星期五, 4月 17, 2020

Baker-Polito Administration Outlines Ongoing Steps To Address Homelessness During COVID-19, Announces New Childcare Actions

Baker-Polito Administration Outlines Ongoing Steps To Address Homelessness During COVID-19, Announces New Childcare Actions

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today outlined its ongoing comprehensive strategy to address homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Administration also announced additional support for foster families and a new emergency order authorizing the creation of emergency childcare sites.

Comprehensive Steps To Address Homelessness: The Baker-Polito Administration recognizes that the challenges of COVID-19 are being felt especially hard among most vulnerable populations, including the 18,000 Massachusetts residents experiencing homelessness. Massachusetts was among the first states to create designated isolation sites for COVID-positive homeless individuals, the result of a partnership between the Commonwealth, homeless shelters and municipalities that has been underway for weeks.

The Administration’s strategy to support homeless individuals and families includes five key initiatives:

  • Establishing Isolation & Recovery Sites For COVID-19 Positive Homeless Individuals: The Administration has opened five state-operated isolation and recovery sites across the state to provide regional solutions for people experiencing homelessness that need a safe place to isolate and recover after testing positive for COVID-19. Statewide, these sites have a capacity of 550 beds and are staffed with 24/7 security and nursing staff, and are located in Everett, Lexington, Northampton, Pittsfield, and Taunton. These sites augment medical facilities at the Boston Hope field hospital and Newton Pavilion, which offer 732 respite beds for individuals who are homeless. As of April 15, over 160 people experiencing homelessness have been served by a state-operated Isolation and Recovery Site.
  • Deploying Supplies To Support Local Quarantine Solutions: With the Administration’s support, communities across the Commonwealth are standing up quarantine sites to provide a safe place for homeless individuals who were exposed to COVID-19 but are not symptomatic. Exposed individuals quarantine for 14 days to ensure they do not develop symptoms of COVID-19. The Administration created an expedited process for homeless shelters and municipalities to request equipment and supplies for quarantine solutions, such as tents, beds, and portable showers. Additional information on requesting support can be found here. To date, eleven communities have received supplies from MEMA to support their quarantine efforts: Brockton, Cambridge, Fitchburg, Framingham, Greenfield, Hyannis, Lowell, Southbridge, Taunton, Waltham, and Worcester.
  • Supporting Families In Emergency Assistance and Domestic Violence Shelters: The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) have instituted practices outlined by the CDC to mitigate COVID-19 outbreaks within congregate shelters. Shelter coordinators have implemented health screening procedures during the placement process and have reinforced social distancing and infection control practices for shared spaces. DHCD has increased the state’s scattered site capacity to enable additional depopulation, quarantine, and isolation of families at various stages of COVID-19 exposure. Extended leaves from shelter have also been approved for families that have temporary alternative housing available with relatives. DHCD has developed protocols for shelters dealing with families that have tested positive for COVID-19, especially when some family members test negative. This group has also convened a case team to triage unique circumstances.
  • Expediting PPE Distribution To Shelters: The Administration has established an expedited process for homeless shelters to request PPE and other supplies necessary to maintain appropriate cleaning and sanitation practices. As of April 15th, Massachusetts has distributed masks, surgical masks, face shields, gloves, partitions, temperature strips, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies to 84 shelter sites.

  • Providing Technical Assistance To Organizations, Municipalities Seeking Funding Through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program: FEMA will reimburse 75% of municipality and non-profit organization costs associated with qualifying quarantine and isolation services for people experiencing homelessness. Massachusetts has established a dedicated portal to support municipalities and organizations through the grant application process, developing robust partnerships across the state to ensure all applicants are well-supported. As of April 15, 236 applicants have been processed and approved by MEMA.

Foster Care Relief: The Administration recognizes that as result of schools closing and closure of non-essential businesses, foster families are incurring increased costs. Foster parents are vital to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and its mission to keep children safe, as they care for some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable children who have been abused and neglected.

