CITY OF BOSTON EXPANDS COVID-19 TEXT SERVICE TO INCLUDE 11 LANGUAGES

CITY OF BOSTON EXPANDS COVID-19 TEXT SERVICE TO INCLUDE 11 LANGUAGES

Enhanced language capacity to target over 37 percent of Boston residents that speak another language at home

BOSTON - Monday, April 20, 2020 - In an effort to ensure all of Boston's communities get timely and accurate information about COVID-19, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston's text alert service is now available in Somali, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Russian, in addition to English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, Cabo Verdean Creole, and Portuguese. Texts are sent daily with information such as Boston case numbers, local updates about the spread of the virus, preventative measures to mitigate the spread, and city resources.  "It's important that the critical public health information we are sharing with our residents reaches every person in the language they speak so that collectively as a city we can be informed about the seriousness of this virus, and work together to stop its spread," said Mayor Walsh. "I am glad that we're further expanding our multilingual capacity by adding five additional languages to our text alert service."  Residents can text BOSCOVID to the City of Boston's new number 888-777 to opt-in to alerts in English and the following keywords to opt-in to alerts in the languages below:  Text BOSEspanol to 888-777 for Spanish Text BOSKreyol to 888-777 for Haitian Creole Text BOSFrancais to 888-777 for French Text BOSKriolu to 888-777 for Cabo Verdean Creole Text BOSPortugues to 888-777 for Portuguese Text BOSSoomali to 888-777 for Somali Text BOSChi to 888-777 for Simplified Chinese Text BOSbilAraby to 888-777 for for Arabic Text BOSViet to 888-777 for for Vietnamese  Text BOSRus to 888-777 for for Russian Residents who had previously subscribed under the former number used by the City will automatically continue receiving these text message alert updates, and there is no need to re-subscribe. Any resident who has questions is encouraged to call 311 to be connected with a telephonic interpreter, or through the Mayor's Health Line at (617) 534-5050. Updates in these languages can additionally be accessed through boston.gov/coronavirus#multilingual-help. Each language has its own page and hosts multilingual print materials distributed citywide:  Arabic: boston.gov/covid-19-ar  Cabo Verdean Creole: boston.gov/covid-19-cv Simplified Chinese: boston.gov/covid-19-zh Spanish: boston.gov/covid-19-es Somali: boston.gov/covid-19-so Russian: boston.gov/covid-19-ru Vietnamese: boston.gov/covid-19-vi French: boston.gov/covid-19-fr  Portuguese (Brazil): boston.gov/covid-19-pt Haitian Creole: boston.gov/covid-19-hc In addition to providing multilingual information via text alerts and Boston.gov, City of Boston employees and volunteers delivered printed information on COVID-19 to all homes in Boston in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cabo Verdean Creole and Russian, with additional printed materials online in  Portuguese,Arabic and Somali. The City of Boston has also deployed sound trucks throughout the hardest-hit neighborhoods to encourage residents to stay healthy and safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Walsh, along with many City employees, have been doing weekly robocalls for thousands of Boston adults over 60 years of age in multiple languages. Bilingual members of Mayor Walsh's team have also been conducting interviews with ethnic media to relay information in multiple languages. The Mayor's press conferences have provided ASL interpretation and English captioning on live streams. For more information on the City's response to COVID-19, please visit boston.gov/coronavirus.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Implementation Of CARES Act Unemployment Benefits For Self-Employed, Gig Economy And Other Workers

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Implementation Of CARES Act Unemployment Benefits For Self-Employed, Gig Economy And Other Workers

Residents Can Now Apply For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration announced today that Massachusetts residents who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits can now apply online for the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program.

The new federal PUA program provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason but are not eligible for regular or extended unemployment benefits. This includes self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and those with limited work history. Applicants can learn more and apply at www.mass.gov/pua.

“As a Commonwealth, we are committed to doing everything in our power, and moving as urgently as possible to get workers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis the benefits they deserve,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With the implementation of this new federal benefit program, we can better support workers not normally covered by the unemployment system like those who are self-employed or work in the gig economy.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of workers across the Commonwealth, and our Administration is doing everything we can to help,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “The implementation of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program in Massachusetts is another important step in our efforts to help those who are economically disrupted by this virus.”

To be eligible for this new program, individuals must provide self-certification that they are otherwise able and available to work but are prevented from doing so by circumstances relating to COVID-19, including their own illness or that of a family member.

Those able to telework with pay and individuals receiving paid sick or other leave will not qualify for PUA. Individuals receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits for less than their customary work week, however, may still be eligible for PUA. Also, those working fewer hours, resulting in a loss of income due to COVID-19, who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits may be eligible for PUA.

