Reopening Massachusetts: Baker-Polito Administration Initiates Transition to First Phase of Four-Phase Approach

Reopening Massachusetts: Baker-Polito Administration Initiates Transition to First Phase of Four-Phase Approach

Public health data, key metrics established to track real-time progress, determine advancement to future phases while mandatory workplace safety standards, sector-specific guidance issued to all Phase 1 industries, businesses, customers and activities

BOSTON — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration released Reopening Massachusetts, the Reopening Advisory Board’s report, which details a four-phased strategy to responsibly reopen businesses and activities while continuing to fight COVID-19. The Administration also released a new “Safer At Home” Advisory, which instructs residents to stay at home unless engaging with newly opened activities, as a way to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19. Starting today, based on current public health data and trends, Massachusetts will begin Phase 1 of a cautious reopening, and workplaces that are permitted to open are required to follow new safety protocols and guidance.

Learn more about the reopening process: www.mass.gov/reopening

VIEW THE FULL REPORT

VIEW GUIDANCE FOR SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES

Detailed in Reopening Massachusetts, each phase of the reopening will be guided by public health data and key indicators that will be continually monitored for progress and will be used to determine advancement to future phases. Industries, sectors, and activities that present less risk will open in earlier phases. Those that present more risk will open in later phases.

The 17-member Reopening Advisory Board, co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, consists of public health experts, municipal leaders and members of the business community representing many facets of the Massachusetts economy. Since its formation on April 28, the Board met with a total of 75 stakeholder groups ranging from industry associations, regional chambers of commerce, community coalitions, and labor organizations, representing over 112,000 different businesses and more than two million workers across the Commonwealth. The Reopening Advisory Board also considered written comments from over 4,500 employers, organizations, and individuals in the development of its plan.

Safer at Home Advisory:

Effective today, the Department of Public Health also updated the Stay at Home Advisory, replacing it with a new, “Safer at Home” Advisory. The new Safer at Home Advisory instructs everyone to stay home unless they are headed to a newly opened facility or activity. It also advises those over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions to stay home with the exception of trips required for health care, groceries, or that are otherwise absolutely necessary. All residents must continue to wear a face covering in public when social distancing is not possible, and individuals are advised to wash their hands frequently and be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms. Restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people remain in effect.

Public Health Metrics:

Key public health metrics will determine if and when it is appropriate to proceed through reopening phases. They include:

• COVID-19 positive test rate;

• Number of individuals who died from COVID-19;

• Number of patients with COVID-19 in hospitals;

• Health care system readiness;

• Testing capacity; 

• Contact tracing capabilities. 

Phase 1 Reopening:

Based on the public health metrics, manufacturing facilities and construction sites will open effective today with applicable guidelines.

Places of worship will be able to open with guidelines that require social distancing and encourage services to be held outdoors.  

Hospitals and community health centers that attest to specific public health and safety standards can begin to provide high priority preventative care, pediatric care and treatment for high risk patients.

Under a staggered approach, additional Phase 1 sectors of the economy will be permitted to open effective May 25 including:

• Lab space;

• Office space;

• Limited personal services, including: hair salons, pet grooming, car washes;

• Retail: remote fulfilment and curbside pick-up;

Also permitted to open on May 25 with applicable guidelines, are the following:

• Beaches;

• Parks;

• Drive-in movie theaters;

• Select athletic fields and courts; 

• Many outdoor adventure activities;

• Most fishing, hunting, and boating;

• Outdoor gardens, zoos, reserves, and public installations.

Additional sectors expected to open on June 1 as part of Phase 1 include office spaces in the city of Boston with applicable guidelines.  

Reopening Massachusetts In Phases:

The goal of this phased reopening plan is to methodically allow businesses, services, and activities to resume, while avoiding a resurgence of COVID-19 that could overwhelm the state’s health care system and erase the progress made so far. 

• Each phase will last a minimum of three weeks and could last longer before moving to the next phase;

• If public health data trends are negative, specific industries, regions, and/or the entire Commonwealth may need to return to an earlier phase;

• The Commonwealth will partner with industries to draft sector-specific protocols in advance of future phases (example: restaurant-specific protocols will be drafted in advance of Phase 2);

• If we all work together to defeat COVID-19, we can proceed through each phase.

