AG’S OFFICE EXPANDS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

AG’S OFFICE EXPANDS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Provides Multilingual Resources and Hotline Staff Members to Assist Residents and Workers

            BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today announced an expansion of her office’s resources for immigrant, Black, and Brown communities in Massachusetts during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

The AG’s Office has ramped up its outreach efforts to underserved communities that are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. AG Healey has called for more community-level data on access to testing, medical care and rates of infection in order to better target desperately needed testing, treatment, and other support. Throughout the pandemic, the AG’s Office has worked hard to equitably protect the rights of workers, consumers, tenants, patients, and students across the state.

            “This is an incredibly frightening and serious time for families across our state, especially those in our immigrant, Black and Brown communities,” AG Healey said. “We all need to work together to address the disparate impact of this epidemic and push resources to the communities that need them most.”

Workers’ Rights

            The AG’s Office is providing information on workers’ rights in Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Spanish, and Khmer on its dedicated COVID-19 online resource page.

            Ensuring that workers have access to paid time off if they or a family member get sick is a top priority for the AG’s Fair Labor Division. AG Healey led 15 attorneys general last month in sending a letter to Amazon and Whole Foods, urging the companies to strengthen their sick and family leave policies. The letter specifically asks the companies to adopt the requirements of the Family First Act by providing two weeks of fully paid time off to quarantine, receive treatment or care for a family member and for 12 weeks of job protected leave to care for children. The AG’s office also filed amicus briefs in support of Uber and Lyft drivers seeking paid sick leave during the pandemic in order to protect themselves and members of the public.

AG Healey worked closely with Governor Baker’s Office and the state Department of Public Health on guidance issued on March 25 to protect consumers and workers at grocery stores and pharmacies. The order imposes distancing and sanitation requirements for the stores, which are essential businesses.

For multilingual resources on workers’ rights click here.

Civil Rights

In response to reports of COVID-19 backlash targeting Asian Americans, the AG’s Office is standing  up against hateful speech and discrimination, and providing civil rights information to residents  in multiple languages including Chinese.

The AG’s Office has been closely monitoring for unlawful evictions during the public health crisis, including those that are filed in court and unlawful self-help evictions by landlords. All eviction cases in court are postponed until May 4 or later. The AG’s Office is supporting pending legislation that will provide additional relief for tenants including a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for a period of time after the state of emergency is lifted.

Last month, a federal court ruled in favor of AG Healey’s Office and 15 other attorneys general and issued an injunction blocking the Trump Administration from implementing some of the most troubling parts of a rule that would have prevented more than 16,000 Massachusetts residents who could not find work from accessing food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The judge acknowledged that guaranteeing flexibility for governments to address their residents’ nutritional needs during the COVID-19 public health crisis is particularly important.

For multilingual resources on protecting your civil rights click here.

Equity

            The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light longstanding inequities in the distribution of care and treatment for Black and Brown families in Massachusetts and across the country. These communities are being disproportionally impacted by the pandemic. AG Healey and her office are committed to working with advocates and stakeholders to address these disparities.

            The AG and her staff are continuing to work with the members of her office’s Advisory Council on Racial Justice and Equity to address the issues facing their communities during the public health crisis including workers’ and civil rights, health care disparities, and eviction, rent and utility issues. The council is made up of advocates and religious and community leaders from churches and organizations across the state – including the Union of Minority Neighborhoods, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, the NAACP and the ACLU – who work directly with the AG and her staff to assist in their efforts to address the ongoing racial disparities.

Resources for Immigrants

The AG’s Office has a dedicated online resource page for immigrant communities that is regularly updated with public health information and resources. Recognizing that many immigrants don’t have access to health insurance and other government benefits, the AG’s Office has provided information about access to COVID-19 testing and treatment, as well as other resources that are available to everyone, regardless of immigration status. The office urges anyone who is sick with COVID-19-like symptoms or knows that they have been exposed to the virus, not to hesitate to seek medical attention and care, regardless of their immigration status or insurance coverage.

Staff from the AG’s Office have also recorded and posted multilingual videos to the office’s Twitter and Facebook pages that include important information for residents related to the public health crisis.

Throughout the pandemic, AG Healey and her staff are continuing to work closely with the office’s Advisory Council on New Americans. The Council is made up of 25 refugee and immigrant leaders from across the state who advise the AG and staff on various issues impacting residents in their communities including civil and consumer rights issues, health care, workers’ rights and housing.

For multilingual resources on immigrant rights click here.

Hotlines

The AG’s Office has also ramped up its consumer, fair labor, and civil rights hotlines and has multilingual staff available to assist residents with a variety of COVID-19 related issues, including event cancelations, childcare, scams, price gouging, and paid sick time.