To support foster parents providing departmental foster care, DCF will be making a $100 monthly payment for each child in placement on the 15th of April, May and June. Currently, on average, foster parents are reimbursed between $830 to $975 per child per month, depending on the age of the child in their care. This $100 additional payment represents a 10% - 12% increase over current reimbursements for foster parents. The relief will benefit the approximately 4,500 foster families who provide departmental foster care for 6,700 children. This includes unrestricted and kinship foster families.

Emergency Childcare: Yesterday, Governor Baker issued an emergency order authorizing the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to establish emergency sites for children and youth living in residential homes that have tested positive for COVID-19 and need to be cared for in quarantine or isolation.



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.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Distribution Of PPE To All Emergency Responders In Massachusetts

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Distribution Of PPE To All Emergency Responders In Massachusetts

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the distribution of approximately 200,000 respirator masks for all local law enforcement officers and firefighters to ensure they have the protective equipment during the COVID-19 crisis. These FDA-approved respirator masks will be distributed to all local law enforcement officers, including sheriffs and college and university police, and firefighters starting today through a coordinated effort by the COVID-19 Response Command Center and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers are continuing to receive these types of masks and other PPE.

To facilitate quick distribution of these masks, MEMA is employing a regional point of distribution (POD) model where communities can pick up their supply of masks at their designated MEMA POD. These POD sites are open today and have already distributed tens of thousands of masks to first responders in the first few hours.

This new distribution will ensure that local law enforcement and firefighters will have five respirator masks each, equivalent to a one month’s supply. Including conservation methods currently being used by some organizations, this will provide each individual a mask per week and a spare, allowing the mask to dry overnight and reuse for up to one week.

The Baker-Polito Administration and its COVID-19 Response Command Center continue to prioritize the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment for front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of yesterday, the Commonwealth has delivered over four million pieces of PPE statewide. This includes over 2.3 million gloves, over 370,000 masks from the “AirKraft” shipment, almost 190,000 gowns and 380 ventilators.

Daily distribution of PPE data can be found here.

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.

貝爾蒙頤養院驚傳30死訊


(Boston Orange 編譯)麻州在416日這天,新增2263人確診,137人死亡。麻州因新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)而辭世的總人數,累計到1,245人。其中49%是長照機構住民,30人來自貝爾蒙(Belmont)頤養院復健之家。
整個貝爾蒙鎮有31人死於新型冠狀病毒,竟然有30人是醫療護理(Medicare)評為5星級,有135張認證病床的貝爾蒙鎮頤養院(Belmont Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center)住民,這消息震驚了許多人。
座落在貝爾蒙鎮Beaver 溪保留地旁開闊林地的這家頤養院,由Karger家族從1967年迄今的經營了50年,是鎮上唯一有專業護士照顧住民的頤養院。416日,這家頤養院卻宣佈,新型冠狀病毒奪走了該院30名住民的性命。
這是麻州各長照機構公佈死亡人數最多的一個。該鎮行政主管Patrice Garvin說,太可怕了,簡直無以形容
貝爾蒙頤養院及復健之家在41日傳出第一宗新型冠狀病毒死訊,到週六的44日時,該機構已有13人因COVID-19而逝世。
在一封日期為415日星期三,發給家屬的信中,貝爾蒙頤養院宣佈,總共已有30人死亡,其中包括4名已住院者。
該信說,有116名住民確診,另有2人檢測結果還沒出來。該院約有員工190人,其中有94人已做了檢測,59人確診。
頤養院的Linda Fritz說,72歲的Cynthia Lee Segal,三月底發燒後確診,49日在貝爾蒙頤養院辭世。在她辭世前,頤養院為她和姐姐安排了2Facetime晤談。
Linda Fritz還說,聯邦疾病防治中心使得在頤養院做檢測太困難了,麻州政府和該院企圖解決疫情所做的計畫,顯然都做得還不夠。
貝爾蒙鎮的行政主管Patrice Garvin說,早從35日,鎮政府就已和貝爾蒙頤養院開始接觸,送了900個口罩過去。416日時,她說鎮政府還計畫送150件罩袍給頤養院。
麻州政府也說已和該頤養院電話溝通了2星期,已計畫增加該機構職工人手。
國家衛隊在該院現場做了43個檢測,另外送過去190個自我檢測套件。
416日時,麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudders表示,麻州是全美僅有的2州之一,為頤養院,療養所,輔助居住處,以及其他州營照顧中心提供流動檢測服務的州。
截至416日,麻州共在279個老人照顧機構做了5,883次檢測,發出10,995套自我檢測用品給103家機構。Marylou Sudders表示,國家衛隊當天還計畫拜訪11個地方,執行1,300次檢測。
麻州州政府經營的霍利奧克(Holyoke)士兵之家,截至416日,已傳出52宗死訊,其中44宗和新型冠狀病毒有關。總共確診的222人,包括81名員工,141名住民。情況之嚴峻,已超過當初普遍被認為是美國老人機構警訊,有37人死亡的華盛頓州Kirkland頤養院。
麻州州長查理貝克獲悉此事後,除了表達慰問之一,也提醒該院要和接觸追蹤者(contact tracers)合作,接受這些人的訪談,以清查病毒散佈途徑與根源,幫助麻州更快恢復正常。麻州政府迄今已聘請176人執行這一任務。
查理貝克說,麻州政府已分發出去380萬件個人防護用品,包括口罩,手套,罩袍等,給醫院,護理之家和社區醫療中心和公安人員。
他也說,在麻州內,包括位於波士頓,屋斯特,以及即將於Bourne,羅爾(Lowell),以及Dartmouth等地啟用,要因應新型冠狀病毒患者陡然大量增加的17,800張病床,有一半以上已在使中。
麻州共有232家長照機構各報告了至少1宗新型冠狀病毒個案,並共有4,798名員工及住民感染了COVID-19病毒。麻州政府人員本週表示,州內的新型冠狀病毒死亡者,有一半以上是這些長照機構的住民。