“It is vital that our workforce gets the resources and help they need during this critical time,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta. “I’m proud of everything our team is doing to rapidly implement new programs, and ensure that as many eligible workers as possible get some relief.”

The federal CARES Act signed into law on March 27 created PUA, as well as another temporary federal program called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) that provides an additional $600 weekly benefit for those receiving unemployment benefits or PUA. FPUC provides that additional benefit through July 25, 2020. The Commonwealth announced implementation of FPUC earlier this month.

All approved PUA applications will initially receive the minimum weekly benefit amount, plus the additional $600 FPUC weekly benefit. Once a worker’s wages are verified, weekly benefit amounts may increase. The amount of PUA benefits received is based on the individual’s reported previous income. PUA benefits may not be more than the state's maximum weekly benefit rate for regular unemployment, which is $823 in Massachusetts.

Weekly benefits, including any increase to your weekly benefit amount, will be retroactive to January 27, 2020, or the date when you became unemployed, whichever is more recent, as long as you became unable to work because of a COVID-19 related reason.

PUA Application Process:

To apply, individuals must provide their Social Security number or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) number if not a citizen of the United States, and their wage records for 2019, which includes 1099 forms, pay stubs, or bank statements. Applicants will also need the Social Security numbers and dates of birth for dependent children and, if requesting direct deposit for payment, your bank account and routing numbers. A full list of required documents is available at www.mass.gov/pua.

Please note that, initially, the system can only pay benefits retroactively to the week ending March 14, 2020. Eligible workers will be able to certify for benefits, and will be able to request benefits retroactively to January 27, 2020, if their dates of unemployment make them eligible.

Individuals who are determined ineligible for PUA will receive a written disqualification along with information on how to pursue an appeal. Additional information about the appeals process will be separately posted at a later date. Please visit www.mass.gov/dua for the latest information.  

麻州總確診人數現全美排第三 聯邦疾病防治局關注

          (Boston Orange編譯)4月19日，麻州的新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)疫情，已在確診人數上躍居全美第三，死亡人數也排在全美第四，被白宮新型冠狀病毒鷹隊協調員Deborah Birx博士列為重點觀察州。

                 這天，麻州的確診人數又新增1,705，累計38,077人，死亡人數也新增146，累計1,706人。而一連幾天的確診人數都逾千，甚至將近2000，死亡人數也每天破百，似乎都在印證著麻州進入了病毒散佈的高峰期。

                 從年齡來看，麻州確診者的年齡分佈很廣，從20歲到80多歲，每10歲的年齡段，都各有大約4000到6000人，但死亡者則有超過一半是60歲以上耆英。

                   目前美國有多州政府官員面對著解除居家令的政治與經濟壓力，尤其是在川普總統鼓勵人民"解放”民主黨籍州長領導的3州之後，真有多個城市出現了要求解禁的示威遊行。查理貝克直言，聯邦政府都指出來了，在不同州的不同市鎮有病毒傳染高峰出現，麻州就正在高峰當中，州府在密切觀察。

                查理貝克強調在處理疫情上，他都遵循聯邦食品藥監局(FDA)，聯邦疾病防治局的忠告，並以檢測，追蹤，隔離染患病毒者及接觸染患病毒者為主要原則，並和相鄰各州保持良好的協調、互動。

                 麻州各市鎮的4月19日疫情為，波士頓市確診5400人，痊癒926人，死亡158人。昆士市確診506人，痊癒147人，死亡34人。

麻州議員擬法要為房客，小企業提供安全網

(Boston Orange編譯)麻州議員說他們已交給共和黨籍的州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)一項法案，要為在新型冠狀病毒造成經濟衰退這緊急狀態中掙扎的租房者，屋主，小企業，提供安全網。

週五通過的這法案禁止所有非必要的驅逐，或取消貸款贖回權，並給借貸者暫緩選擇，保護租客免繳逾期金。

該法案將法案實施後的120天之內，或是緊急狀態解除後的45天內，暫緩所有的驅逐或取消貸款贖回權行動，哪個日期先到就哪個條款有效。

該法案還禁止所有住宅物業及小企業的非必要驅逐，也禁止住宅房東終止租約，或是發退租通知。

只要租客在沒交房租的30天之內，發通知及文件給房東，說明是因為受到COVID-19影響，財務出現問題，房東就會被禁止索要逾期金，或向信用機構報告房客沒交房租。

該法案仍准許涉及指控犯罪活動的驅逐行為。

新型冠狀病毒衝擊新聞業 波士頓前鋒報30人將放無薪假

                  (Boston Orange編譯)新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)對世界造成的衝擊，不只是身體健康，人們的生活型態，社會經濟遭受的打擊也正逐步更加明顯，連波士頓前鋒報(Boston Herald)都將在下星期要求30名左右員工放無薪假。

