人生一定要有的八個朋友：
推手(Builder)、
支柱(Champion)、
同好(Collaborator)、
夥伴(Companion)、
中介(Connector)、
開心果(Energizer)、
開路者(Mind Opener)、
導師(Navigator)。
chutze@bostonorange.com
*******************
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MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES PLAN TO REQUIRE PROOF
OF COVID-19 VACCINATION AT INDOOR DINING, FITNESS, AND ENTERTAINMENT
LOCATIONS; VACCINATION REQUIREMENT FOR CITY WORKERS
As COVID-19 surges, Arlington, Brookline,
Cambridge, Salem, Somerville and other municipalities announce efforts to
advance vaccination requirements in their own communities, praising a
regional approach
BOSTON - Monday,
December 20, 2021 - Citing the rising surge of COVID-19 cases and the
urgent need to increase vaccination to safeguard the community this
winter, today Mayor Michelle Wu announced B Together, an initiative to
require vaccination in certain indoor spaces in Boston, including indoor
dining, fitness, and entertainment establishments. The city also
announced that it will require vaccination of all city employees on the
same timeline (January 15 for first dose and February 15 for the second
dose), unless granted a reasonable accommodation for medical or religious
reasons. This is an update of the previous policy, which allowed for an
option for city workers to be regularly tested instead of being
vaccinated.
Mayor Wu was
joined at the announcement at Boston City Hall by fellow mayors and
municipal leaders from across Greater Boston who announced their own
plans to pursue vaccination requirements as part of a regional effort to
combat the winter surge, increase vaccination, and protect indoor
gatherings.
Established
through a public health order issued by the Boston Public Health Commission,
the new guidance seeks to increase vaccination rates among residents and
slow the spread of COVID-19 and the new Omicron variant. Implementation
will begin January 15 and will phase in second vaccine doses and youth
vaccination requirements. Both patrons and employees will be required to
show proof of vaccination. The indoor mask mandate remains in
effect.
“Vaccines are the
most powerful tool we have to fight this pandemic. Vaccination saves lives,
and closing vaccination gaps is the best way to support and protect our
communities, businesses, and cultural institutions during this pandemic,”
said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The vast majority of COVID-related
hospitalizations are of unvaccinated individuals, which is impacting our
entire healthcare system and compromising the health of our communities.
Today’s steps to protect community members in certain indoor
establishments and throughout our city workforce will help ensure that
everyone in Boston will be safe. City government must take down barriers
and direct our resources for easy access to testing and vaccination to
protect our city and all of our communities.”
“COVID-19 cases
and hospitalizations are on the rise in Boston. The B Together initiative
is just one component of a multilayered, comprehensive strategy that the
city has implemented to address COVID-19 and promote the health and
safety of Boston residents,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Executive Director
of the Boston Public Health Commission. “We must also ensure that every
Bostonian has easier access to vaccines and boosters, and we will be
rolling out new sites across the city.”
Starting January
15, 2022, patrons of covered businesses will be required to show proof of
vaccination upon entering the premises. The order states that individuals
can demonstrate vaccination by showing their CDC vaccination card or a
photo of their card, any official immunization record or digital image
from a pharmacy or health care provider, or on any COVID-19 vaccine
verification app. The city also announced plans to create its own app,
modeled on the successful Key to NYC app that has supported the vaccine
requirement effort in New York City.
Businesses included
will also be required to post a notice at all entrances. The city will begin a
weeks-long campaign to educate residents and businesses about the new
policy, utilizing city outreach workers and inspectional services.
Businesses found not in compliance will receive verbal and written
warnings. Repeat offenders may be subject to fines.
Throughout the
COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Boston has implemented COVID-19 guidance
based on the most recent case and vaccination trends. As of December 14,
2021, 79% of the total Boston resident population has received one dose
of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 68% are fully vaccinated. Only 31 percent of
fully vaccinated Bostonians have been boosted. Among 5-11 year olds, only
30% have received their first dose of vaccine.
Boston is experiencing
a surge in COVID-19 cases. New positive cases have increased 89% compared
to two weeks ago, and we are now averaging 369 new cases per day.
COVID-related emergency department visits increased over the past week,
and the city is now averaging 229 adult COVID-19 hospitalizations per
day, which is more than 60% higher than two weeks ago. Among those who
are hospitalized in Boston with COVID-19, an estimated two thirds are
unvaccinated. With the current surge, and emergence of the Omicron
variant, we expect case numbers to rise in January. The City continues to
closely monitor this data and make decisions that best protect
residents.