The AG’s Consumer Advocacy and Response Division encourages members of the public to call 617-727-8400 or file a complaint online about consumer-related issues during this public health emergency. To date, the hotline has received nearly 2,000 coronavirus-related inquiries.

The Fair Labor Division encourages workers who have questions about their wages, overtime and paid leave to call its hotline at 617-727-3465 or to file a complaint online. The division has received more than 4,800 calls from workers who have COVID-19 related concerns including health and safety matters. The division is working hard to inform workers of their rights and employers of their obligations under the law during the crisis. Staff are closely monitoring complaints regarding employers who are breaking the law.

The Civil Rights Division encourages residents who have experienced discrimination or  whose civil rights have otherwise been violated to call its hotline at (617) 963-2917 or to file a complaint online.

Community Engagement

            The AG’s Community Engagement Division is continuing its efforts to inform the public about the office’s resources and is holding a variety of webinars in multiple languages on issues related to the pandemic including landlord-tenant rights, civil rights, and how residents can avoid falling victim to the unauthorized practice of immigration law, a widespread scam known as “notario fraud.”

            For a list of multilingual webinars click here.

Consumer Protection

The AG’s Office has taken a number of steps to increase consumer protections, including filing emergency regulations prohibiting the price gouging of essential items, and a regulation to prevent harmful debt collection practices during the public health crisis.

            The AG’s Child and Youth Protection Unit, in consultation with the state Department of Early Education and Care and community members, developed guidance for families impacted by the closure of day care centers due to the public health crisis.

Ratepayer Rights

            In recognition of the financial hardship families are facing as a result of the public health crisis, AG Healey’s Energy and Telecommunications Division is looking for ways to save the state’s gas and electric customers money and has called on the state’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to delay an upcoming gas rate increase. The division specifically is calling for at least a three-month delay in customer surcharges to cover gas pipeline replacement costs.

            Following a call from the division to ban door-to-door solicitations by competitive electric suppliers during the epidemic, the DPU requested that the companies and their third-party marketers cease these practices. Reports conducted by the AG’s Office show that these companies disproportionately target the state’s low-income, minority and elderly residents. 

            The division also successfully called on the DPU to issue an order preventing utilities from shutting off service during the public health crisis. The division reached out to municipal light plants across the state and they have agreed not to shut off residential service.

Baker-Polito Administration Provides Update On Hospital Surge Capacity

Baker-Polito Administration Provides Update On Hospital Surge Capacity

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration provided an update on the Commonwealth’s hospital capacity and efforts to add more beds to the system to meet the expected surge in COVID-19 cases. The Administration also announced that the Department of Public Health will issue a Public Health Advisory that people should wear a mask or cover their faces in public when they cannot safely socially distance.

Hospital Capacity In Massachusetts:

Hospital Surge Capacity: The Administration’s COVID-19 Response Command Center released its initial projections on the surge last week. Since then, the Command Center has remained in regular contact with the Commonwealth’s hospitals on a daily basis as they work to increase acute and ICU bed capacity. As of today, the Commonwealth has worked to make a total of approximately 14,500 treatment beds available ahead of the surge:

• 11,000 beds could be available for ICU and acute care in the existing hospital system. This represents a breakdown of roughly 9,400 acute care beds and 1,500 ICU beds.

• Through hospital surge planning and field hospitals, the Commonwealth is bringing approximately 3,500 new beds online for ICU and acute care. This breaks down to approximately 2,500 new hospital beds coming online from hospital surge planning, and 1,000 beds coming online though field hospitals.

The Command Center continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on different regions and tracking how many hospital beds are available across the Commonwealth. As of today, hospitals have reported that 8,100 beds are occupied now statewide, or approximately 55% (this figure includes hospitalizations for non COVID-19 patients). This means that 6,400 beds are currently available for both ICU and acute care, or roughly 45%.

Field Hospitals: In the coming days, hundreds of new beds will come online that will help the Commonwealth significantly ramp up care capacity ahead of the surge to support existing hospitals. The Command Center is targeting five alternate care sites. These field hospitals will serve as an alternative site for hospitals to treat patients, particularly individuals who need acute care. They are being built all around the state to ensure all residents have access to this emergency care. The field hospital at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center will open today.  Field hospitals at the DCU Center in Worcester and Newton Pavilion started accepting patients yesterday. Over the coming week, additional facilities will open up in Cape Cod, Springfield, and Lowell. All in, these facilities will provide approximately 1,000 additional beds for patients who do not require ICU-level care.

The Administration is grateful to federal partners and to the hospital systems of UMass Memorial, Partners Healthcare, Beth Israel Lahey, Cape Cod Hospital, Baystate Hospital, and Lowell General for their efforts to stand facilities these up.

