麻州5月29日起口罩解禁 各行業恢復100%營運

麻州州長查理貝克宣佈5月29日起麻州解禁。(視頻截圖)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合編譯)麻州的新冠病毒(COVID-19)限制要取消啦!麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今天宣佈，從國殤日紀念日(5月29日)那個週末起，麻州人民可以正常生活了。6月15日起，麻州就脫離緊急狀態。

             從5月29日起，各行各業都可以復工了，除了在交通系統的公共或私人場所，以及醫療機構，耆英住宅等地仍應戴口罩之外，所有限制都將取消，各行業可恢復100%營運。聚會人數限制也取消了。

             麻州政府鼓勵各行各業繼續遵循聯邦疾病防治中心的清潔消毒指導原則。

             查理貝克表示，聯邦疾病防治局上星期已放寬戴口罩規定，麻州預定6月初時，全州將有410萬人已完整注射疫苗，在各項數據看好下，麻州決定提早告訴人民好消息，二週後取消相關限制。

                麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)等人都強調能夠提早解禁，全靠前線工作人員及所有州民配合防疫。

             由於各地方市鎮的疫情急緩可能不同，而在地政府應更了解地方狀況，查理貝克表示，州政府將尊重各地方市鎮政府自己的決定。

             雖然戴口罩的禁令將從5月29日起取消，查理貝克及麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudders都強調，在巴士，地鐵，火車，共乘車輛，渡輪及車站等公共交通工具及場所，以及醫療機構等公共場所，無論室內或室外，仍應戴口罩。

             還未完整注射新冠疫苗者，也仍應戴口罩。

             查理貝克表示，聯邦疾病防治中心已一再強調，完整接種了新冠病毒疫苗的人，傳播或感染病毒的機會都很低，人們應該不需要擔心。

             5月18日起，青少年在外戶從事體育活動，也不需要戴口罩了，5月29日起，所有的青少年業餘體育活動限制都將取消。州政府將於5月29日進一步公佈關於夏令營等指導原則。

Baker-Polito Administration to Lift COVID Restrictions May 29, State to Meet Vaccination Goal by Beginning of June

Commonwealth Will Adopt CDC Face Covering Guidance

 

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that the Commonwealth is on track to meet the goal of vaccinating 4.1 million residents by the first week of June and all remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted effective May 29.

 

The Commonwealth’s face covering order will also be rescinded on May 29. The Department of Public Health will issue a new face covering advisory consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidance. Face coverings will still be mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems (including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA, Commuter Rail and transportation stations), in healthcare facilities and in other settings hosting vulnerable populations, such as congregate care settings.

 

Governor Charlie Baker will end the State of Emergency June 15.

 

The Administration also announced updates that will be effective May 18 to revise face covering requirements for youth and amateur sports and other guidance relating to childcare programs and K-12 schools. The Administration will release updated guidance for summer camps effective May 29.

 

The Administration is able to take these steps to reopen the Commonwealth’s economy because Massachusetts is on track to meet the goal set in December to fully vaccinate over 4 million individuals by the first week of June. The Commonwealth leads the nation in vaccinating residents, with 75% of adults receiving at least one dose. To date, over 4 million residents have received a first dose, with 3.2 million fully vaccinated.

 

New cases have dropped by 89% since January 8. COVID hospitalizations are down 88% since January 1 and the positive test rate is down by 88% from peaking at 8.7% on January 1 to 1% today.

 

Effective May 29

 

Effective May 29, all industries will be permitted to open. With the exception of remaining face-covering requirements for public and private transportation systems and facilities housing vulnerable populations, all industry restrictions will be lifted, and capacity will increase to 100% for all industries. The gathering limit will be rescinded.

 

All industries will be encouraged to follow CDC guidance for cleaning and hygiene protocols.

 

On May 18, 2020, the Administration published the reopening phases, which called for ending restrictions when vaccines became widely available. Today, there are over 975 locations for Massachusetts residents to access vaccines without delay.

 

Face Covering Guidance

 

In line with updated CDC face covering guidance, the Administration will rescind the current face covering order and issue a new face covering advisory effective May 29.

 

Non-vaccinated individuals are advised to continue wearing face masks and to continue distancing in most settings. The advisory will also recommend fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a face covering or social distance indoors or outdoors except for in certain situations.

 

Face coverings will still be required for all individuals on public and private transportation (including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA, Commuter Rail and transportation stations), healthcare facilities and providers, congregate care settings and health and rehabilitative day services.