The City of Boston
and the Boston Public Health Commission continue to support easily
accessible walk-in vaccination clinics across the city, including at many
community centers, schools, and community health centers. The Commission
is working with community partners and health centers to extend family
clinics into the new year and is opening additional high-capacity clinics
over the next several weeks. The Commission also partnered with Boston
Public Schools to expand clinics on-site at schools across the city for
students 5-years and older.
This week, walk-in
clinics are operating at Gallivan Community Center, Morning Star Baptist
Church, Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Tufts Medical Center, the Egleston YMCA,
the Muse in Roxbury, Charlestown Boys and Girls Club, and other
locations. At these walk-in clinics, vaccines are free, and individuals
do not need to make an appointment or show proof of insurance. Boosters
are available to people who received a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine 6 months
ago or a Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than 2 months ago. Because of
the ability to mix-and-match, it does not matter which vaccine a person
has before their booster. A list of vaccination sites in Boston can be
foundhere.
Greater Boston
Mayors and Municipal Leaders Praise Regional Approach:
In conjunction
with Mayor Wu’s announcement, municipal leaders from Greater Boston
cities and towns announced efforts to advance vaccination requirements,
praising the regional approach to increase vaccination and mitigate risk
in indoor activities.
"I am very
grateful for Mayor Wu's leadership on this issue and her inclusive
approach to the communities surrounding Boston,” said Adam Chapdelaine,
Arlington Town Manager. "The virus doesn't recognize municipal
boundaries and that is why a regional approach is best. Arlington
will be considering adoption of a policy like the one being announced
today and we'll be working with our Board of Health to finalize a
decision in the weeks ahead.”
“Throughout the
pandemic, municipal leaders across the region have come together to hear
from experts, understand the science, and coordinate our responses to
COVID. We are thankful to Mayor Wu for her regional leadership in
driving this effort to develop thoughtful vaccine policies to help slow
the spread of the virus, and are excited about working together to engage
in these conversations in our own communities,” said Joseph Curtatone,
Mayor of Somerville.
“I support putting
in place a vaccine requirement for public places like restaurants, gyms
and entertainment venues and will be recommending to our Board of Health
that we move in this direction. We need to use all the tools in our tool
box to address the current COVID challenges and that means ensuring
people are vaccinated as a means to curb virus transmission and reduce
the likelihood of hospitalization for those who contract COVID. With only
50% of our young adults between 16 and 29 vaccinated and our hospitals at
or near capacity, it’s important that we take action now – there is very
little wiggle room within our health care industry to address rising
COVID case counts this Winter. I hope that taking these measures will
help our city stay safe, open and strong. We want our businesses staffed
and open and our kids attending in-person school uninterrupted. Vaccine
requirements, testing and masking up indoors are all part of the mix when
it comes to beating back COVID,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll of Salem.
"Mayor Wu’s
initiative to require proof of vaccine in certain indoor venues is a bold
step for Boston in the fight against COVID. I appreciate the Mayor’s
support for a coordinated regional approach, and we will be meeting this
week with Brookline businesses to discuss our own policy,” said Mel
Kleckner, Brookline Town Administrator.
“I support Mayor
Wu’s efforts to protect the people of greater Boston and expand vaccine
access throughout the City. It’s important that we take a thoughtful
approach to our public health strategy and ensure that everyone in our
region has equitable access to both testing and vaccines. It’s clear that
our most effective tool in keeping our communities safe is getting as
many people vaccinated and boosted as possible. In Medford, we will be
discussing ways we can increase vaccine confidence and educate the
community on the benefits of protecting yourself and your loved ones by
getting the shot,” said Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn of Medford.
“I applaud the
City of Boston’s COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Select Indoor Spaces,”
said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui of Cambridge. “As Omicron becomes the dominant
variant, it is imperative that we do everything in our power to keep our
community safe. There is no doubt this requirement will have greater
impact if implemented regionally. I look forward to working with the City
Manager on next steps in Cambridge.”
Statements from
COVID-19 Task Force and Community Leaders
“The last 22
months have been the most challenging months for our independent
restaurant officers. Our restaurants have followed the guidance of
government each step of our re-opening and today we stand with Mayor Wu
moving into this next chapter. If public health experts and our Mayor
believe that proof of vaccination is in the best interest of public
health, we too stand behind that decision. As operators, we continue to
jump hurdles to establish healthy and safe dining rooms for our employees
and guests. Our neighbors have re-established new trust in us and we ask
that the next step is to taken to support our industry,” said Nancy
Caswell, Owner of Oak and Rowan Boston and Executive Director of
Massachusetts Restaurants United.
