DCU Center in Worcester to be Used as a Field Medical Station

BOSTON — In an effort to relieve pressure on the state’s health care system and provide additional medical capacity, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced that a field medical station with more than 200 beds is scheduled to be set up at the DCU Center in Worcester starting Wednesday.

In anticipation of a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Commonwealth, through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, requested and received approval for the temporary field medical station, which will be used to treat lower acuity care needs.

“The DCU facility will be the first of three temporary field medical stations the Commonwealth is working to set up after requesting and receiving approval from the federal Strategic National Stockpile,” said Secretary Marylou Sudders who is leading the Massachusetts COVID-19 Response Command Center. “The Commonwealth is actively identifying other sites and partners for the two other facilities.”

The field station, which can be configured to a maximum of 250-beds, is scheduled to arrive for set-up in Worcester on April 1, via three tractor trailers. The DCU Center temporary field medical center will be used to treat lower acuity patients who still need monitoring.

"It’s up to all of us to do our part to help minimize the effects of COVID-19 throughout the Commonwealth. Worcester is uniquely positioned to have a facility in the DCU Center and the expertise of UMass to support a field medical station in the center of the state. The Baker Polito Administration has continually offered their support to many efforts underway in Worcester and we now stand at the ready to make all resources available in this time of crisis,” said Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

UMass Memorial Medical Center will manage the facility, which will be staffed by a partnership including the City of Worcester, UMass Memorial, and others. UMass Memorial will lead the day-to-day running of the facility with support by state and local partners upon set-up.

“The DCU Center already occupies a position of prominence here and its value to the region is about to increase exponentially,” said Eric Dickson, MD, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care. “Our 14,000 caregivers are proud to join forces with Mayor Joseph Petty and the City of Worcester on this state-coordinated effort to expand the capacity of Central Massachusetts’ health care organizations to care for critically ill patients in our area.”

Medical Stations, like the one being deployed to Worcester, are required to set up in facilities of at least 40,000 square feet to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and include beds, supplies, and a cache of medicine for basic care.

“Logistics for this field medical station will be coordinated between the City, UMass Memorial Health Care, and state and local agencies,” said MEMA Director Samantha Phillips.  “MEMA continues to support the logistical needs of the Commonwealth’s coordinated response to COVID-19 and the COVID Command Center.”

Governor Charlie Baker Announces Attorney Mark W. Pearlstein to Investigate Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

Governor Charlie Baker Announces Attorney Mark W. Pearlstein to Investigate Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker announced that the Governor’s Office has hired Attorney Mark W. Pearlstein to conduct an independent investigation of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and the events that led to the recent tragic deaths from COVID-19 within that facility.

The investigation will focus both on the events inside the facility that led to the tragic deaths of veterans in the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, and on management and organizational oversight of the COVID-19 response in the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.

About Mark W. Pearlstein

Attorney Mark W. Pearlstein has substantial experience in the investigation and trial of complex white-collar criminal cases and other government enforcement matters. He practiced as a federal prosecutor in Boston's U.S. Attorney's Office, where he served as chief of the Office's Economic Crimes Unit from 1994 to 1996 and was the First Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1996 until 2000, where he supervised the Civil and Criminal Divisions of the U.S. Attorney's Office. Currently, Attorney Pearlstein is a partner at McDermott, Will & Emery where he concentrates his practice on white-collar criminal defense, defense of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission actions, complex commercial litigation, arbitration and internal investigations. A 1979 graduate of the University of Michigan, Attorney Pearlstein earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1983

MAYOR WALSH, CITY OF BOSTON HIGHLIGHT 2020 CENSUS DAY Residents are encouraged to fill out the U.S. 2020 Census

Watch Boston's Census video here. BOSTON - Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today highlighted the importance of the U.S. 2020 Census, and encouraged residents to complete the Census, and ensure all Boston residents are counted in this national survey as part of a national awareness campaign on Census Day.  "April 1 is Census Day, a key time as we encourage all residents of Boston to fill out the U.S. 2020 Census," said Mayor Walsh. "For Boston to be counted and get the resources and representation we need, we need every community to complete this important survey. We're working to make sure everyone gets counted -- because in Boston, everyone counts."  The Census is a constitutionally required nationwide survey. It's conducted every 10 years by the U.S. Census Bureau to count the population of the United States. The data collected by the Census: determines the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives; informs redistricting, defining congressional districts, state legislative districts, and local city council districts for the next 10 years, and directs more than $675 billion in federal funding to states and cities. In mid-March 2020, residents should have received an invitation to participate from the Census Bureau with instructions on how to fill out your form. For the first time, residents can respond to the Census online or by phone in 13 different languages. All Census data is protected by federal law. It is a crime for any personal responses to be shared outside the Census Bureau and they cannot be used against people by any government agency or court. Residents can learn more about how to fill out the Census at boston.gov/2020-census. The City of Boston has launched Boston Counts 2020, the City's effort to support an equitable and complete count in the next U.S. Census.

