說自己甚至沒有機會和母親道別，只透過急診室窗戶看到2秒鐘。
沃爾瑪在麻州共有21家折扣店，27家超級中心，以及48個零售據點，共聘有大約12,156名員工。

截至5月6日，昆士市的新型冠狀病毒確診人數為945，死亡人數86，已痊癒的有404人。