MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES CITY OF BOSTON TO SUSPEND LARGE EVENTS IN THE CITY THROUGH LABOR DAY

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES CITY OF BOSTON TO SUSPEND LARGE EVENTS IN THE CITY THROUGH LABOR DAY

BOSTON - Friday, May 8, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today in accordance with public health guidance around the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic announced that parades and festivals will not take place in the City of Boston this summer, up to and including Labor Day on September 7, 2020.  "While we're planning a healthy reopening and an equitable recovery process, I know this announcement will be disappointing to many residents and organizations that look forward to these events each year," said Mayor Walsh. "This is a hard public health decision, but it's the right one. I encourage people to rethink their events, and thank them for their work to inspire us, and help our communities get through this difficult time." The City of Boston has made the decision to continue to suspend events that bring crowds together in close contact, like a road race, concert, or flag raising. No event should be planned that would involve more than 10 people gathering or that could draw a crowd of any size. The City of Boston encourages organizers to host events through virtual means, such as the 24th Annual 2020 Mother's Day Walk for Peace, which has transitioned into a virtual walk-a-thon. The Boston Symphony Orchestra will not be holding a live performance of the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on July 4. Instead it will present, on television and online, A Boston Pops Salute to Our Heroes, in honor of front-line workers and all those who have lost their lives to the health crisis. City of Boston events that will move to a virtual option include the Donna Summer Disco and Gospelfest.

Baker-Polito Administration, Mass League of Community Health Centers to Launch Public Awareness Campaign

Baker-Polito Administration, Mass League of Community Health Centers to Launch Public Awareness Campaign

BOSTON – In partnership with the Mass League of Community Health Centers, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced an upcoming new COVID-19 public awareness campaign, “New Tools, New Rules – Same Great Care.”

Community Health Centers throughout the Commonwealth are open and accepting patients, and this campaign encourages residents to continue to seek care for their medical conditions and reminds individuals not to delay treatment as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

In additional to implementing additional, onsite safety protocols, many Community Health Centers have introduced and expanded telehealth care options. Furthermore, MassHealth contracts with three telehealth providers to offer additional support for members with questions about symptoms that might be related to COVID-19.

Featuring diverse patients with common conditions such as asthma, diabetes and pregnancy, these ads will run for free on WCVB in the Greater Boston area and on WWLP-22News and The CW Springfield in Western Massachusetts.

Digital video advertisements on Facebook will be in English, Spanish and other languages, and will specifically target regions with the highest populations of families in need of services.

Last week, the Baker-Polito Administration announced an expansion of its initiative to boost testing in community health centers across the Commonwealth.

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. 

波士頓華埠社區中心聘新執行長Ben Hires

Ben Hires。(BCNC提供)

             (Boston Orange) 波士頓華埠社區中心(BCNC)將於6月1日迎接新任執行長Ben Hires。

               波士頓華埠社區中心董事會董事長馬以正(Eugene Mahr)5月6日發出通告，正式宣佈，甫於2019年慶祝成立50週年的BCNC，今年下半年起，行政事務換人領導。

               根據BCNC的公告，Ben Hires初入職場時，擔任治療項目輔導員，其後在波士頓兒童合唱團擔任項目領導，負責策略，外展關係，一直都在為青少年及家庭服務，更在提升合唱團的社會正義使命上扮演關鍵角色，把背景多元的青年及家庭團結為一個大家庭。

               目前，Ben Hires 在波士頓公共圖書館擔任策略夥伴主任，在教育，文化及公民參與上，為該機構建立了牢固關係，讓波士頓所有居民在這些領域可以免費得到更豐富體驗。在大學時他主修哲學及政治學，其後在波士頓大學取得神學碩士，以及藝術行政碩士學位。

               由於他本身的韓裔美人養子背景，又在大哥哥大姊姊項目，以及波士頓華埠中心的進大學項目中，曾輔導波士頓華埠青少年，Ben Hires將把他對亞裔社區的熱情與了解，帶進執行長的角色中。從2016年起，他一直在包氏文藝中心顧問委員會服務，協助BCNC衍變成華埠社區的文化支柱。

               在Ben Hires 就任前，波士頓華埠社區中心由David Jacobs，邱文蓉(Yoyo Yau) 以及盧穎(Joann Yung)等人代理領導任務。波士頓華埠社區中心董事會在公開信中表示，相信在Ben Hires的領導下，該中心將持續提升兒童，青年及家庭的能力，打造更健康的家庭，更強壯的社區。

               據悉，波士頓華埠社區中心原行政主任李隆華，現已轉往Barr基金會擔任資深藝術及創意項目專員。(更新版)

Secretary of Commerce allocates $300 million in CARES Act aid to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries impacted by COVID-19

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the allocation of $300 million in economic relief to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were allocated as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on March 27 by President Trump.