Mask / Face Covering Advisory: Later today, the Department of Public Health will issue a Public Health Advisory that, consistent with CDC guidance, recommends that people wear a mask or cover their face in public when they cannot safely socially distance. For example, members of the public will be advised to wear something to cover their face in public places like supermarkets and pharmacies. 

Baker-Polito Administration Announces COVID-19 Text Alerts Now Available In Spanish

Baker-Polito Administration Announces COVID-19 Text Alerts Now Available In Spanish

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that its COVID-19 text message alert system “AlertsMA” is now available in Spanish. This expansion of the text-alert system means that the same text alerts that are distributed via the English-language system will now be available to Spanish-language users.

Users can subscribe to the Spanish-language service by texting COVIDMAESP to 888-777.

“Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, we have consistently reminded residents to get their information from trusted sources, and with the expansion of the AlertsMA text alert system, we are making it easier for Spanish-speaking residents to access important updates from the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This new service builds on our efforts to keep people in all communities across the Commonwealth informed as we confront COVID-19 together.”

Since its launch on March 24, over 215,000 individuals have signed up to receive text-message updates from AlertsMA.

The Spanish-language text alerts are the latest effort from the Commonwealth to deliver crucial COVID-19 information to non-English speakers. All of Mass.Gov (including Mass.Gov/COVID19) is available in 13 different languages, and the Commonwealth’s non-emergency help line, 2-1-1 is available in over 150 languages. Several agencies, including the Department of Public Health and the Department of Unemployment Assistance, offer additional fact sheets available in multiple languages.

“It’s crucial that we stay connected with residents throughout our response to this pandemic, and with this expansion of the AlertsMA service, we can better support our Spanish-speaking communities,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Command Center Director. “This expansion will help us make sure more residents get crucial guidance from health officials so we can slow and eventually stop the spread of COVID-19.”

The Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Technology Services and Security partnered with Everbridge, a Massachusetts-based company whose platform powers AlertsMA, to initially bring the notification service online. The Commonwealth and Everbridge partnered with UMass Medical School and the Center for Health Impact for Spanish-language translation services.

“During this public health emergency, it is increasingly important that we leverage technology to enhance our ability to communicate with the residents and businesses of the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Technology Services and Security Curtis M. Wood. “I want to thank our partners at Everbridge, UMass Medical School, and the Center for Health Impact for their collaboration and hard work as we launched this important expansion of the AlertsMA system.”

“Working on translations with our team at the Center for Health Impact to meet the needs of our non-English speaking communities is always important, but critical during emergency situations to keep our communities safe and healthy,” said Lisa Morris, Director Cross Cultural Initiatives at UMMS/Commonwealth Medicine.

The Commonwealth will continue to promote the service on Mass.gov, through digital displays and billboards at the MBTA, via MassDOT, and through social media.  

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES MORTGAGE RELIEF PARTNERSHIP WITH BANKS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES MORTGAGE RELIEF PARTNERSHIP WITH BANKS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC12 lenders will provide homeowners with at least three months of deferred mortgage payment