Success in earlier phases will refine criteria for future phases including travel, sizes of gatherings, as well as additional retail openings, lodging and accommodations, arts, entertainment, fitness centers, museums, restaurants, youth sports, and other activities.  

Industry-Specific Guidance:

Businesses are not required to reopen, and may not do so if they are unable to follow safety protocols. The Baker-Polito Administration has developed specific guidance so that each industry reopens as safely as possible. Businesses are expected to implement these protocols in addition to the more general Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards.

As of May 18, materials for the sectors eligible to open in the first phase of reopening are included on the mass.gov/reopening website. Guidance for sectors opening in later phases will be posted online in advance of those phases.

In order to reopen, businesses must develop a written COVID-19 Control Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. Required materials are located on mass.gov/reopening, and include detailed sector-specific circulars and checklists to facilitate compliance. 

Self-Certification for Businesses:

Required materials for businesses to self-certify are located on mass.gov/reopening, and include:

• COVID-19 Control Plan template, which must be retained on premises and provided in the event of an inspection;

• Compliance Attestation poster to be posted in a location visible to employees and visitors indicating a completed COVID-19 Control Plan; and,

• Other posters and signs describing rules for maintaining social distancing, hygiene protocols, as well as cleaning and disinfecting. 

Businesses operating to provide Essential Services, as defined in the Governor's March 23, 2020 Executive Order, updated on March 31, April 28, and May 15, may remain open and have until May 25, 2020 to comply with the general workplace safety standards, as well as their industry’s sector-specific protocols.

Health Care:

Effective May 18, hospitals and community health centers who attest to meeting specific capacity criteria and public health/safety standards will be allowed to resume a limited set of in-person preventative, diagnostic and treatment services.

Effective May 25, other health care providers who attest to meeting these standards may resume limited in-person services.  

Services that may be performed are limited, based on the provider’s clinical judgment to high-priority preventative services, including pediatric care, immunizations, and chronic disease care for high-risk patients, and urgent procedures that cannot be delivered remotely and would lead to high risk or significant worsening of the patient’s condition if deferred.

In order for the phased in hospital expansion and non-hospital reopening, the following statewide metrics must be met:

• 30 percent of hospital ICU beds (including staffed surge capacity) must be available;

• 30 percent of total hospital beds (including staffed surge capacity) must be available. 

As a precursor, health care providers must meet the following requirements to reopen or expand services, which include: 

• Attesting to public health standards and specific guidelines;

• Ensuring adequate personal protective equipment is on hand, reliable supply chain and other supplies and policies in place;

• Infection control readiness (workflow, cleaning, social distancing, etc.);

• Workforce and patient screening and testing protocols; and, 

• Hospitals must have ≥ 25 percent ICU and total bed capacity and reopen pediatric ICU and psychiatric beds if they had been repurposed for surge capacity.

Child Care:

The Commonwealth's mission in reopening is to increase access to child care and youth programs while continuing to protect children and staff and preventing the spread of COVID-19. Child care and summer recreation camps will reopen in a phased approach. The Departments of Early Education and Care and Public Health are developing guidelines that balance families' need for child care with health and safety. The initial reopening plan will focus on families who have no safe alternative to group care by increasing emergency child care capacity. EEC will also partner with industries returning to work to develop options specific to their workplaces.

In March, the Baker-Polito Administration stood up an emergency child care system to support children of essential workers and vulnerable families with extra virus mitigation protocols. During Phase 1, the emergency child care system we have already in place will be utilized to meet the needs of people with no alternatives for care. Currently, only 35% of the 10,000 child emergency child care capacity is occupied and the system has the ability to serve more families to provide care options as more sectors come back online.

Transit:

The MBTA has been and will continue to implement measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 across the system to keep employees and riders safer. 

While public transportation unavoidably creates some risk of transmission, working together the MBTA, riders and employers can significantly reduce that risk: 

• ​Riders are required to wear face coverings and must make efforts to distance. Riders are asked to avoid riding transit if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19;

• Employers are encouraged to stagger schedules and implement work from home policies to reduce demand, especially during rush hours;

• The MBTA will continue to take protective and preventative measures such as frequently disinfecting and cleaning vehicles and stations and providing protective supplies to workers. 