波士頓醫療中心將遣散10%員工

             (Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓醫療中心(Boston Medical Center)今(31)日透露，為減少新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)大流行造成的財物損失，將遣散700名，大約10%的員工。執行長也將放棄至少一個月的薪水。

             由於新型冠狀病毒的流行，州政府早前規定不准人們做非必要，有選擇性的手術，治療，以減少病毒傳播機會，也留出空位給感染病毒的病人。麻州各醫院業務營收大幅降低，波士頓醫療中心執行長Kate Walsh表示，做這決定，其實很痛苦。

             遭遣散的員工將拿不到正常的薪資支票，但可以在沒工作的這段時間，以休假或病假來抵算，估計80%受影響的員工可以因此拿到約1個月的薪資。

             醫院方面未表明遣散期大概有多長。

             Kate Walsh還說，為刪減開支，2017年時，基本年薪為120萬元的她將放棄至少一個月的薪資，其他高層員工也將在未來三個月減薪。

             週一時，貝斯以色列拉赫(Beth Israel Lahey)醫療系統執行長Kevin Tabb博士表示，他將領半薪三個月，其他高層人員會減薪20%。

             波士頓醫療中心是一所教學醫院，為一大批低收入使用醫療補助的病人提供醫療安全網。週一時，這家醫院收了52名COVID-19確診病人，其中15人進了重症病房。另外有46名疑似患者還在等待檢測結果。該中心大約有51名員工已COVID-19確診。

             霍利奧克(Holyoke)醫療中心2星期前曾表示要開始遣散員工，其他醫院也說需要州政府及聯邦政府資助，才能度過難關。

             麻州最大的獨立醫師集團Atrius Health也宣佈了遣散和暫扣薪資聲明，但為向外公佈人數。

            包括鱈魚角醫療護理公司，貝斯以色列拉赫等幾家醫療系統的高層人員，都已決定不領薪。

COVID-19確診人數 麻州6620 新增33人死亡 波士頓確診938 新增1人死亡

(Boston Orange編譯)麻州的新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)確診人數今(31)日陡升至6620，新增868人。死亡人數更驚人，一下子增加33人，累計達到89人。麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)宣佈，非必要企業須持續關門至5月4日，民眾仍應儘量待在家裏，群聚不可超過10人。

總人口690萬的麻州，截至今日已有46,935人做了病毒檢測。562人住院。Middlesex及Suffolk兩郡仍是確診人數最多的地區，依序有1340，1373人確診。

一日之間有33人死亡的這一事實，使得3月31日成為麻州最致命的一天。33名死者大都是80或90多歲，只有1人50多歲，之前就已經生病了。逝者中，還有7人是Hampden郡州營退伍軍人之家的13名死者之一。

麻州州長查理貝克在今日下午的疫情匯報中感性表示，感謝州民聽取勸告，留在家中，他很高興大部分人都能聽勸，因為保持社交安全距離在這段時間中太多重要了。他自己也為了避免病毒有機可乘，儘管很想念91歲的父親，只能忍著，不去看他，只通電話。

查理貝克表示，聯邦政府已批准州政府的請求，開張3個田野醫療站，以協助因應新型冠狀病毒。第一個醫療站會在屋斯特(Worcester)的DUC中心，由麻州大學紀念醫療中心的職工運作。州政府還在找另外有哪兩個地點合適。

關於霍利奧克(Holyoke)士兵之家一事，麻州健康及人民服務署署長Marylou Sudders表示，州政府已派遣門診小隊去做徹底檢查及診治。該院的所有住民及職工，都以確診，州政府已為院民親屬設立了一條查詢熱線，413-552-4763。

在麻州之內，較多華人聚居城市的新型冠狀病毒疫情，約略如下:

波士頓市確診人數昨日為825人，今日躍升至938人，已有68人痊癒，共3人死亡。

昆士市確診病例從89宗累計至105宗，其中28人已痊癒，7人死亡。昆士市長在疫情報告中再次說明，市民的第四季物業稅，將展延至6月1日，物業稅的豁免及延期申請截止日期，也由4月1日展延至6月1日。

昆士市長柯奇(Tom Koch)將動用100萬元市府可負擔住宅基金，用以援助室內餐飲酒店業員工，在店鋪關門時間延長期中，保住他們的住屋。市府將研擬適當條文。

摩頓市昨(30)日有59人確診，今日未刊出任何新數據。

牛頓市的確診人數，昨日為63人，今日為83人。

劍橋市的確診人數，昨日為78人，今日為86人確診，1人死亡。

根據約翰霍普金斯大學數據，截至3月31日傍晚，全世界共有85萬5007人確診，42,032人死亡，177,857人痊癒。確診人數已躍升全世界第一位的美國，累計186,265人確診，3,810人死亡，6910人痊癒。(更新版)