網協募款近6萬元 已馳援7家醫院

網協會員回中國前捐出個人防護用品。
(NECINA提供)
                           (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙中華資訊網路協會(NECINA)3月底發佈倡議書,成立抗疫募捐行動組,截至 412日共收到51筆捐款,總額57,938.92元,已辦理二波捐贈行動,共支援了7家醫院。現仍以11配比方式,接受各界捐款,持續支援第一線醫護人員。
網協會長高弘表示,最感動人的是有些網協會員,儘管自己在疫情逼使企業關門或縮減人員的情況中離職,學生面對學業被迫結束,正為張羅機票回國而緊張,都仍然慷慨捐輸。2018年來美,從波士頓學院畢業後,進入企業工作的會員胡泰華,在疫情延燒,家人催促中,決定回國後,還在臨行前把他持有的60多個3MN95口罩,16個鞋套等個人防護用品,全都捐給網協,希望轉交給迫切需要這些裝備的第一線醫護人員。
高弘透露,新型冠狀病毒已擾亂了整個世界的日常生活,美國的學校停課,亞裔遭遇歧視事故頻生,大波士頓已有至少數百名中國學者,學生尋找各種途徑回國,只是中國縮減國際航班,各航空公司國際航線一週只留一班,導致機票價格飆漲,甚至傳出一個座位二、三萬元的價碼,人們顯得頗為慌亂。網協因此更希望能為社區有所貢獻,既是公益,也為華人社區奠定好形象。
網協前會長王軍在上海創辦了高階Scrum敏捷培訓學校。(網協提供)
原本已遷居佛羅里達州的網協資深董事,也是網協第15屆會長的陳君瑤,這次回波士頓,負責為網協抗疫活動募款,憑她在網協的資歷與人脈,把網協從1996年創立迄今的歷任會長,不論是還住在麻州的許基康,邱瑞賢,王義明,陸德禮,寧可,沈心焯,鄭茹,陶東斌,王振榕,田田,李震宇,曹江山,高弘,或是已遷居加州的吳錦城,余鴻,洪銘勝,甚至回中國蘇州,上海,南京等地創業了的尹南鷹,王雷,王軍,李紀鵬等人,一個不漏的網羅進捐輸行列。他們一接到陳君瑤電話,聽到是為抗疫募捐,幾乎無一例外,二話不說地直接問把支票寄到哪兒。
MGH給NECINA寫了謝函。(網協提供)
尤其是上海的王軍,那天正好是疫情之後,為他所創辦高階Scrum敏捷培訓學校的重新開課主持大局,剛忙完就接到陳君瑤的電話,馬上就用paypal轉帳,捐了款。網協前董事,第八屆會長王雷和總經理李天舒夫婦,也在第一時間匯出款項,都更加振奮了網協會員支援抗疫行動的士氣。
網協的董事或幹部,包括容志誠(Robert Yung),賀東,倪繼紅,李天舒,楊湛萍,戴晨方,錢輝,張小凡,徐永光,袁睿熙,吳凡,吳丹陽,劉茹,張吉善,陳偉祥,陳劍群,杜星望等也都百分之百的支持網協這行動。
陳君瑤說,其實有不少人已經在其他地方捐了款,但是為了支持網協,又再掏腰包,王振榕等人又那麼盡責,快速的辦妥一波波採購,捐贈,讓她為網協的團結,實幹,感到非常驕傲。
Tufts醫療中心給網協寫了謝函。(網協提供)
在捐款之外,網協還和WeStar聯盟企業組合作,為這次疫情中最早受打擊,在強調社交安全距離(Social Distancing)”下,被州政府要求暫時歇業的餐飲業者舉辦講座,由網協會員也是律師的戴晨方,摩根銀行高管金世圭等人,說明聯邦及州市政府的一些補助計畫,解釋申辦方法等。
網協迄今募得的款項包括該會動用緊急基金做基數的25000元,以及一名董事會元老15000元,一名資深會員15000元,共約5萬餘元,將用作11匹配方式,鼓勵網協會員及各界捐輸。
網協表示,截至412日,該會共籌得善款46,658.39 元,其中來自網協匹配基金的有11,280.53元,合共57,938.92元。
有意捐款者,可照以下方式捐贈,1.Paypalmaster.NECINA@gmail.com2. 支票,抬頭請寫NECINA,並和會長高弘接洽,Harry.gao@necina.org。該會現在也接收各界捐贈個人防護用品(PPE),並將不斷公佈捐款總額,以及捐贈現金或防護用品給哪家醫療機構。(更新二版,更新人名,洪銘勝,容志誠,機構名的高階Scrum敏捷培訓學校,以及部分細節內容。更新第三版增加兩封感謝函。)

星期四, 4月 16, 2020

AG’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES NEW GRANT PROGRAM AND PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