To mitigate risk while providing appropriate levels of service, the MBTA will: 

• ​Support the transit needs of essential workers and those returning to the workplace in Phase 1 while continuing with limited service to maximize employee and rider safety;

• Ramp up to a modified version of full service by Phase 3, although social distancing efforts will limit effective capacity on vehicles even after full service schedules are restored;

• Actively communicate public health guidance and schedule adjustments in-station, online, and over social media. 

Supplies:

In order to operate, all Massachusetts businesses will need to meet the Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards and relevant Sector-Specific Protocols published by the state. To support businesses, the state has developed a guide to educate business owners on what supplies are needed to return to workplaces, and a portal to connect businesses with manufacturers and distributors. These are now available to business owners via mass.gov/reopening.

​In order to operate, all Massachusetts businesses will need to meet the Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards and relevant Sector-Specific Protocols published by the state.

​The state has developed a guide to educate business owners on what supplies are needed to return to workplaces, and a portal to connect businesses with manufacturers and distributors.

Educational materials will be provided to define how an employer should prepare their work spaces to reopen and what products are appropriate for employees to protect themselves at work.

While face coverings are critical, medical grade face coverings are not necessary for non-health care workers. 

Schools and Higher Education:

As previously announced, Massachusetts' K-12 school buildings will remain closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year, with remote teaching and learning in place. 

Schools will continue offering essential non-educational services to their communities. Plans are being made for the summer learning programs and 2020-21 school year, and will be shared with the public in the weeks to come.

Massachusetts’ diverse higher education institutions continue to foster teaching, learning, student support, and essential research remotely throughout this time. 

They are working together and in partnership with the state to ensure a safe and gradual return to campus life. In the upcoming weeks, institutions will develop customized reopening plans with safety of their communities in mind.

Baker-Polito Administration Invests $56 Million to Combat Food Insecurity in Massachusetts

Baker-Polito Administration Invests $56 Million to Combat Food Insecurity in Massachusetts

Funding helps implement Food Security Task Force’s actionable next steps

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $56 million to combat urgent food insecurity for some Massachusetts families and individuals as a result of COVID-19. This funding is consistent with findings of the Food Security Task Force, which was convened by the Massachusetts COVID-19 Command Center in response to increased demands for food assistance. The task force is comprised of a broad group of public and private members charged with ensuring food insecurity and food supply needs are addressed during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

“These funds jump start some of the recommendations to address urgent needs and food supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic for communities across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “While COVID-19 has had a statewide impact, some of our communities and residents who have historically experienced food insecurity have been even more disproportionately impacted.”

“Our Administration has always been focused on supporting residents and families dealing with food insecurity, especially now during the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We thank the Food Security Task Force for their work on these important issues, and are glad to make these crucial investments.”

The Administration will continue to utilize the Food Security Task Force and work with the Legislature to address food security issues going forward.

“Longstanding food assistance programs including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infant and Children’s Program (WIC) are experiencing significant increases in assistance applications. In addition, community-based food banks are seeing skyrocketing demand and local grocers and farmers are struggling to meet the needs of consumers,” said COVID-19 Command Center Director and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “I am appreciative of the task force’s practical recommendations to meet immediate needs as well as the longer-term solutions.”

“We are pleased to provide new funding to a wide array of programs and initiatives in order to help ensure individuals and families have access to affordable, nutritious food during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “This funding builds upon other critical COVID-19 resources which are being distributed by the Administration in partnership with the Legislature, including the $502 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds which will support important municipal initiatives, such as food assistance, during this public health crisis.”

“Increasing food security is essential to protecting the health of Massachusetts residents, and the funding and recommendations made available through the Task Force will help meet greater demand for nutritional assistance among vulnerable populations and those struggling with the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides. “The ongoing crisis has also highlighted the importance of reinforcing our local food supply chain, and this investment from the Baker-Polito Administration will provide needed capital to the farmers, fishermen, food banks, and distributors that are helping the Commonwealth respond to this unprecedented public health emergency.”