BOSTON - Thursday, April 9, 2020 - Building on his Administration's commitment to keeping the people of Boston stably housed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that 12 of the largest housing lenders in Boston will offer at least three months of deferred mortgage payments for homeowners who contact them and demonstrate they have been financially impacted by the public health crisis. In addition, the lenders have committed not to charge late fees, or report non-payments to the credit bureaus. Homeowners will not be required to pay back the deferred mortgage payments in a lump sum, but will instead work with lenders on an affordable repayment plan.  "No person should have to worry about losing their home right now. During these times of global uncertainty, homeowners and renters in Boston can be certain that we are doing everything we can to help ease the burden brought on by this pandemic and give them much-needed flexibility," said Mayor Walsh. "I want to thank our lender partners who have stepped up to the plate to meet the needs of our residents during this time, and I encourage others to follow suit. Now more than ever, we have to work together to make sure that we can keep people in their homes."  The participating lenders will provide at least three months in a loan deferment for homeowners, with the option to extend for longer periods, if needed. They have also agreed to the goal of approving deferments within 21 days of application and with only essential paperwork needed from the homeowner. The lenders will not report this deferment as a bad loan, nor report it to the credit bureaus as being a late loan. They will not charge late fees on the late loan payments or deferments. Once the deferment period is complete, the homeowner is not required to pay the total deferment/forbearance amount in a lump sum.  The 12 lenders that will offer this relief to homeowners include: Bank of America, Boston Private, Cambridge Trust Company, Century Bank, Citizens Bank, City of Boston Credit Union, Dedham Savings Bank, Eastern Bank, Mortgage Network, Inc., Prime Lending, Salem Five Bank, and Santander Bank.  "Bank of America is pleased to work with the City of Boston on a goal we share: to help the clients we serve get the assistance and support they need to get through this crisis," said Miceal Chamberlain, Massachusetts President, Bank of America. "Boston Private is pleased to expand our partnership with Mayor Walsh and the Department of Neighborhood Development to help our home mortgage borrowers who have been dramatically affected by COVID-19," said Anthony DeChellis, CEO of Boston Private. "These are extraordinary times and we are proud to work together with the City on this coordinated response to ensure homeowners are able to stay in their homes." Many lenders are offering deferral periods longer than those required in the plan, and homeowners should contact their servicer directly for more information. However, the Boston Home Center is available to answer any questions and can be reached at 617-635-4663, ext. 3. "The Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance is committed to helping homeowners impacted by COVID-19, and our job would be much more difficult if lenders and servicers did not cooperate," said Symone Crawford, the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance's Director of Homeownership Education. "We applaud these 12 lenders for stepping up and signing onto the City of Boston's plan to assist homeowners through this unprecedented time and thank Mayor Walsh and Sheila Dillon for working diligently to protect Boston homeowners." The financial relief being offered by these 12 lenders is the latest in a series of actions aimed at supporting Boston's renters and homeowners during this difficult time. Earlier this week, Mayor Walsh announced that the City extended the due date for property tax bills from May 1 to June 1, which will assist Boston's 94,000 homeowners during this difficult time. Boston is also waiving interest on late property tax and motor vehicle excise tax payments that were originally due after March 10. Residents will have a grace period, with no late fees, until June 30. The Mayor also extended the due date for residential and personal tax exemptions from April 1 to June 1. Last week, Mayor Walsh announced that his Administration is dedicating $3 million in city funds to assist Bostonians who are at risk of losing their rental housing. The funds will help income-eligible tenants in the City of Boston achieve housing stability by providing direct financial relief to assist with rental payments. To date, the Fund has received more than 3,000 statements of interest. All eligible submissions will be entered into a lottery that will take place on Monday, April 13th.  Other COVID-19 resources currently available from the City of Boston are listed at boston.gov/coronavirus and include free meals for Boston students; free toiletries for Boston students; emergency childcare centers; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; transportation options for healthcare workers; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources.  For additional questions or programs, please visit boston.gov/coronavirus or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 99411 to receive text alerts on the latest Boston specific COVID-19 related information, available in six languages.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW, DEDICATED HOUSING FOR BOSTON'S FIRST RESPONDERS, SHELTER STAFF AND VETERANS

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW, DEDICATED HOUSING FOR BOSTON'S FIRST RESPONDERS, SHELTER STAFF AND VETERANS New beds to facilitate social distancing among Bostonians working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 public health emergency; de-densify population in veterans group home