AG’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES NEW GRANT PROGRAM AND PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
$500,000 Grant Program Will Provide Funds to be Distributed to Local Small Businesses; Partnership Will Provide Pro Bono Legal Support

BOSTON — Attorney General Maura Healey has announced two new initiatives to provide financial relief and legal assistance to small businesses impacted by closures and losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

            “This is an incredibly difficult time financially for people across the state – and our small businesses have been hit especially hard,” said AG Healey. “We hope that these resources will provide some much-needed relief and support to help keep their workforce employed. We will get through this crisis together.”

            The AG’s Small Business Relief Partnership Grant Program will provide funding to municipalities and regional planning agencies who are assisting small businesses in the communities they serve. Grant funds will be distributed by these organizations to help small business address fixed debt, payroll, accounts payable, lost sales, lost opportunities, and other working capital expenses incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. The AG’s Office also recently contributed $50,000 to the City of Boston’s Small Business Relief Fund, which provides financial support to small businesses in Boston.

            This grant was funded by settlement funds secured by the AG’s Office. Grant awards will be issued in varying amounts up to $500,000, and individual requests may not exceed $50,000. As a condition of receiving the grant, all funds must be distributed directly to small business, and no portion of these funds may be used to defray administrative or operational costs.  Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until funds are depleted. For more information, please visit: www.mass.gov/ago/grants.