In less than a month, the Food Security Task Force, which was convened on April 22, synthesized and prioritized more than 80 recommendations into the following four key actionable categories:

           

• Develop and implement an emergency food program

• Fortify the food bank system

• Maximize federal resources for food and nutrition

• Reinforce and redeploy the food system infrastructure

As the task force continues its work going forward, today the Administration announces:

• A $36 million COVID-19 Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program with a goal of ensuring that individuals and families have access to food. Eligible services include: 

• Increasing capacity for food direct delivery;

• Increasing capacity of food banks and food pantries;

• Increasing capacity of local food distribution partners;

• Innovative solutions to enable those receiving SNAP and WIC benefits to receive food more easily;

• Innovative solutions for urban farming and

• Farms, retailers, fisheries and other food system businesses to help them adapt to the disruptions and to allow them to provide greater access to local food.

• $5 million increase for the Healthy Incentives Program to meet increased demand for local produce and to increase access points that process SNAP and HIP benefits.

• $12 million for the provision of 25,000 family food boxes per week through a regional food supply system. Each family food box contains 30 to 35 meals.  Food boxes would be distributed throughout the state to food pantries.

• $3 million in funding as an immediate relief valve to food banks.

The work of the task force builds on Massachusetts’ initiatives to increase access to food, including establishing emergency food distribution sites and school meal sites for food distribution, implementing Pandemic EBT to provide food to 500,000 youth who usually receive free or reduced priced lunch, distributing additional SNAP benefits to households, requesting online EBT purchasing approval from the federal government, and streamlining food benefit program administration.

Additionally, the Commonwealth recently released funding from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund to local cities and towns of up to $502 million and highlighted food insecurity as an eligible program. 

Reporting up to the COVID-19 Command Center and Secretary Sudders, the work of the Food Security Task Force will continue as a private-public partnership, chaired by Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Amy Kershaw and Jill Shah, President of the Shah Family Foundation.

SBA and Treasury Release Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application

U.S. Treasury Department Office of Public Affairs Press Release:            May 15, 2020                                                   SBA and Treasury Release Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application WASHINGTON—Today, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application.  The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities. The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including: Options for borrowers to calculate payroll costs using an “alternative payroll covered period” that aligns with borrowers’ regular payroll cycles Flexibility to include eligible payroll and non-payroll expenses paid or incurred during the eight-week period after receiving their PPP loan Step-by-step instructions on how to perform the calculations required by the CARES Act to confirm eligibility for loan forgiveness Borrower-friendly implementation of statutory exemptions from loan forgiveness reduction based on rehiring by June 30 Addition of a new exemption from the loan forgiveness reduction for borrowers who have made a good-faith, written offer to rehire workers that was declined The PPP was created by the CARES Act to provide forgivable loans to eligible small businesses to keep American workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The documents released today will help small businesses seek forgiveness at the conclusion of the eight week covered period, which begins with the disbursement of their loans. Click here to view the application and instructions.