圖片來自波士頓市政府網站

麻州非必要企業關門禁令效期延至5月4日 群聚不可超過10人

            (Boston Orange 周菊子編譯)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(31)日下午宣佈，非必要企業關門令，延長至5月4日。

             麻州州長查理貝克在今日下午2點舉行的每日疫情匯報中表示，非必要企業關門的緊急命令將延長至5月4日。麻州公共衛生廳(DPH)的”待在家”忠告，也持續有效。

             州政府修訂了基本必要的企業類別及組織，並准許和COVID-19相關的提供基本服務人員在這緊急時期經營實體店面。

             不提供COVID-19相關必要服務的所有企業和組織，必須關閉實體店，直到5月4日前，員工，顧客或公眾，都不得進入。

             州政府鼓勵不在基本必要服務名單上的企業或組織，藉由遠距工作等不需要員工，顧客或公眾進入實體店的方式，繼續營業。

             該依命令也在5月4日前，禁止超過10人的群聚。

             州政府關於餐館，酒吧等的規定，和之前一樣，不准堂食，鼓勵外賣。

             必要企業包括水電，通訊，石油等等。詳細名單如附https://www.mass.gov/doc/march-31-essential-services-list/download。

Baker-Polito Administration Extends Non-Essential Business Closures and Executive Branch Employee Guidance

Administration Updates Non-Essential Business Categories

BOSTON - Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced several updates related to the COVID-19 outbreak including extending the non-essential business emergency order and guidance for Executive Branch employees until May 4. The Department of Public Health’s Stay-At-Home Advisory remains in effect. The Administration also updated the “COVID-19 Essential Services” categories for businesses and other organizations that provide essential services and workforces related to COVID-19 that are permitted to operate brick and mortar facilities during the emergency.

Essential Services Order: Governor Charlie Baker’s emergency order requiring that all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential Services” close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public will be extended until May 4. Businesses and organizations not on the list of essential services are encouraged to continue operations through remote means that do not require workers, customers, or the public to enter or appear at the brick-and-mortar premises closed by the order. This order also prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people until May 4th.

The Administration updated the “COVID-19 Essential Services” list today, which is based on federal guidance that was updated earlier this week. The new list will go into effect tomorrow, April 1, at noon.  While these businesses are designated as essential, they are urged to follow social distancing protocols for workers in accordance with guidance from the Department of Public Health (DPH).

Some of the updates to the essential services list include:

• Clarity around the supply chain that supports other essential services

• Adding health care providers like chiropractors and optometrists

• Expanding the types of workers providing disinfectant and sanitation services

Click here for the essential services extension order.

Click here for the full list of categories of “COVID-19 Essential Services.” (PDF)

Click here for COVID-19 Essential Services FAQs created by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

Hotel/Motel Guidance: As part of the updated essential business list, DPH issued new guidance today around hotels, motels, inns, beds and breakfasts and other short-term residential rentals. Based on this new guidance, hotels, motels, and short-term rentals may only be used for efforts related to fighting COVID-19, like front line health workers or individuals, or for Massachusetts residents who have been otherwise displaced from their residences.

Click here for the Hotel/Motel Guidance.

Stay at Home Advisory: Last week, Governor Charlie Baker directed DPH to issue a stay-at-home advisory, and the Governor announced today that the advisory will remain in effect. Residents are advised to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel and other unnecessary person to person contact during this time period. Residents who are considered at high risk when exposed to COVID-19  should limit social interactions with other people as much as possible

Click here for the Stay-At-Home Advisory.

Executive Branch Employee Guidance: The Baker-Polito Administration today also extended the guidance issued to Executive Branch employees on protocol during the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure state government can continue to provide key services while protecting the health and safety of the public and the Executive Branch workforce. Under the guidance, all employees performing non-core functions who are able to work remotely should continue to do so until May 4. Full guidance will be sent to Executive Branch employees later today.

Some Executive Branch services and walk-in offices remain open, but residents are encouraged to use online services when available. For the status of in-person Executive Branch office locations, please click here.

Field Medical Station Announcement: The Commonwealth, through MEMA, has requested and received approval for a Field Medical Station that will provide additional medical care capacity as the state plans for a surge in cases. The federal Strategic National Stockpile has approved a 250-bed field medical station that will be deployed to the DCU Center in the City of Worcester this week. This temporary facility will be managed by UMass Memorial and staffed by a partnership including the City of Worcester and others. The temporary field medical center will be used to treat lower acuity patients who still need monitoring.