The AG’s Office also joined a coalition of law firms, nonprofits, and government agencies—led by Ropes & Gray, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and Lawyers Clearinghouse—to launch the COVID Relief Coalition to provide vulnerable businesses and mission-driven organizations with pro bono legal support. Coalition partners have created a new website that will support the Coalition’s mission by enabling small businesses and nonprofits to learn about and apply for emergency loans and other sources of relief. The website will connect eligible small businesses and nonprofits to free legal support by Coalition partners.

In addition to the AG’s Office, Coalition partners include the City of Boston, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Boston Bar Association, The Boston Foundation, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, Dechert, Fish & Richardson, Foley Hoag, Foley & Lardner, Goodwin, Goulston & Storrs, Mintz, Morgan Lewis and WilmerHale.

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

Baker-Polito Administration Files Legislation to Combat Mosquito-Borne Diseases in the Commonwealth

Baker-Polito Administration Files Legislation to Combat Mosquito-Borne Diseases in the Commonwealth
Proposal would authorize statewide approach to mitigate risk of diseases like Eastern Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus

BOSTON — Governor Charlie Baker today filed legislation to help the Commonwealth more effectively combat diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, including arboviruses like Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV), by authorizing a coordinated, proactive, statewide approach to mosquito control activities. The legislation, An Act to Mitigate Arbovirus in the Commonwealth, would empower the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board to engage in mosquito control activities across the Commonwealth, including in areas where there is no legislative authority to take action today, should the Department of Public Health (DPH) determine that an elevated risk of mosquito-borne diseases exists. 
“After experiencing an unprecedented outbreak of EEE last summer, it’s critical that we act proactively to mitigate the risk of EEE through a coordinated and data-driven approach,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This legislation puts the Commonwealth in a better position to prepare for and respond to the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses, and allows public health experts to work together to safeguard the health and well-being of residents in every city and town across the Commonwealth.”

“Addressing a public health risk like EEE will require smart, coordinated action across all regions of the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Public health officials and the State Mosquito Control Board will need the ability to respond quickly to another potential outbreak in the coming months, and this legislation empowers them to take necessary actions to mitigate the risk to the public.”

Many cities and towns have access to critical surveillance as part of their membership in a mosquito control district. However, many municipalities at risk do not belong to a district, which significantly limits the amount of data available on the presence of the disease on which to base risk assessments and mitigation activities. The legislation will allow for the kind of statewide coordinated efforts that are necessary to combat arboviruses like EEE and the mosquitoes that carry it, and help to ensure that proactive steps are taken, before diseases spread.

The State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board (SRB) is the oversight body for all mosquito control operations in the Commonwealth, including the mosquito control districts and projects, but currently has no authority to independently conduct mosquito control activities in non-member communities that are not part of a mosquito control district. This new legislation would allow the SRB to respond to the potential for arbovirus and work with DPH and the Governor’s office to ensure appropriate steps are taken based upon the data and scientific information available.
“Past experience with EEE indicates the disease emerges in three-year cycles, and the Commonwealth is preparing for a potential outbreak this summer after last year’s unprecedented spike in cases,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “The public health risk presented by EEE calls for early planning, deliberate action and a statewide approach.” 
“My district was deeply impacted by last year’s EEE outbreak, and so I know all too well the need to proactively prepare for this coming season,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “I have stated from the outset that I believe we need a comprehensive, coordinated, and systematic approach to tackling EEE and we must ensure that approach covers all corners of the Commonwealth. Protecting the health and safety of all our residents is my top priority and I am thankful to the Administration for prioritizing this issue as well.” 

In Massachusetts, mosquitoes can transmit a variety of diseases to humans, including EEE and WNV. EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. 2019 saw an outbreak of the disease in the Commonwealth, with 12 human cases and four deaths. For those that contract EEE, mortality rates range up to 50 percent and, for those who survive, 80 percent have serious, permanent neurological damage. WNV can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to more serious disease like encephalitis or meningitis.  

“We have been actively planning for the upcoming EEE season since last Fall,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel. “Our goal is to increase EEE surveillance while also continuing to emphasize prevention of mosquito-borne illness.”

“With warmer weather, an additional public health risk that emerges is mosquito-borne diseases, including EEE,” said Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Dan Tsai. “While we are preparing with our state and local partners to combat this disease, it’s also important that Massachusetts residents remember that the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones is to practice personal protection.”