City of Boston Funding update

The Funding Update

NDN Collective, 5/29/2020 The COVID-19 Response Project is designed to quickly distribute resources to frontline organizations, Tribes and individuals to provide gap services during this health crisis, and to artists and entrepreneurs who have suffered the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Average grant: $5,000. Foundation for Contemporary Art, 8/31/2020 A temporary fund was created to meet the needs of experimental artists who have been impacted by the economic fallout from postponed or canceled performances and exhibitions. One-time grants of $1,500 will be made. Terra Foundation, Open Grants will provide ongoing relief for U.S. museums through a new two-year grant program focused on collection projects. Awards will be available until funding is depleted. City of Boston, Open Nonprofits that serve homeless households in Boston can apply for an Emergency Solutions Grant to assist with responding to the COVID-19 public health crisis. This CARES Act funding will be available until depleted. Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, 6/5/2020 Requesting proposals from community-based organizations to partner with the SCDAO to provide pre-arraignment case assessment and management for juvenile and young adults with substance use disorder. The SCDAO will fund the salary of the case manager, at $45,000 max; the partner agency would be responsible for benefits. The case manager would be considered an employee of the partner and a contractor for SCDAO, splitting their time between the partner agency location and the identified courthouses. For application forms and full details, contact renee[dot]algarin[at]massmail[dot]state[dot]ma[dot]us, or call Six One Seven-Six One Nine-Four Two Six Three. Kaboom, 6/19/2020 Grants of $15,000 are offered for playground equipment. Playgrounds must be assembled and installed using the KaBOOM! community-build model. Municipalities and child-serving nonprofit organizations without a playground, or with existing equipment that is unsafe for children, are eligible for this opportunity. Applicants must provide $24,000 to $50,000 for the projects; other restrictions apply. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, 6/26/2020 Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction grants will support 10  sites to develop and test strategies for planning and implementation that will 1) generate compost; 2) increase access to compost for agricultural producers; 3) reduce reliance on, and limit the use of, fertilizer; 4) improve soil quality; 5) encourage waste management and permaculture business development; 6) increase rainwater absorption; 7) reduce municipal food waste; and 8) divert food waste from landfills. Grants will range from $45,000 to $90,000. Small Business Administration, 6/19/2020 Federal & State Technology Partnership grants support proposal development training, outreach, mentoring, financial support, technical and business assistance to R&D focused small businesses interested in the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Eligible applicants include state and local economic development agencies, colleges and universities, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, incubators, and accelerators. Max award: $125,000. Small Business Administration, 6/30/2020 The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by coronavirus /COVID-19. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Ongoing In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, small business owners are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000, with working capital loans of up to $2M to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue. Spencer Foundation, 6/8/2020 Grants support education research projects that contribute to an understanding of the rapid shifts in education in this time of crisis and change. Max award: $50,000. National Education Foundation, 6/11/2020 COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants will support educator-led initiatives to adapt to the unique circumstances of the pandemic. These $1,500 to $5,000, six-month grant opportunities will help educators to address contributors to educational inequity and educational opportunity gaps. Projects must begin during Summer 2020. US Education, 6/15/2020 Rehabilitation Counseling grants support academic training in areas of personnel shortages. ED expects to award 31 grants of $200,000. The deadline has been extended to June 15. Youth Service America, 6/15/2020 Lead Agency Grants are available for up to $9,000 to engage youth volunteers on days of service in 2020 and 2021. Target population: middle and high-school aged youth, especially those from under-served communities. Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, 7/1/2020 Community-Based Archives grants will fund: operational costs, collections care and programming activities. Awards will range from $25,000 to $100,000, to organizations with an annual operating budget of at least $50,000 and no more than $1 million. Cigna Foundation, Open For World of Difference grants, the funding focus is Health Equity: helping people overcome barriers to their health and well-being related to factors such as ethnicity, race, gender, age, geography, or economics. Additional priority is given to community health navigation projects. Average grant: $25,000. City of Boston, Open The Boston Resiliency Fund is the City of Boston’s effort to help coordinate fundraising and philanthropic efforts to provide essential services to Boston residents whose health and well-being are most immediately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Funds also support first responders and critical care providers. American Fundraising Foundation, Open In response to the COVID-19 crisis which produced unanticipated disruptions in some nonprofit organizations’ fundraising programs, coupled with additional need for the benefits these nonprofits provide, the American Fundraising Foundation has committed to expand AmFund’s support to 650 nonprofits in 2020 and 800 in 2021. AmFund will also accelerate and expand its traditional year-end financial grant program to include awards in both July and December. PNC Foundation, Open Funding Focus: Early Childhood Education, Economic Development, Affordable Housing, Community Development, Community Services, Arts and Culture. Funding Priorities: Sustainability and Diverse populations. Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Open Neighborhood grants, averaging $2,000, support organizations without a 501c3. Funding priorities: community improvement. Just Beginnings Collaborative, 5/29/2020 Now accepting applications for grants of up to $5,000 from the We See You Fund, for immediate needs related to healing from and preventing child sexual abuse in communities most exposed to crises, public health and otherwise. A.J. Muste Memorial Institute, 6/29/2020 and 9/21/2020 The Social Justice Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 for grassroots activist projects in the U.S., with a focus on organizations with small budgets and little access to more mainstream funding sources. Priority is given to efforts to end the violence of borders and the criminalization of immigrants, abolish the death penalty, shut down the prison industrial complex, and redefine criminal justice; confront institutionalized repression against racial, ethnic, gender-based, and LGBTQ communities; support progressive workers movements and the eradication of poverty; and dismantle the war machine, end state sponsored terrorism, and expose the dangers of nuclear power.  THE RESOURCE TABLE CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FUNDING UPDATE COVID-19 Fundraising Templates Courtesy of Donor Perfect 15 Spring Cleaning Ideas for Your Nonprofit Courtesy of Personify Three Things Nonprofits Should Prioritize in the Wake of COVID-19 Courtesy of Stanford Social Innovation Review Connecting Communities to Opportunity Courtesy of Winn Companies Use CONNECT to search for free and reduced cost services like food, healthcare, job opportunities, benefits enrollment, rent assistance and more. Family Resources Emergency Childcare Good Neighbors Coping Skills for Youth Visit the Intergovernmental Relations Resource Page for a wide variety of  fundraising tips, along with back issues of The Funding Update.