Nursing/Rest Home Program: The Commonwealth is implementing a pilot project that allows for safe, on-site testing of symptomatic residents of nursing and rest homes with a quick turnaround. The pilot will operate under the auspices of the Massachusetts National Guard in partnership with the Department of Public Health and Broad Institute of Cambridge, and samples will be collected by trained personnel from the Massachusetts National Guard. Prior to this launch, the only way for nursing home residents to be tested would be to be transported to a hospital or physician’s office.

Members of the public should continue checking www.mass.gov/covid19 for the latest information on impacts from the COVID-19 outbreak

麻州士兵之家驚傳11死訊 其中5人COVID-19確診

(Boston Orange 編譯)麻州霍利奧克市(Holyoke)的”士兵之家(Soldiers’ Home)”今(30)日驚傳11死訊。包括5人COVID-19確診，5人仍在等待結果的11名退伍軍人住民，不幸辭世。

麻州退伍軍人服務署表示，在這11人之外，”士兵之家”另外有11名住民，5名員工COVID-19確診。該院還有25名住在那兒的退伍軍人在等待檢測結果。

根據麻州健康及人民服務廳的聲明，”士兵之家”的總監Bennett Walsh已於週一起帶薪留職的休假，西麻州醫院的名護士兼執行長Val Liptak將接管該機構。

麻州健康及人民服務署副署長蔡維衡(Daniel Tsai)表示，霍利奧克市”士兵之家”為退伍軍人住民及職工提供安全環境是非常重要的事。

根據該機構網站，”士兵之家”建於1952年，有247張長照床位，以及供不需要那麼多照顧的退伍軍人住的30間宿舍式房間。

霍利奧克市長Alex Morse表示，聽到士兵之家爆出來的這消息，心情沉重及了。他在很感激州政府迅速行動，確保該院住民及職工得到必要的照顧與治療之際，更為那些失去親人的家屬難過。

COVID-19-19確診人數 麻州5752 波士頓825 昆市89 摩頓59 劍橋78 牛頓63

             (Boston Orange周菊子綜合報導) 3月30日，麻州新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)確診病例再增797，累計已達5752人，死亡人數也再增8人，累計56人。全州已有42,793人做過檢測，目前有453人住院。

              根據州政府的分析，麻州感染COVID-19病毒者，男女各約一半，20歲到70歲以上，每10年分段結算的數量，都差不多，分別在800到1100之間，但19歲以下年齡段，只有122人感染，似乎顯示年紀越輕，免疫力越強。

              昨日新增的8名死者，年紀都在60歲以上，也全都原有其他病症，似乎也在說明，這病毒對身體狀況原本就差的人來說，更形危險。

              以居住社區來看，Middlesex和Suffolk仍然是疫情最嚴重區域，依序有1141人和1115人確診。偏遠郊區的Dukes及Nantucket目前只有8人確診。

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)在今(30)日下午一點的疫情匯報中表示，大概下週二，他會宣佈預定4月7日結束的非必要企業暫停營業禁令是否會延長。

              聯邦政府日前通過鼓勵法案(stimulus bill)，容許通常不符合資格的某些人也可申請失業救濟。麻州州長查理貝克昨日表示，州政府還在等聯邦政府通知，該遵循什麼法則來發放款項。他促請這些人在聯邦政府公告發放準則後，再遞交申請。

              在麻州之內較多華人居住的波士頓市，昆士市，摩頓市，劍橋市，牛頓市等城市，也都每日匯報疫情。

              波士頓市市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)幾乎每日開記者會，並同步做網上直播。波士頓市的COVID-19確診人數，今日升高為825人，死亡人數仍為2人，痊癒人數增至59人。

              昆士市市長柯奇(Tom Koch)在他的每日臉書直播中表示，昆士市現有89宗確診病例，其中7宗情況危急，目前已有22人痊癒，仍有100人在觀察中。

                             昆士市府今日還宣佈，第四季物業稅繳交期限展延至6月1日，豁免或展延物業稅的申請截止日期，也展延至6月1日。

              昆士市府同時鼓勵市民登記加入緊急通知名單，只要發送”AlertQuincy”短訊到99411，就可即時收到該市有關COVID-19的最新消息。

              摩頓市市長葛帝生(Gary Christenson)在疫情更新匯報中說明，該市現有59宗確診病例，市府衛生居都已親自拜訪，確認所有人都在執行適當的隔離。他表示，為避免病毒傳染，市府將關閉摩頓公園，直至另行通知為止。4月1日(週三)晚7點，他將上MATV做直播，民眾可上康卡斯22號頻道，委瑞森26號頻道，或youtube上查看。

              劍橋市截至今日共有78宗確診病例，3月29日首度出現死亡病例，1名80餘歲已確診住院的男性辭世。其他確診者中，20到29歲人數最多，共17人，30到39歲，以及40到49歲，各有16人。

              牛頓市有63宗確診病例。