BOSTON - Thursday, April 9, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City has secured 334 dedicated beds at various locations to facilitate social distancing and reduce the further spread of COVID-19 among Boston's first responders, shelter staff, and veterans living in group homes. This announcement builds on the City's work to expand care and housing capacity for people exposed, suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19, ahead of the Massachusetts' peak in hospital resource use estimated by public health experts for April 20, 2020.  "We're entering the most crucial point in the outbreak and the beginning of a surge in cases that will be very difficult for our city," said Mayor Walsh. "That's why we are doing everything we can to be prepared, and increasing our medical and care capacity for vulnerable populations and hospitals. Today, we're ramping up resources for our first responders and frontline workers to make sure they have the support they need as they care for our city." HOUSING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Hotel Boston in Brighton will be available for members of Boston Police, Boston Fire and Boston EMS who have tested positive for COVID-19 or may have been exposed to a coworker with COVID-19, and are unable to effectively isolate themselves at home. The hotel has a capacity of 74 single-occupancy rooms with a private bathroom and kitchenette. The setup of the hotel is ideal for self-isolation because all rooms have ground-level access and no common areas.  Additionally, Northeastern University is providing one of its dormitories with single-occupancy rooms to Boston's first responders who live with someone who might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults and people who have serious underlying medical conditions. Northeastern will provide 135 rooms with beds, private bathrooms and kitchenettes at their West Village dormitory.  "In times of crisis, we must join together as one community and offer each other support and assistance," said Northeastern University President Joseph E. Aoun. "We are honored to provide safe space for first responders, and we stand ready to offer additional help to the state and the city as needed. I applaud Mayor Walsh for his leadership through this difficult time." Mayor Walsh recently announced the City of Boston started testing Boston's first responders for COVID-19 at Suffolk Downs in East Boston. The operation of this testing facility is led by the Boston Public Health Commission and the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center. First responders are screened to see if they meet the state criteria for testing.  HOUSING FOR SHELTER STAFF Boston University will be providing 75 rooms to Pine Street Inn's shelter staff who have been working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 public health emergency caring for people experiencing homelessness at their shelter facilities.  "We're pleased to provide space to the Pine Street Inn to support their critical work during these unprecedented times for our city and the nation," said Boston University President Robert A. Brown. "I'm grateful to the Boston University facilities teams that worked tirelessly to ready the space. We will continue to work closely with the City to be helpful where we can be."  "On behalf of the entire Pine Street community, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Boston University President Robert Brown for this kind offer of dormitory space for our front-line staff," said Lyndia Downie, Pine Street President and Executive Director. "Many of our staff members are working extremely long hours and unable to make it home between shifts, so it means so much to have a place where they can rest and regroup. And of course, I also want to thank Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston, who have stood by us during this challenging time. We feel extraordinarily lucky to be part of a community that cares so much." The City of Boston has been working on increasing its medical and care capacity for vulnerable populations and hospitals during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Mayor Walsh recently announced expanded capacity to help reduce congestion and increase social distancing in homeless shelters, adding 172 new beds at a Suffolk University dormitory, 75 new beds at 1515 Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton, and 55 new beds in the South End near City shelters.  In addition, Boston Medical Center's Newton Pavilion will have a capacity of 250 beds for medical care and the BCEC Medical Center will have 1,000 total beds for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 (500 beds dedicated to patients struggling with homelessness and the 500 for other patients); six acute care suites; a physical therapy suite; 52 nurses stations and 48 bathroom facilities.  Screenings led by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program have been happening at shelter sites to identify guests with symptoms or exposure to COVID-19. If needed, guests are referred for observation and support while awaiting test results and/or needing isolation. Collectively, the partners have tested approximately 704 individuals and have identified 201 positive COVID-19 cases.  The City of Boston coordinates a network of shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness, including Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Boston Public Health Commission, Pine Street Inn, Boston Medical Center, St. Francis House, have been communicating daily to ensure that Boston can continue to operate its emergency shelter system safely and care for those needing observation, quarantine or more serious levels of care, and any additional supports needed. Shelter staff have been working with guests with imminent housing offers to move out of shelter and into housing. The City coordinates a network of street outreach teams that work to engage with people who are not currently engaged in services, less likely to seek shelter, and may be in need of information, assessment and assistance. Street outreach teams are equipped with supplies such as hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and gloves, and are escorting individuals in need of care to medical sites.  ALTERNATIVE SITE FOR VETERANS HOUSING  In order to reduce living area density and enable increased social distancing in Boston's Veterans housing, the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV), which offers short and long-term supportive housing and intensive human services for women and men who have served our nation and have experienced or are at risk of homelessness, will temporarily relocate as many as 40 to 50 confirmed COVID-negative Veterans to a former nursing home facility in Brighton.  "This will allow us to serve all of our Veterans more effectively and ensure continuity of services to these men and women who have all served our nation. We are grateful to the City of Boston for assisting us in this endeavor and to the Brookline Development Corporation, the owner of the building, for allowing the Veterans who call the New England Center and Home for Veterans home to temporarily utilize their building in Brighton," said NECHV President and CEO C. Andrew McCawley. The former nursing facility has been dormant for a year, to prepare the building for this temporary use by these Veterans, the new property owners worked to restore power and water services and make necessary repairs. He is undertaking these measures and providing the facility at no cost to the NECHV. "As the number of COVID-19 cases in our community kept on growing, we started identifying our assets and felt that it was a service to our city to help in any way we could," said property owners Jeff Feuerman and Michael Argiros. "We reached out to the Mayor's Office to offer this former nursing home in Brighton, and we worked together to get it to optimal living conditions. We are thankful to be contributing to the wellbeing of our community and to be working with the City as part of their efforts to address the COVID-19 public health emergency."  The Mayor's Office of Veterans Services has been making wellness calls to all veterans connected to their office and continues to process Chapter 115 payments for current clients. The office also continues to support veterans with new Chapter 115 claims via phone and assistance with filing Veterans Affairs claims. In an effort to expand their reach and capacity to check on and engage Boston's veterans, volunteers have been helping deliver food from pantries to veterans and participating in a new pen pal program that connects veterans, particularly seniors and disabled vets, with volunteers who will regularly make contact via phone or virtually.  Resources and information about COVID-19 are available on boston.gov/coronavirus. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students; free toiletries for Boston students; emergency childcare centers -- including 40 centers in Boston -- support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; transportation options for health care workers; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources.  For additional questions or programs, please visit boston.gov/coronavirus or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 99411 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in six languages.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Field Medical Station Details, New Support for Health Care Workforce, Expanded COVID-19 Data Reporting and Domestic Violence Resources

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Field Medical Station Details, New Support for Health Care Workforce, Expanded COVID-19 Data Reporting and Domestic Violence Resources

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the details for a new field medical station at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), increased support for health care workforce and patients, expansion of COVID-19 reporting data, new guidance for workers seeking unemployment benefits and protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Earlier today, the Administration announced new guidance for workers seeking unemployment benefits through the implementation of the CARES Act.