Can’t see the email? Display this email in your browser 1 City Hall Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02201, United States Hours & Directions Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

波士頓約每40人有1人為無症狀新冠患者

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)。

(Boston Orange編譯)波士頓市約有10%市民已感染過新型冠狀病毒，有了抗體，大約每40人中就有1人是無症狀患者。波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh) 今(15)日公佈和麻省總醫院合作的病毒抗體檢測結果，直言想要重新開放，得十分謹慎，小心。

Add caption

馬丁華殊在疫情匯報中表示，波士頓市 和洛杉磯，底特律，邁阿密，以及紐奧良一起，獲選為洛克斐勒基金會檢測解決方案集團(Rockefeller Foundation’s Testing Solutions Group)的創辦成員，將分享最佳做法，並獲取擴展檢測的技術援助。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊今日和麻省總醫院，以及波士頓公共衛生局一起宣佈為評估全市居民感染新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)程度所做的檢測研究，已有結果，接受檢測者約9.9%抗體檢測呈陽性，2.6%的無症狀個人COVID-19病毒檢測呈陽性。

換言之，這項研究顯示，波士頓每10名居民中就有1人身體內已有COVID-19病毒抗體，每40名無症狀個人中，就有1人病毒檢測呈陽性，很可能傳染給別人。

馬丁華殊表示，波市府從檢測結果得出兩項初步結論，一是波市府在大流行中及早行動，的確在減緩病毒傳播上起了作用， 二是大部分居民還未暴露於病毒前。這也意味著重新開放應採取循序漸進做法，包括為每一行業根據檢測情況，以及醫院指標來訂定清楚的健康標準及安全指導原則。

             波市府為做這項檢測研究，發出5000份參加檢測邀請，給住在東波士頓，羅森岱爾，以及02121和02125這兩個區域號碼內的多徹斯特居民，其中55%的受邀者是有色人種。大約有1000人有興趣參加，有786人符合要求，其中750人註冊加入研究，並做了抗體及病毒檢測。有症狀及早前檢測呈陽性反應者不符合參加研究資格。

             接受測試的這750人，其人口地理資料為:

             中位年齡為42.4歲，61.6%為女性，38.3%為男性。36.8%是羅森岱爾居民，25.1%住在東波士頓，23.2%來自多徹斯特的02125郵遞區號，14.9%來自02121郵遞區號。62%為白人，18.7%為黑人，非洲裔美人，12%為拉丁/西班牙裔，2.3%為亞裔太平洋島民，0,13%為美國印地安人，阿拉斯加土著，1,6%不詳。

             波士頓市現在已有20個病毒檢測站。波市府和麻省總醫院合作的檢測，是在東波士頓，羅森岱爾，以及多徹斯特的3個駕車經過檢測站辦理的，抗體檢測用鼻拭子做，病毒檢測用針刺指頭取血樣做。

             波士頓市在4月30日至5月7日間，全市的檢測量增加了30%，截至上週末已有36,072名市民做過檢測。

             波士頓市也已花了124萬元來擴大新型冠狀病毒的19個檢測站工作，並在17個社區健康中心。執行文化上適合的外展及教育。

             5月15日的波士頓市新型冠狀病毒疫情數據為，確診11,395人，死亡551人，已痊癒4,089人。(更新版)