             代表波士頓前鋒報，波士頓環球報(Boston Globe)，以及其他新聞媒體員工的波士頓報業協會工會(The Boston Newspaper Guild union)週五在社交媒體上宣佈，從下星期一起至6月30日，30名波士頓前鋒報員工將放2到5星期的無薪假。

             這些員工包括新聞及運動版記者，攝影記者，以及廣告和發行部門員工。

             該協會表示，波士頓前鋒報就像全美其他許多媒體一樣，在病毒大流行引發的歇業潮中，預算緊縮而不得不減少人員。

新型冠狀病毒大流行對美國、全球經濟的影響，正持續加劇。過去4週以來，已有大約2200萬美國人申請失業救濟福利了。從3月中起，麻州也已有50多萬人申請了失業救濟。新聞業也未能豁免於這波金融影響。

在麻州擁有十幾家報紙，包括屋斯特電報和公報(Worcester Telegram & Gazette)，西部都會日報(MetroWest Daily News)，以及鱈魚角時報(Cape Cod Times)等的全美最大報業公司Gannett，也已傳出減薪，放無薪假和裁員的消息。

在麻州西部，諾斯安普頓(Northampton)的漢普夏每日公報(Daily Hampshire Gazette)的10名職工，綠野記錄者(Greenfield Recorder)的3名員工也裁員了。

波士頓報業協會在推特中說，請考慮訂閱地方報紙，以支持每日辛勤工作帶給讀者重要事實的新聞從業員。

CITY TO DEPLOY SOUND TRUCKS WITH STAY-AT-HOME MESSAGE, COVID-19 INFORMATION TO BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS

CITY TO DEPLOY SOUND TRUCKS WITH STAY-AT-HOME MESSAGE, COVID-19 INFORMATION TO BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS

BOSTON - Saturday, April 18, 2020 - Tomorrow at noon, the City will deploy seven Boston Public Works trucks with sound equipment to broadcast a message about COVID-19: stay home as much as you can, wash your hands often, cover your face when out, and keep your distance from others. The message will be broadcasted in seven languages, depending on the community, including: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Arabic, Somali, and Cabo Verdean Creole.  "This weekend we are launching new tactics to get the message out in the places that we know are hardest hit," said Mayor Walsh. "We need everyone to know that we are in a public health emergency and we need everyone to do their part. We also continue to work on expanding access to testing for our residents, because every community deserves full access to the level of testing and communication that meets the needs they have." The trucks will be deployed to the neighborhoods that have COVID-19 rates higher than the rest of Boston, including Hyde Park, Mattapan, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury and Roslindale. According to the latest data from the Boston Public Health Commission, Hyde Park had 413 reported cases of COVID-19, Mattapan had 298, Dorchester had 1,274, East Boston had 410, Roxbury had 335, and Roslindale had 302.  The City is phone banking essential small businesses and will be providing posters in multiple languages that ask customers to cover their faces and practice distancing. The City is also putting up on street signs and other infrastructure.  During the weekend of March 21, a thousand City of Boston employees and volunteers delivered printed information on COVID-19 to all homes in Boston. The pamphlet outlined details about the virus, a list of preventative measures to mitigate the spread, and a compilation of city resources, including food access sites, in: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cabo Verdean Creole and Russian. The City has been delivering literature in multiple languages to essential businesses. Residents who have questions are encouraged to call 311 to be connected with a telephonic interpreter, or through the Mayor's Health Line at (617) 534-5050. Updates in 10 languages can additionally be accessed through boston.gov/coronavirus#multilingual-help. Each language has its own page and hosts multilingual print materials distributed citywide. Residents and organizations interested in volunteering their language skills for COVID-19 communications can sign up here.