Boston Convention Center Field Medical Station: In an effort to reduce the strain on the state’s health care system and area hospitals, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced details for the Field Medical Station at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Anticipating a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Administration worked collaboratively with the City of Boston and community partners to provide an additional 1,000 beds for COVID-19 patients at this new site. Partners Health Care will lead clinical care efforts at the BCEC field medical station, in a collaboration with Boston Health Care for the Homeless called Boston HOPE. The Convention Center site is the latest Field Medical Station to be stood up by the Command Center and its partners in the health care community.

Support for Health Care Workforce, COVID-19 Patients: Today, Governor Baker issued three emergency orders to further support the Commonwealth’s health care workforce and expand its capacity, as well as ensure access to in-patient services for COVID-19 patients. These orders include:

• Easing licensing restrictions for foreign-educated doctors to allow medical practice in the Commonwealth: This order specifically allows graduates of international medical schools who have successfully completed at least two years of postgraduate resident medical training in the US to be eligible for licensure in the Commonwealth. Read the Order.

• Expediting licensure of nursing students and graduates: This order allows nursing school graduates and students in their final semesters of nursing programs to practice nursing in advance of receiving a license, provided that they are directly supervised by other licensed medical professionals. Read the Order.

• Ensuring access to in-patient services: This order mandates that insurers must cover all medically required costs of COVID-19 treatment in out-of-network hospitals or other medical facilities with no charge to the patient, including co-pays, deductibles or co-insurance payments. Health care providers and medical facility insurers must accept the following rates for out-of-plan treatment:

• If insurers have a contract with a provider or facility: contracted rate even if the patient is not in a network that covers the provider or facility

• If insurer has no contract with a provider or facility: 135 percent of the applicable Medicare rate

• Insurers may not balance bill, or charge, patients for amounts above the above specified payments.

Read the Order

COVID-19 Demographic Data: The Department of Public Health (DPH) today issued an order designed to expand COVID-19 demographic reporting data, including race and ethnicity, to address disparities in the virus’ impact and support the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 response efforts. This order mandates all health care providers and labs to collect and report complete demographic information of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients. Read the Order.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Resources: The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the expansion of SafeLink, the Commonwealth’s statewide, 24/7, toll-free and confidential domestic violence hotline to now include resources and support for survivors of sexual assault. Previously, SafeLink served as a hotline to specifically connect domestic violence survivors to services. This expansion of services will allow SafeLink to triage calls to local area rape crisis centers and create a centralized number for any survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault to call and receive services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This hotline is designed for crisis intervention support for those who need assistance in safety planning measures for both themselves and their families. This resource is now available through the 2-1-1 line as an additional method for victims to access help and resources.

The SafeLink toll-free number is (877) 785-2020. For the hearing-impaired, the SafeLink TTY number is (877) 521-2601. Advocates are available in English and Spanish and can provide translation in more than 130 languages.

If you are experiencing violence within your home or concerned about a loved one that may be experiencing violence, please call the SafeLink hotline for support and resources.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.

CARES Act Unemployment Benefit Implementation: The Baker-Polito Administration earlier today announced details for the initial implementation of federal unemployment benefits in the CARES Act, the federal based COVID-19 relief package. Understanding the great urgency of Commonwealth residents to access these benefits, DUA has issued new guidance to instruct all qualifying residents of what actions they can now take to access CARES Act benefit programs. These new unemployment benefit programs include:

• Retroactive and continuing additional $600 per week for regular unemployment compensation for eligible claimants. This program is being implemented now.

• Expanded support for people not traditionally covered in the unemployment system, such as self-employed or gig economy workers. DUA is building a platform to implement this program, which will be available soon.

• 13-week extension of benefits for individuals who have exhausted previous unemployment benefits. DUA continues to await federal implementation guidance for this program.

Read More

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 text “COVIDMA” to 888-777 to subscribe to text-alert updates.  