“Today, Mayor Wu
is taking a major step forward at a critical juncture in the COVID
pandemic, especially in light of the more highly transmissible Omicron
variant,” said Marc Draisen, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Area
Planning Council (MAPC). “Public officials need to take action now to
reduce transmission and encourage vaccination. By requiring proof
of vaccination at restaurants, gyms, and other public venues, Mayor Wu’s
action will do both. MAPC appreciates Mayor Wu’s leadership and we
will be working with cities and towns throughout the region who are
prepared to implement this worthy policy.”
“As the Omicron
variant spreads and our healthcare system faces continued strain, we need
strong public health measures in place to increase vaccination rates and
suppress transmission,” said Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, DrPH, Robert A. Knox
Professor at Boston University School of Public Health and member of the
Mayor’s COVID-19 Advisory Task Force. “I’m grateful to Mayor Wu for her
decisive leadership and her commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
“The Huntington
Theatre Company is grateful for Mayor Wu’s leadership in requiring masks
and proof of vaccination as it means that arts organizations don’t have
to shoulder the responsibility for these decisions alone. We all want to
keep our doors open, and we appreciate the Mayor taking these steps for
the economic recovery of our city,” said Temple Gill of the Huntington
Theatre Company, member of the Mayor’s COVID-19 Advisory Task Force.
"As an
entrepreneur working in the hospitality industry, I know firsthand how
necessary it is to have clear public health guidance coming from our city
leadership. The B Together policy will help protect the health and safety
of Bostonians, which in turn will help our industries rebound from the
devastating effects of the pandemic. I am committed to working with this
administration and my colleagues in the hospitality industry to increase
vaccination rates and bring our communities back together,” said Nia
Grace, co-founder, Boston Black Hospitality Coalition, owner of The
Underground Cafe + Lounge and Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen.
“This is an
important step for Boston to safeguard our restaurants and our workers,”
said Bessie King, a restaurant owner from East Boston and a leader in
Massachusetts Restaurants United. “Hundreds of restaurants across the
city and state are still struggling to have full staffs, many workers are
concerned with safe work environments. Thanks to Boston’s policy, we can
keep our businesses and our communities going. This is a small step to
create a big impact, ensuring healthy and safe work environments for
people to come back to work. We need patrons to support our efforts to
reopen and still care for our people."
“It’s not true
that children don’t get sick from COVID: they do, and they can also get
long COVID. Vaccinating adults protects the young children who can’t get
vaccinated and the immunocompromised children that I care for, who need
an extra layer of safety,” said Dr. Julia Koehler, MD, Boston Children’s
Hospital, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School and
member of the Mayor’s COVID-19 Advisory Task Force.
“Two years ago we
did not know enough about the virus, we only knew that for some people it
was deadly. Many had the opportunity to work safely from home, but some
of the most vulnerable members of our community did not have that choice.
These essential workers worked tirelessly to ensure that the rest of us
kept some normalcy, while they packaged meat, served food, and
cleaned our airport. Despite their fear of getting sick they continued to
work. Today with this new requirement we take a step forward in protecting
our essential workers and ensuring a safer workplace for them, their
colleagues, and clients,” said Dina Paolina, CEO of La Colaborativa and
Member of the Mayor’s COVID-19 Advisory Task Force.
“Being fully vaccinated
and getting a booster dose are the best protection for preventing the
worst outcomes from COVID-19. These important measures introduced by
Mayor Wu are the best way to close the vaccination gap, reduce the spread
of the Omicron variant, and keep residents safe,” said Jake Sullivan,
Vice President, Government and Community Affairs, Boston University and
member of the Mayor’s COVID-19 Advisory Task Force.
The city will
conduct intensive outreach and support efforts to both individuals and
small businesses, including:
·Distributing
informational flyers to schools, libraries, housing, community centers,
and other community spaces across Boston.
·Sharing
information and engaging in outreach through civic associations,
community meetings, senior centers and faith-based organizations.
·Conducting
direct outreach to businesses in Main Streets and other commercial
districts from the Office of Neighborhood Services and the Office of
Small Business Development.
·Conducting
a series of webinars to educate business owners on the COVID-19
vaccine requirement and answer their questions.
Indoor Dining:
Includes indoor portions of food service establishments offering food and
drink, including restaurants, bars, and all indoor dining areas of food
service establishments. The requirements of this Order shall not apply to
any food service establishment offering food and/or drink exclusively for
off-premises or outdoor consumption, or to a food service establishment
providing charitable food services such as soup kitchens.
Indoor Entertainment,
Recreational, and Event Venues: Includes movie theaters, music or concert
venues, commercial event and party venues, museums and galleries,
professional sports arenas and indoor stadiums, convention centers and
exhibition halls, performing arts theaters, bowling alleys, and other
recreational centers;
Indoor Gyms and
Fitness Settings: Includes commercial gyms, fitness, yoga/pilates/barre/dance
studios, boxing/kickboxing gyms, fitness boot camps, indoor pools, and
other facilities used for conducting group fitness classes.