“Due to the risk EEE presents to residents across Massachusetts, a coordinated response to mosquito control will be critical to our ability to reduce the population of mosquitos that can transmit the EEE virus to humans,” said SRB Chair and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux. “As many cities and towns in the Commonwealth do not have mosquito control projects of their own, it is essential that public health officials have the authority to take action when and where EEE presents a threat to public health.”

Click here to read today’s legislation.
For information about Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and mosquito control, click here 

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Funding, Outlines Ongoing Steps To Support Long-Term Care Facilities

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Funding, Outlines Ongoing Steps To Support Long-Term Care Facilities

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today outlined ongoing steps to support long-term care facilities, including $130 million in new funding, expanded testing, PPE distribution and more.

Long-Term Care Facility Support: The COVID-19 Response Command Center is working to detect, prevent and manage the outbreaks of COVID-19 throughout the state and is intensely focused on mitigating the spread of illness in senior living facilities. Statewide, there are 383 nursing homes, 255 assisted living residences, and 93 rest homes in Massachusetts. There are approximately 38,000 residents in nursing homes; 16,500 in assisted living residences; and 3,000 residents in rest homes. Recognizing that these facilities are highly vulnerable to outbreaks of COVID-19, the Administration in March implemented stringent visitation restrictions and screening guidelines for staff at long-term care facilities.

Today, the Administration outlined ongoing steps and new resources to support these facilities:

$130 Million In New Funding:
In early April, the Administration announced a 10% MassHealth rate increase (approximately $50 million) across the board for all nursing facilities.

Facilities that create dedicated COVID-19 wings and units and follow necessary safety protocols will be eligible for an additional 15% rate increase, or a net increase of 25% (approximately $50 million). These funds support additional staffing, infection control and supply costs throughout the state of emergency.

An estimated $30 million will support facilities that established dedicated skilled nursing facilities.

Expanded Mobile Testing:
The Commonwealth’s Mobile Testing program, a partnership between the Department of Public Health, the National Guard, and the Broad Institute has improved access to testing for nursing home, rest home, and assisted living facilities to test more people. On April 13th, the Administration updated testing guidance to encourage long-term care facilities to conduct widespread testing for residents, even if they have no symptoms, and staff. In addition to the mobile testing program, facilities can conduct their own on-site testing using kits supplied by the Broad Institute.

  • As of April 14, more than 4,500 tests have been collected at 264 facilities.
  • As of yesterday, 77 facilities had requested more than 8,600 test kits.

PPE Distribution:
Since the beginning of March, the Command Center has distributed nearly 1.3 million masks, almost 200,000 gowns and over 2 million gloves to long-term care facilities.

Rapid Response Clinical Team & Staff Resources
The Commonwealth has also mobilized rapid-response clinical teams to provide short-term support for facilities with a high volume of cases or with critical staffing needs. These teams are made up of EMS technicians, nurses, and other health care professionals.
To meet staffing needs, the Administration has

  • Stood up a Long-Term Care Portal to match individuals that have registered through the portal with the staffing requests submitted by facilities;

  • Announced a $1,000 signing bonus to all individuals that register through the LTC portal to work for a certain amount of time in a nursing home, and;


Crisis Management Support:
To provide crisis management support for long-term care facilities, the Administration has also contracted with a firm specializing in nursing home crisis management. They will be available to provide facilities with on-site management and operational support to assist with staffing, vendors, implementing infection control measures, etc. The firm will also support efforts to stand up dedicated COVID-19 facilities and wings/units within existing nursing facilities.

Dedicated COVID-19 Skilled Nursing Facility Capacity Update:
The Administration has pursued three parallel options for expanding COVID-19 dedicated nursing facility capacity:

  • Approach 1: Converting existing occupied facilities to fully dedicated COVID-19 facilities. An example of this is the Beaumont Facility in Worcester.

  • Approach 2: Converting empty facilities to stand up a new dedicated COVID-19 nursing facility. An example of this is the Pioneer Valley Recovery Center in East Longmeadow.