Commercial fishing, charter/for-hire businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, processors, and parts of the seafood sector in coastal states and territories are among those eligible to apply for funds. Tribes are also eligible for funding including for any negative impacts to subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial fisheries. The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will work with the three Interstate Marine Fishery Commissions, organizations with a demonstrated track record of success in disbursing funds, to quickly deliver financial assistance into the hands of those who need it.

“This relief package will support America’s fishermen and our seafood sector’s recovery,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “Thank you President Trump, Secretary Mnuchin, and our Congressional leaders of both parties for your work to pass the historic legislation that is bringing much needed relief to America’s fishermen. This Administration stands with the men and women working to provide healthy and safe seafood during this uniquely challenging time, while our U.S. fisheries work to continue to support 1.7 million jobs and to generate $200 billion in annual sales. The Nation is grateful to our fishermen for their commitment.”

Acting NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., lauded today’s announcement.

“For generations, our coastal communities have taken great pride in delivering protein-rich seafood to dinner tables across the country and enabling access to our world class recreational fisheries,” said Jacobs. “NOAA thanks our partners in the interstate marine fisheries commissions, states, territories, and tribes for their assistance. Together, we will work to distribute these funds as quickly as possible.”

In addition to these funds, the President recently signed into law other Federal financial assistance programs, including several programs at the Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture, that can provide help to fishermen and related businesses.

Industries can find additional NOAA financial assistance information on our websit

麻州重新開放第一波? 高爾夫球場今起可營運

                (Boston Orange) 今(7)日起，麻州和全美其他49州一樣，高爾夫球場可以開放了。

               全麻州360個已關門45天的公立，私立高爾夫球場，只要遵守以下限制，就可以開放，包括不准用高爾夫球車，開球時間的間隔增加15分鐘，不准練習推桿，不能用練習場，打高爾夫球的人還得彼此保持至少6英尺的社交安全距離。

               麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)表示，他和美國東北部的其他幾州一直保持聯絡，大家都在考慮重新開放，彼此都不會做任何令鄰州驚詫的舉措。查理貝克的決定是在佛蒙特州和馬里蘭州州長都表示有意開放高爾夫球場之後宣佈的。

               麻州高爾夫會執行長Jesse Menachem表示自己簡直是欣喜若狂，該會85,000名會員也都可以舒一口氣了。

               法蘭克林(Franklin)高爾夫球手Joe Marin發起的”請讓麻州人打高爾夫球” 網上請願，收集到42,000個簽名，間接促成此事。

               法蘭克林鄉村俱樂部的董事長Tom Mercer表示，消息一出來，他的電話就響個不停。打球名單已經排得滿滿的了。

               高爾夫球協會的人強調這休閒運動的經濟價值，稱八年前做的麻州高爾夫球經濟報告顯示，高爾夫球活動每年為麻州經濟貢獻17億元，如果把週邊的旅遊業，零售業，房地產及貨物，服務再加近來，總值會增加到27億元。

               在2012年，高爾夫球業在麻州意味著2萬5000個工作機會，將近8億元的工資。

               全國高爾夫球基金會董事長Joe Beditz表示，高爾夫球活動對麻州的經濟貢獻應該已增加到30億元了。

查理貝克籲請民眾接廳接觸追蹤者打來的電話

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)強調檢測，追蹤的重要。
(攝自疫情匯報視頻)

              (Boston Orange) 麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(7)日在新型冠狀病毒疫情的每日匯報中強調，州政府正在積極推動”接觸追蹤(contact tracing)”，呼籲民眾看到顯示為MA-COVID-19 Team打來的電話時，請接電話，或稍後回覆電話，以加強抗疫效果。

麻州政府在四月中時推出”社區追蹤合作(Community Tracing Collaborative ，簡稱CTC)”計畫，由新型冠狀病毒指揮中心徵招公衛學院學生和確診者聯絡，並追蹤確診者都接觸過那些人，再提供隔離，以及預防染病的各種方法及資源。