麻州新增1970人確診156人死亡 BCEC千張病床已啟用

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)到改為臨時醫院的波士頓會議展覽
中心視察並匯報疫情。(翻拍自州政府視頻)

             (Boston Orange 綜合編譯)麻州的新型冠狀病毒確診及死亡人數， 4月18日這天又再陡增，一日之內新增確診人數1970，累計至36,372。死亡人數156，累計已1560。其中有810人為頤養院等長照機構住民。

             這天做了病毒檢測的人數有8,062，累計總數達156,806。

             COVID-19影響模型已成為全美沿用估計的華盛頓大學，週五大幅度降低了他們預估的麻州死亡人數，從8000降至3200，而且死亡高峰估計會是下週一。醫院病床數可能出現供不應求現象。

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)在波士頓會議展覽中心前匯報疫情。
(州長辦公室提供)

             參與模型研究的華盛頓大學健康指數教授Ali Mokdad表示，研究人員不斷的整合新數據，修改模型，因此估計數目不斷更改，現在他們還能用移動數據來看到未真正發出”居家禁令”的麻州，人民流動規模已遠比以前微小。

             公共衛生人員表示，高峰期會是病床數不足的關鍵時刻。

麻省總醫院代表。(州長辦公室提供)

             麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今日特地前往又稱"波士頓希望(Boston Hope)"的波士頓會議展覽中心，視察臨時醫院設置狀況。他說，一般來說，州民對政府在病床數量上的因應措施感覺蠻好。

             波士頓會議展覽中心這些臨時醫院，主要是為了醫治，收留那些已不再需要醫院級別照顧，但還不適宜馬上回家的病人。

             波士頓會議展覽中心現在安置了1000張病床，約有150張已有病人佔用，把寶貴的醫院急診病床位讓了出來。

             麻州州長查理貝克過去4週曾不斷和個學區總監，地方市鎮首長討論，是否在五月初或者延後重新開學日期，目前尚無定論。

             各市鎮公佈的4月17日數據，波士頓市為5,096人確診，778人痊癒，143人死亡。昆士市為506人確診，147人痊癒，34人死亡。劍橋市514人確診，17人死亡。

             根據教育週刊(Education Week)，全美已有27州決定一整個學年關門。波士頓地區也有波士頓大學日前已宣佈，要等到2021年1月再重新回校上課。

             根據約翰霍普金斯大學系統科學及工程中心整理的數據，目前全美有726,645人確診，37,938人死亡。全世界的確診人數為2,310,572，死亡人數158,691。

Chelsea 200人驗血 3/1曾染COVID-19無症狀 檢測很重要

             (Boston Orange 編譯)雀喜市(Chelsea)200人隨機驗血，竟有3分之1帶有新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)抗體，促使專家們警示，無症狀帶病毒者是疾病擴散的更難掌控因素。

             週二及週三時，麻省總醫院醫師們到雀喜市的Bellingham廣場，在200人的手指上戳了一下，取得血樣檢驗，結果發現64人的免疫系統有對抗新型冠狀病毒的抗體。

              這200人從外觀來看，大都健康，但幾乎有一半人告訴醫生，在過去4週之內，曾出現過至少一種染患新型冠狀病毒的病徵。

             人口約僅4萬，佔地約2平方英里，65%g是拉丁裔的雀喜市，因為全市有712人確診，39人死亡，染病率為每10萬人約1900人，公衛專家們早有所聞，但在雀喜市排除那些用鼻拭子檢測已確診者之後所做的調查研究，發現32%h參加者感染過新型冠狀病毒，自己卻不知道。

             許多市民住在三層式房屋內，很難自我隔離。還有許多人在餐飲業，醫療護理業工作，暴露於病毒之下的危險也更大些。

             麻省總醫院病理學部門副主席John Iafrate表示，壞消息是雀喜市的病毒流行更嚴重，許多走在街上的人不知道自己是帶病毒者，可能會讓其他未感染病毒者，或是自己的家人感染病毒。好消息則是，雀喜市可能比其他城市更早捱過去了這大流行。

             雀喜市的市經理Thomas Ambrosino表示，他們早就覺得報告出來的染病數目比實際受感染的多得多。可怕的是，報告出來的是已確診，在雀喜市人口中佔非常小比率的人，一隨機檢測200人，卻有30%的人們沒有顯示任何徵兆。這使得每隔人都要落實身體距離，更為重要。                     一名在雀喜市為自願者做檢測的醫生也說，有些體內已有抗體的人，可能傳染力仍然很高。

               麻省總醫院在雀喜市使用的是診斷北卡羅萊納州Morrisville市的BioMedomics所製作的診斷設備，大約10分鐘就可以得出檢測結果，儘管FDA還未認可，但麻省總醫院醫生們已經決定這儀器有效，將在該院門外設置醫療帳篷，用這儀器做更多抗體檢測。

            另有消息稱有114人居住的屋斯特流浪漢庇護所，竟有49人，約43%確診，其中有許多人都無症狀。

波市府為兒童、青少年提供免費營養早午餐

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 15^th, 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.

Read the Order

Read More from EEC

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.