Massachusetts Announces Initial Implementation Of New Federal Unemployment Benefits From CARES Act

Massachusetts Announces Initial Implementation Of New Federal Unemployment Benefits From CARES Act

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced details for the initial implementation of federal unemployment benefits in the CARES Act, the federal based COVID-19 relief package. This federal program, enacted on March 27, 2020, will be administered by states. Today’s announcement reflects the first set of partial guidance that Massachusetts will immediately implement to support unemployed workers. The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is moving swiftly to implement the new benefit programs and awaits additional guidance from the federal government for the remainder of benefits authorized by the CARES Act.

Understanding the great urgency of Commonwealth residents to access these benefits, DUA issued new guidance to instruct all residents of what actions they can take now.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC): For Individuals Currently Collecting Benefits From Regular Unemployment Compensation:

Overview: An additional $600 per week for individuals collecting benefits from regular unemployment compensation is being implemented by DUA. The additional $600 will be added to unemployment benefits retroactive to March 29, 2020 and will begin being disbursed to claimants this week.

The FPUC program will provide an additional $600 per week to individuals who are collecting regular Unemployment Compensation (UC), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Extended Benefits (EB), Trade Readjustment Act (TRA), and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DA). The Department has already begun implementing the FPUC program for regular UC claimants. The $600 will be added to all eligible weeks of benefits retroactive to March 29, 2020 and continuing until July 31, 2020. FPUC monetary disbursements will begin immediately in Massachusetts for those who are currently collecting benefits on regular UC claims. Those receiving PEUC, PUA, and EB will receive the additional $600 payments retroactive to March 29, 2020 as soon as their claims are processed and determined eligible.

• Next Steps For Claimants: Eligible claimants who are already receiving UI do not need to do anything for the additional $600 to be added to their weekly benefit amount. This benefit will be available for all new claimants filing for regular Unemployment Compensation as well, which can be done at www.mass.gov/unemployment/covid-19

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): For Individuals Not Covered Under Traditional Unemployment Insurance (Self-Employed, Gig Economy Workers, Others):

Overview: A benefit will be available for individuals not covered under traditional unemployment insurance like the self-employed or gig workers or those who do not qualify for lack of wages. DUA is now working with a vendor to build a new platform to disburse those benefits. This platform is expected to begin processing claims on or about April 30, 2020.

PUA will provide up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are not working as a result of COVID-19 and are self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and others who otherwise would not qualify for regular UC or EB under state or federal law or PEUC. These individuals will not be able to claim benefits directly through the UI Online System in Massachusetts, as of this time. The Department of Unemployment Assistance has engaged a vendor to build a new platform to disburse PUA benefits. The platform is expected to begin accepting PUA claims by April 30, 2020. Eligible claimants under PUA will be retroactively compensated with this benefit beginning February 2, 2020, or the first week a claimant was unable to work as a result of COVID-19, whichever date is later. The last week this benefit is payable is the week ending December 26, 2020.

• Next Steps For Claimants: Eligible claimants should continue to check for updates at www.mass.gov/unemployment/covid-19 on the new platform, which will be ready this month. Once the system is up and running, eligible claimants will receive this benefit backdated to February 2, 2020, or the first week a claimant was unable to work as a result of COVID-19.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC): For Individuals Who Exhausted Previous UI Benefits:

Overview: A 13-week extension of benefits for individuals who exhausted their previous benefits – is not yet available as DUA continues to await federal implementation guidance.

The PEUC program provides up to 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to individuals who have exhausted their previous unemployment benefits. The first week a claimant can be compensated on this benefit is the week beginning March 29, 2020, and the last payable week is the week ending December 26, 2020. The Department of Unemployment Assistance is awaiting additional federal guidance on how to implement and administer this program and the extended weeks of PEUC benefits are not yet available.

• Next Steps For Claimants: No action at this time. Eligible claimants should continue to check for updates, which will be made available as soon as the state receives information from the federal government.

DUA is committed to moving as quickly as possible to get workers the benefits they deserve during these unprecedented times and will continue to communicate with the public about the status of these benefit programs.

COVID-19大流行重創企業 波士頓科技公司紛裁員

(Boston Orange 編譯) 新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)大流行對餐飲業造成極大打擊之後， 科技業也開始頂不住了，近日大波士頓兩家最有潛力的公司，Toast和Wayfair也陸續傳出裁員，強制放假的消息。

Toast是一家很受歡迎，製造餐館業軟體及系統的公司。週二(4月7日)晚宣布裁員1000多人，在裁員及強制休假之後，全公司人力減半。

該公司表示，自從全美各地的州市政陸續下令企業關門後，餐館業營收下跌80%，而該公司和餐館業是休戚相關的行業。

為餐館業提供管理軟體的這公司，二月才宣佈，得到4億美元的F輪融資，以及49億元的估值。

EzCater這家成長很快的公司，也在週二晚宣佈將裁員400人。這家以波士頓為基地的公司為企業會議提供餐飲訂送服務，在裁員之前有900名員工，投資者認為企業價值為10億多元。