Earlier this
month, Mayor Wu announced a COVID-19 Advisory Committee, a group of doctors, public health
professionals and multidisciplinary leaders, charged with assisting in
decision-making around tackling new variants and working to end the
pandemic in Boston. The Committee is chaired by Dr. Bisola Ojikutu,
Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, who was
elevated to a cabinet-level role under Mayor Wu. These leaders have
backgrounds ranging from Medical Director at a large public hospital to
restaurateur.
For more
information about today’s announcement, visit boston.gov/B-Together.
B
Together, Boston’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement for select indoor spaces
Dear residents,
As COVID-19 cases rise, the best way for Boston to stay healthy and support
our communities, our businesses, and cultural institutions is for more
people to get vaccinated. That is why today, we are announcing B Together —
Boston’s COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Select Indoor Spaces — which will
take effect on a rolling basis by age group starting on Saturday, January 15, 2022.
For more information,
please visit boston.gov/b-together. A summary of
the information available on the B Together webpage is included below.
Starting on January 15, people in the City of Boston will be required to
show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to enter certain indoor
spaces in Boston:
Indoor dining, including
bars and nightclubs
Indoor fitness
Indoor entertainment
People working in those locations will also be required to be vaccinated.
Businesses are responsible for placing a public notice at the front entrance
stating that proof of vaccination is required, and checking proof of
vaccination upon entry.
To enter one of the establishments listed above, you will need to show that
you are vaccinated against COVID-19. That verification can be done with:
A CDC vaccination card
A digital image of your CDC
card
An image of any official
immunization record
A City-designated app or
any other COVID vaccine verification app
The City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission will continue to
support public vaccination clinics across all Boston neighborhoods
throughout the coming weeks. Vaccines are free and you do not need to make
an appointment or show proof of insurance. For a complete list of the
places you can get vaccinated in Boston, please visit our COVID-19 vaccine In Boston resource page.
Individuals can also get vaccinated at pharmacies, community health centers,
and through their healthcare providers. The state also continues to run an
At-Home Vaccination Program. You can read more about that program online.
The City of Boston is committed to keeping everyone in our city safe and
healthy in order to continue our pandemic recovery. Vaccinations are the
most powerful tool we have to fight this pandemic, save lives, and support
our communities, workers, businesses, and cultural institutions. B Together
is a necessary step in the fight against this pandemic, and I thank all our
residents for your help in making sure we continue to protect our families,
our neighbors, and ourselves.
Thank you,
Michelle Wu Mayor of the City of
Boston
Mass Cultural Council Grants Nearly $150K to 99
Fall/Winter Community Festivals Statewide
Festivals
Program Grants Increased From $500 to $1,500 in FY22
BOSTON – Mass
Cultural Council today announces the recipients of its FY22 Fall/Winter
Festivals grant program. Grants totaling $148,500 will go to 99 festivals
presented by groups ranging from local councils on aging to libraries,
orchestras, and museums. Earlier this year the Agency’s Governing Council voted to increase Festivals grants from $500 to $1,500,
tripling the amount of support given to each recipient. With this latest
round of grantmaking, Mass Cultural Council has funded more than one
thousand festivals across the Commonwealth since 2016.
“As we continue to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19
pandemic, opportunities to gather safely in our communities to learn and
foster joy and connection are more important than ever.” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive
Director, Mass Cultural Council. “This extraordinary
group of festivals will create those opportunities, and I am thrilled to
see that more than one-third of them are first-time Festivals grantees. I
encourage all residents of Massachusetts to enjoy these public events
taking place in their communities this season.”
Whether centered on documentary film, avant-garde jazz, or local folk
traditions, festivals build community, encourage cultural dialogue, and
drive tourism and economic development. The Festivals program provides funding that
helps programmers bring their vision to life and develop sustainable audiences.
A key pillar of Mass Cultural Council’s Strategic Plan is Enriching Communities.
The Festivals program accomplishes this goal bysupporting
community-led efforts to sustain and promote a rich cultural life,
providing communities the resources needed to build capacity, and
elevating the importance of culture and artists in community building.
Further, the Agency’s new Racial Equity Plan lays the foundation
for Mass Cultural Council toinvest financial, programmatic, and informational
resources equitably across the cultural sector.
With these Plans in mind, Mass Cultural Council is proud to note that in
this grant round 44% of applicants are new to the Festivals Program and
39% of the recipients are first-time Festival grantees.
Mass Cultural Council’s Festivals program offers two grant rounds per
year. The application for Spring/Summer will open
on January 10, 2022. Festivals taking place between March 1 and August
31, 2022 are eligible to apply.