 

Face coverings will also remain required indoors for staff and students of K-12 schools and early education providers.

 

Link to mask guidance

 

Youth and Amateur Sports Face Covering Guidance

 

Effective May 18, the youth and amateur sports guidance will be updated to no longer require face coverings for youth athletes 18 and under while playing outdoor sports. Effective May 29, all youth and amateur sports restrictions will be lifted.

 

Link to youth sports guidance

 

K-12, Early Education and Summer Camp Guidance

 

Effective May 18, guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Early Education and Care will be updated to no longer require masks for outdoor activities like recess and to allow for the sharing of objects in classrooms, in both K-12 and childcare settings. This guidance will remain in effect beyond May 29.

 

The Administration will release updated guidance for summer camps, effective May 29, which will include no longer requiring masks for outdoor activities.

 

Link to DESE guidance

Link to EEC guidance

 

State of Emergency Order

 

Governor Baker will end the State of Emergency​ June 15, and the Administration will work with legislative and municipal partners during this period in order to manage an orderly transition from emergency measures adopted by executive order and special legislation during the period of the State of Emergency.

Fact vs. Fiction - Understanding COVID-19 Vaccines 5/18

 Fact vs. Fiction - Understanding COVID-19 Vaccines

Join the Commonwealth Seminar for a virtual Lunch and Learn about COVID-19 vaccines with Dr. Julian Deider

About this event

All our lives have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways. But the release of the COVID-19 vaccines brings hope, and, for many people, lots of questions. In this interactive session, you will hear a breakdown of the vaccines – how they are developed and what to expect if you get one – and you will learn about ways to communicate your questions about the vaccine with your own doctor. You will even have an opportunity to submit your own questions during registration.

Dr. Julien Dedier, M.P.H.

Dr. Dedier received his medical degree from Northwestern University. He completed residency training in Internal Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and obtained a Masters of Public Health degree in quantitative research methods at the Harvard School of Public Health. He has served as a primary care provider to Boston Medical Center's safety-net population for over 20 years, and has conducted multiple human subjects research studies in these settings, working successfully with clinical practices at Boston Medical Center and at community health centers to recruit primary care patients and providers for research. His research interests have included understanding the influence of ethnic, cultural, and environmental factors on risk-related behaviors for cardiovascular disease and cancer among underprivileged urban minority groups. As a co-investigator for the All of Us Research Program, he is committed to building a research resource that reflects the rich diversity of the US population.

Moderator - Leverett Wing

Leverett is the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Seminar educating advocates and leaders who live in & work with underserved communities about the “ins & out” and “essentials” of working with, and within, all levels of government.

Before the Seminar, Leverett led the Community Services Division at The MA Department of Housing & Community Development and was the Executive Director of Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote). He was the first permanent Executive Director of the Massachusetts Asian American Commission.

Recognized by Get Konnected as one of their “One Hundred Most Influential People of Color,” in Boston and a recipient of the prestigious "Good Guy Award" from the MA Women's Political Caucus, (only the second Asian-American to receive the award) Leverett also serves on the boards of a number of highly respected organizations.

About the All of Us Research Program

Too often, health care is one size fits all. Treatments meant for the “average” patient may not work well for individual people. Health care providers may find it difficult to coordinate care among specialists or to access all of a patient’s health information. Researchers may spend lots of time and resources creating new databases for every study.

All of Us is working to improve health care through research. Unlike research studies that focus on one disease or group of people, All of Us is building a diverse database that can inform thousands of studies on a variety of health conditions. This creates more opportunities to:

• Know the risk factors for certain diseases
• Figure out which treatments work best for people of different backgrounds
• Connect people with the right clinical studies for their needs
• Learn how technologies can help us take steps to be healthier

All of Us is part of a new era in which researchers, health care providers, technology experts, community partners, and the public work together to develop individualized health care.

Diversity is one of the core values of the All of Us Research Program. All of Us is asking lots of people to join the program. Participants are from different races, ethnicities, age groups, and regions of the country. They are also diverse in gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, disability, and health status.

About All of Us New England

All of Us New England is an enrollment partner of the All of Us Research Program. Mass General Brigham and its founding hospitals, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, working with Boston Medical Center launched the All of Us New England consortium in May 2018.

About the Commonwealth Seminar

The Commonwealth Seminar is a privately funded program with the mission of: "Opening the Doors of Government to Everyone". It is an intensive training program focused on teaching diverse leaders how the legislative process really works.