週三早上，Wayfair這家在網上零售傢俱，已是波士頓消費科技最成功的公司，也透露了有關本週稍早時，該公司來自兩家私營股權公司大約5億元債務投資的更多細節。Wayfair遞交給美國證券交易委員會的文件顯示，這家家庭用品公司已從大山夥伴(Great Hill Partners)和查爾斯銀行資本夥伴(Charlesbank Capital Partners)那兒拿了5億3500萬元貸款。這交易給了投資者二席該公司的董事會席位。

這些錢撐起了Wayfair的資產負債表，也稀釋了共同創辦人暨董事會共同主席Niraj Shah 和Steve Conine的權力。他們兩人二月才督導了一輪500人的裁員，其中有350人是在波士頓的人。

位於勒星頓鎮的Battle Road研究公司董事長Ben Rose說，新型冠狀病毒的大流行，也使許多歷史悠久的賺錢科技公司重設第一季，以及2020年全年的營業預期。

這情況也使得初創公司，或是那些已經上市但仍在大量消耗現金的公司更難生存。大波士頓內多家直接面對消費者，在旅遊業服務的科技公司，和其他為企業辦公室提供住宿，但面對著企業都關門了，員工都從家裏工作狀況的公司，也都被打擊得很慘，例如Lola.com，Zipcar，Hopper，以及Wanderu，全都在出行限制毀了這個行業的情況下縮減員工。根據最近的港務局數據，羅根機場在3月23日至29日之間的乘客人數和去年同期相比，下降了93%。

為企業提供餐飲訂送服務的初創企業Alchemista，和智慧水機器製造商Bevi，也都因為辦公室關門，市場不見了，成為必須裁員或讓員工休假的初創企業之一。

Bevi在病毒大流行之錢才募得6000萬元創投資金，3月時也裁員33人，現在只有120人。

經營One Way Ventures，早前曾帶領波士頓初創項目Techstars的Semyon Dukach說，他懷疑病毒大流行會對波士頓市初創企業有當初經濟泡沫爆破時那麼大的影響。

他說，最開始的幾星期是最糟糕的，人們會驚慌，如果是餐館或酒店業，會大受打擊，融資失敗就得裁員，但是科技業的很多初創企業都是在虧損的情況中經營，得定期向投資者籌款，會比那些在利潤很薄中經營的公司好很多。

他不認為這次病毒大流行對科技企業的影響會像2000年時那麼大，科技公司的估值會下降，但不會崩潰。

許多科技初創企業都已經由薪資保護項目(PPP)向聯邦政府申請救濟金了，有不少公司說他們的申請已獲批准。

台僑送3000口罩支援波士頓第一線抗疫人員

駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典(左二)和波士頓台灣抗疫團隊
      的康麗雪(右起)，林致中，藍凡耘等人一起到波士頓
市政府送口罩。(波士頓經文處提供)

(Boston Orange)駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處(TECO)和大波士頓台籍社團組成的「波士頓台灣抗疫團隊 (Boston Taiwanese Fighting COVID-19) 」 ，今(8)日出動，把募資從台灣買來的3000口罩，送給波士頓警察，消防員及地鐵，巴士等操作員，表達關懷心意。

「波士頓台灣抗疫團隊」表示，新型冠狀病毒在全美各地造成的疫情，越來越嚴重，醫護警消交通等第一線工作人員最是辛苦，面對的生命危險也最大，來自台灣僑胞希望藉著送上可以幫助他們保護自己的口罩，向這些勇敢有情義的人表達敬意與感謝。

由波士頓台灣影展協會、紐英崙客家鄉親會、紐英崙中華專業人員協會、台美菁英協會波士頓分會、波士頓台灣龍舟隊與台灣家庭協會等台籍僑團組成的「波士頓台灣抗疫團隊」在駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處支持下，募集了 一筆款項，從台灣買來3000個口罩，分別捐給波士頓市警察局、消防局及麻州交通局。

「波士頓台灣抗疫團隊」在波士頓市政府建議市民出門戴口罩之前，就已著手自製布口罩，並陸續招募到40多個家庭各自在家縫製，每完成一批就分頭親自送到新英格蘭地區的各個醫院，流浪漢收容所，老人院等地方，幫助最容易受病毒侵襲的這批人，減少感染機會。

駐波士頓辦事處表示，台灣僑胞的做公益不落人後，以實際行動向波士頓在地人展現台灣的愛心與暖實力，讓該處深感驕傲。(文稿內容由經文處提供)