MAYOR WALSH, MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF ANTIBODY AND COVID-19 TESTING FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS  BOSTON - Friday, May 15, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh, together with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), today announced the study to evaluate community exposure to COVID-19 through a representative sampling of asymptomatic Boston residents resulted in 9.9% testing positive for antibodies and 2.6% of currently asymptomatic individuals testing positive for COVID-19. In conclusion, approximately 1 in 10 residents in this study have developed antibodies and approximately 1 in 40 currently asymptomatic individuals are positive for COVID-19 and potentially infectious.  "We can draw two preliminary conclusions from the results of this study," said Mayor Walsh. "First, that the actions we took early on in this pandemic made a real difference in slowing the spread and, second, that the majority of our population still have not been exposed to the virus. This underscores what we already know, that we have to move cautiously and stay focused on what got us this far. This can be done by a gradual, phased-in approach to reopening that includes clear health criteria and safety guidelines for each industry and depends on testing and hospital metrics reaching certain benchmarks, and continuing to move in the right direction."  More than 5,000 residents living in East Boston, Roslindale or within the boundaries of zip codes 02121 and 02125 in Dorchester were invited to voluntarily participate in the study, with total outreach representing more than 55% people of color. Approximately 1,000 residents expressed interest in participating and 786 residents were deemed eligible. Of those, 750 residents enrolled in the study and received the required testing. Residents with symptoms or a previously positive COVID-19 test were disqualified from the study. Baseline demographics of the 750 participants: Median age is 42.4 years old 61.6% are female, 38.3% male 36.8% are from Roslindale, 25.1% are from East Boston, 23.2% are from 02125 in Dorchester and 14.9% are from 02121 in Dorchester 62% are white, 18.7% are Black/African-American, 12% are Latinx/Hispanic, 2.3% are Asian/Pacific Islander and .13% are American Indian/Alaska Native. 1.6% preferred not to say and 1.6% are unknown. There were no significant differences in COVID-19 or antibody rates by race or ethnicity in this sample. Prevalence of COVID-19 positivity in currently asymptomatic individuals ranged from 1.1% to 4.6%, while antibody positivity ranged from 6.3% to 13.3% by zip code. East Boston: 1.1% tested positive for COVID-19, 13.3% tested positive for antibodies Roslindale: 2.2% tested positive for COVID-19, 7.6% tested positive for antibodies 02121 in Dorchester: 2.7% tested positive for COVID-19, 6.3% tested positive for antibodies 02125 in Dorchester: 4.6% tested positive for COVID-19, 12.1% tested positive for antibodies "Making sound decisions about safely reopening requires that we understand how extensively the virus has already spread in our community," said Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of Massachusetts General Hospital. "The testing that the teams from Boston and the MGH conducted shows that approximately 90 percent of the city's residents have not yet been exposed to the virus. We also know that COVID-19 will be with us for a while. It is vital therefore that we be thoughtful and careful about reopening, and that we continue to take actions - wearing masks, physical distancing, working from home when possible, limiting gatherings - that can prevent another surge of the disease." Testing was conducted at three drive through testing sites in East Boston, Roslindale and Dorchester. Testing for COVID-19 virus is done by means of a swab of the nose and determines if you have the infection. Antibody testing is done by means of blood drawn through a finger prick and detects whether your blood has antibodies that are present when the body is responding to an infection, like COVID-19. Any resident who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus or the COVID-19 antibodies was provided with clear guidance and information on how to care for themselves and those around them. This announcement builds on Mayor Walsh's commitment to increase access to testing for Boston residents, which will allow for better understanding of the spread and inform a path to recovery. Boston is currently offering testing in over 20 locations, including hospitals and community health centers. During April 30 and May 7 alone, Boston had a 30 percent increase in the amount of testing happening citywide. By the end of last week a total of 36,072 tests had been conducted. On Monday, Mayor Walsh announced that the City's first round of universal testing for all unhoused individuals in Boston was completed. Over 2,200 homeless individuals were tested, with 743 testing positive for a 32% infection rate. In addition, Mayor Walsh is working on universal testing at city substance use residential programs. Through the Boston Resiliency Fund, the City has dedicated $1.24 million to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education at 17 community health centers in Boston neighborhoods. A full map of testing sites is available here. The map includes contact information for the testing site and it is updated as new sites come online. Residents who are sick and want to be tested should call ahead to be pre-screened and schedule an appointment. Residents will not be charged for testing and residents will not be asked about immigration status.  In addition, the City of Boston has made available weekly data on testing at the neighborhood level, with new reports including the number of people tested, and positive testing rates for each neighborhood. The latest data was shared on Thursday, May 7 and can be found here.  ###