Top legislators, legislative staff, media members, and policymakers introduce seminar participants to the legislative and budget processes, lobbying & advocacy, working with the press/media, and thinking critically about policy issues.

By giving an insiders' view of the process, our goal is to encourage diverse leaders to become effective advocates and to pursue careers in public service.

波士頓今夏免費供餐徵服務機構 三種補助可申請

 MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCED 2021 SUMMER EATS GRANTS APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

May 17, 2021

PUBLISHED BY:

FOOD ACCESS

Meal sites open to youth aged 18 and under at no cost with no registration required

BOSTON - Monday, May 17, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey and the Mayor’s Office of Food Access (OFA) today announced that Boston Summer Eats grant applications for summer 2021 are now open. Grants will be available for community organizations interested in hosting a Boston Summer Eats meal site. The Boston Summer Eats is an innovative effort to lessen the summer food gap by increasing the availability of non-traditional meal sites. The goal of the program is to expand access to free and healthy meals for kids and teens in Boston. Interested community- or faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply here by June 11, 2021.

“It is imperative that we work to close the summer food gap, and this initiative is the first step in doing so,” said Mayor Kim Janey. “As students enjoy summer vacation, we must continue to ensure that they have access to healthy and nutritious food. I would like to thank everyone involved in this program to support Boston youth, and I encourage all interested organizations to apply for these grants.”

The Boston Summer Eats program is led by the Mayor’s Office of Food Access (OFA) in partnership with Project Bread, the Greater Boston YMCA, and Boston Public Schools Food & Nutrition Services, and is sponsored by the Boston Children's Hospital. The program provides free, nutritious meals to youth aged 18 and under. Last summer, the program served 1,894,748 meals across 91 sites in 16 neighborhoods. Among the 97 sites, there were 23 non-traditional sites, including certain Boston Housing Authority properties, Farmers Markets, community and faith-based organizations, and Boston City Hall.

“I am thankful for strong partnerships we have made to address the summer meal gap, and reduce barriers for our youth to easily access healthy meal options as they transition into a new school year.” Said Catalina López-Ospina, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Food Access. “Good nutrition and access to healthy food is essential for our youth, it is directly linked to a young person’s health and success.”

This summer, sites will operate from June 21, 2021 through August 31, 2021. Organizations interested in hosting a non-traditional site must operate in the City of Boston, commit to administer and execute community outreach for Boston Summer Eats in neighborhoods, and pledge to provide meals to all children and teens ages 18 and under. Operating hours and dates can be determined by the organization.

There are three categories of grants available for community-based organizations, dependent on the number of days a meal site is operational:

• Five days a week, range up to $4,000
• Three days a week, range up to $2,400
• One to two days a week, range up to $1,600

For summer 2021, grant funds are to be used exclusively for personnel to help staff the site, and the funding is determined based on the number of operational days/hours.  Monetary awards are accompanied by comprehensive technical assistance and support. All sites will use the grab-&-go model, and distribute breakfast and lunch together.

Residents who wish to access free meals for youth aged 18 and under, can find sites at www.boston.gov/boston-eats or find additional locations across the state by texting “Food” or “Comida” to 877-877. Hours of operation vary depending on the site, and most meal sites are currently offering breakfast and lunch. Parents can pick up meals for youth who are not present. No registration or identification is required. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meals will be taken off-site, rather than eaten in a congregate meal setting at the site.

新任波士頓僑務委員郭競儒獲頒證書 (圖片)

駐波士頓台北經ㄅ濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元(左)，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右)頒發證書給
新任波士頓僑務委員郭競儒。(周菊子攝)

 

波士頓台灣世衛協進會成立 5/22將辦車隊遊行

部分出席者。

波士頓台灣世衛協會首任會長蘇鴻昌。

                 (Boston)大波士頓熱心僑民籌備逾月後，5月14日正式成立「波士頓台灣世衛協進會」，將於5月22日出動20餘輛私家轎車，繞行麻州重要街道，並在州政府大樓前按喇叭，期以爭取各界關注，支持台灣加入世界衛生組織(WHO)。

               「波士頓台灣世衛協進會(Taiwan Association for Global Health in Boston)」的首屆幹部為會長蘇鴻昌，副會長林思妤，秘書長歐陽，財務長郭競儒。5月22日的車隊遊行，目前已有15個僑團，近50人報名參加。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元。

               駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元出席成立大會時，透露過去10年來的推動台灣加入世界衛生組織活動，他幾乎無役不與，現在波士頓僑胞這麼熱心的自發組車隊遊行，他當然更要支持。不過他要提醒僑胞，注意安全。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右上順時鐘方向)，波克萊台灣商會會長徐小玲，僑教中心
資深工作人員張小慧，波士頓急難救助協會會長歐陽露，「波士頓台灣世衛協進會」會長
蘇鴻昌，副會長林思妤等人會末繼續討論遊行細節。(視頻截圖)

               蘇鴻昌指出，過去這些年來，波士頓一直有僑胞在做這方面努力，蔡坤喜醫師，以及許炳煌等，熱心推動各界支持台灣加入世界衛生組織的人很多。現在他出面來成立組織，主要是希望這一工作能夠傳承，為年輕人接棒做準備。

               蘇鴻昌還在成立大會中感謝波克萊台灣商會創會會長游勝雄已率先捐款600元，添購宣傳布條，支持車隊遊行活動，他個人也宣佈捐款1000元，支持會務，希望各界熱心人士，多寡不拘的將來陸續捐助，支持該會運作。

「波士頓台灣世衛協進會」會徽已由石明軒製成。

               波士頓華僑文教中心潘昭榮主任，以及資深工作人員張小慧刻正全力支援車隊遊行活動，不但陪同蘇鴻昌，林思妤等人多次實地探路，調整路線，還在協助3車1組，每車至少2人，出發後以line聯絡等的動線安排。

波士頓市長候選人論壇第二場談移民權益 6參選者意見大同小異 (圖片)

 

GBH慶祝亞美傳統月 邀譚恩美分享創作經歷 嘉賓座談反亞裔仇恨議題 (圖片)

GBH世界電視總經理程碧璧(Liz Cheng)擔任主持。

邦克丘社區學院校長余慕潔訪談名作家譚恩美。

國會議員趙美心談反亞裔仇恨事件。

GBH邀Jack Yang等人討論美國社會中近日暴增的
反亞裔仇恨罪行。

GBH顧問委員會委員李超融會末致詞。

 

麻州前州長Deval Patrick成立"未來科技委員會" 推動修訂美國科技相關政策

             (Boston Orange編譯)麻州前州長Deval Patrick卸任後，坊間曾傳言他參選美國總統，去年5月推出”一起基金(Together Fund)”，現在成為”未來科技委員會(Future of Tech Commission)”的共同主席，要從旁協助拜登(Joe Biden)總統。

             這”未來科技委員會”有三名共同主席，分別為麻州前州長暨Bain資本資深顧問Deval Patrick ，德州2036董事長暨執行長，曾是共和黨及美國前教育部長的Margaret Spellings，以及”常識(Common Sense)”創辦人及執行長James P. Steyer，預定在網上舉行一連10場”城鎮會議”，並於今年夏末向拜登提出政策建議。

             Deval Patrick去年5月成立了”一起(Together)基金”，旨在維護美國創建理念的平等，機會及公平

下星期二(5月18日)中午的第一場，將以”一場關於為所有美國人創造安全、健康網路空間的公眾討論(A Public Discussion on Creating Safe, Healthy Online Spaces for All Americans)”為主題，預定有2名來自哈佛，1名來自麻省理工學院的教授出席座談，並請參與者表達意見。報名可上網futureoftechcommission.org.

             麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)和聯邦參議員馬基(Ed Markey)預定一起為這場城鎮會議開場。

             在新冠病毒期間，科技在人們的日常生活中扮演的角色越來越重要，網購，遠距工作，混合式上課，遙距醫療等數位化趨勢加快了。Patrick擔心並不是每一個人都能持有這些基本工具，也不是每一個人都會以很負責的態度使用。

             最近回Bain Capital當資深顧問的Deval Patrick，最關注兩件事，一是普遍的可負擔寬頻，一是錯誤資訊的傳佈。他非常擔心社交媒體會擴大虛假謠言的散佈，並成為政治工具，被用來分化社會。

             這些城鎮會議的話題，很可能包括關於權力集中在大科技公司手中的討論，例如臉書(Facebook)、蘋果(Apple)、亞馬遜(Amazon)，以及谷歌(Google)等，以及美國總統拜登曾表示想要撤銷為社交媒體公司提供責任屏蔽的”第230條”規定，1996年制訂的美國電信法該如何修訂等。

             該委員會表示將以開放，不分黨派的態度來推動此是，以研議兩黨都能接受的有用法案。

             目前已排定的會議還有5月26日以教育為主題的德州城鎮會議。