  • Approach 3: Creating dedicated COVID-19 wings within a broader nursing facility.

To date, in addition to the Beaumont facility, the Commonwealth currently has 5 dedicated COVID-19 facilities opening within the next 7-10 days in Brewster, Falmouth, New Bedford, East Longmeadow and Great Barrington; and several others in the planning stages.

麻州新型冠狀病毒死者在波士頓馬拉松爆炸案紀念日這天破千


(Boston Orange 編譯) 320日時,麻州傳出第一宗新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)死訊,時隔不到一個月後的415日,也是波士頓馬拉松爆炸案7週年的日子,麻州的新型冠狀病毒死亡病例突破1千宗,在1日新增151人辭世下,死亡總人數已累計至1,108
麻州的新型冠狀病毒確診人數也在遽增1,775人後,累計為29,918,即將突破3萬大關。以麻州全州總人口約690萬來看,儘管做過檢測的人數已達132,023,但在已知無症狀者更容易傳染人,而且今日檢測未感染,不能保證次日依然未感染的情況下,這一檢測人數的數據,對一般民眾的參考價值,遠不如告知可做檢測地點,檢測費用有用。
在掙扎數個月之後,麻州公共衛生廳終於開始報告全州351個行政區的各市鎮確診人數。
麻州首都,也是全州人口聚集最密地區的波士頓,想當然耳的確診人數最高,而且還把其他城市遠拋於後,截至414日,確診人數累計為4,609,而其他城市還沒有一個確診人數破2000的。
若以每10萬人有1人確診的比例來比較,疫情最嚴重地區,卻和人們的想像有頗大差距。確診人數僅712人的雀喜市(Chelsea),確診比率最高,每10萬人有高達1890.37人確診,是波士頓(663.20)3倍。
若以人口數和確診人數比率來排序,麻州疫情最嚴重地區,依序為雀喜市,BorcktonRandolphWilliamstownLawrenceEverett
確診比率破千的城市,依序為人口約10萬的Brockton,有1202人確診,比率為1223.43,人口約35,000Randolph,確診人數367,比率1072.50。人口僅7754Williamstown74人確診,比率為1004.24
確診比率近千的城市,依序為人口約8萬的Lawrence814人確診,比率為923.15。人口約4萬餘的Everett444人確診,比率為914.78
麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudders表示,以後每星期三會公佈社區確診數據,不過人口低於5萬,確診人數少於5人社區的數據就不會公佈。
麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)15日的每日疫情匯報中報告了好消息,稱聯邦政府將發送100萬件個人防護用品給麻州。聯邦緊急管理局(FEMA)15日早上表示,會在未來幾天內把65萬個口罩,26萬件Tyvek袍服送到麻州。
查理貝克還表示,麻州人員正在檢查,數算新英格蘭愛國者隊專機送回麻州的個人防護用品。麻州緊急管理局會儘快把這些物品發送出去。他也再次感謝Kraft家族,並感嘆要取得足夠數量的個人防護用品不容易。
波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)在他的415日疫情匯報中表示,設置來幫助最脆弱的波士頓居民的波士頓彈性基金(Boston Resiliency Fund),又獲得170萬元資金。他稱讚波士頓人的慷慨。
由於415日是波士頓馬拉松爆炸案紀念日,15日下午2點,波士頓市府舉辦了一場跨宗教的祈禱會,並經由boston.gov,以及onebostonday.org網站廣播。這天下午249分,位於坡約斯頓街(Boylston)的舊南教堂也敲種紀念爆炸案中的犧牲者。
根據約翰霍普金斯大學的數據,全世界現在已有200萬人確診新型冠狀病毒,並有128,000人因此死亡。在美國,有609,000人確診,26,000多人死亡。
查理貝克上周曾表示,410日至20日估計會是新型冠狀病毒在麻州肆虐的高峰期,重症病人數量估計會從那天以後下降。不過專家們根據華盛頓大學的模型作的估計,卻不這麼認為。他們說道8月十,麻州可能會有8200人死亡,這和麻州以數據模型預估的4300人有頗大差距。