報告"接觸追蹤"推展概況。(攝自疫情匯報視頻)

由於坊間曾有各種電話詐騙事件，很多民眾已養成不接陌生電話的習慣，州政府特地強調，”接觸追蹤”者只會用833或857這兩個區域號碼，而且撥打的電話會在來電顯示出"MA COVID team"字樣，希望民眾在接到這樣的電話時，能夠接聽，或者稍後回覆。

從4月12日迄今，麻州政府的”接觸追蹤”團隊已召集了1600人和14,000名確診者接觸，並整理出7,500人的接觸資料。他們從每名確診者那兒取得的接觸者中位數為2人。

新貝福市代表說明接觸追蹤在該市推動概況。(攝自疫情匯報視頻)

查詢有關”接觸追蹤”團隊資訊可上網www.mass.gov/MATracingTeam。

               在疫情匯報中，查理貝克還強調，麻州如何重新開放，主要還是看數據，麻州整體的抗疫成果，在全美算是名列前茅，尤其是在檢測上，全州迄今已有34萬餘人做過檢測，確診率低於16%。

               談到很多人還沒領到失業金時，查理貝克指出，令人很驚訝的是最大的原因之一竟是很多人沒寫對自己雇主的名稱。

麻州的5月7日新型冠狀病毒數據。(圖片來自州政府網站)

               根據麻州公共衛生廳公佈的數據，5月7日麻州新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)的確診人數新增1,696，累計73,721，死亡人數新增132，累計4,552。目前有852人住在重症病房，今日有11,993人做了病毒檢測，泉州做過病毒檢測的人數增至351,632。

               根據麻州公共衛生廳公佈的族裔感染數據，非西班牙亞裔有1147人確診，79人死亡，在族裔分類中的數額及比率都最低。其他的非西班牙白人17,283確診，1739死亡，非西班牙黑人5,403確診，243人死亡，西班牙裔9620確診，247死亡。不過在確診的73.721人中，有約佔總數一半的37,668人，州政府不知道他們的族裔資料，所以州政府公佈的這族裔資料，僅有聊供參考的價值。

AG HEALEY HIGHLIGHTS RESOURCES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

AG HEALEY HIGHLIGHTS RESOURCES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMICLaunches Information Campaign Including Online Resources and Statewide Distribution of Multilingual Resource Flyers to be Displayed in Essential Businesses

            BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today launched an information campaign highlighting critical resources available for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault during the COVID-19 pandemic. The AG’s Office created a dedicated webpage compiling these resources and partnered with the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) to create and distribute multilingual resource flyers across the state. The AG’s Office worked with the business community to display these flyers where survivors can see them—in open essential businesses that are still regularly accessed during the public health crisis.

“During times of crisis and especially now as people are staying home, we know that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are particularly vulnerable,” said AG Healey. “I want survivors and victims to know that they’re not alone and that help is available at any time during the COVID-19 crisis. We will continue working with service providers, advocates, and businesses across the state to ensure that these survivors have access to the critical support they need.”

“The strategies we have put in place to ensure the health and safety of our community have left survivors of intimate partner violence especially vulnerable,” said Liam Lowney, Executive Director of MOVA. “While survivors are quarantined in their homes, it is critical we let them know that they have options to keep their families and themselves safe. Massachusetts has a dedicated field of victim service providers who are working non-stop through this pandemic and are available to help them.”

While physical distancing guidelines and the statewide stay-at-home advisory are vital to slow the spread of COVID-19, they may make it more difficult for those who live with an abuser and experience intimate partner violence—including physical violence, sexual violence, or psychological harm—reach out for help. Social isolation has made it more difficult for some survivors to find the right opportunity to safely reach out for help. Survivors may not be aware that services and assistance are available, or it may be difficult for them to access those resources. Also, while now might not be the right time for some to leave, it’s important to let survivors know that help and support is available when they are ready.

“Since the beginning of this pandemic, our biggest concern has been that people experiencing physical, sexual or emotional abuse have been isolated from the supports they need,” said Debra Robbin, Executive Director of Jane Doe Inc., (JDI), the MA Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. “Sexual and domestic violence programs across Massachusetts rapidly transitioned to offer remote support and services. Local businesses can play a crucial role in letting the public know that these programs continue to be open and ready to help.”

The AG’s Office created a webpage compiling resources, services and support available for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including the following:

• SafeLink, a 24/7 statewide domestic violence and sexual assault hotline, at 1-877-785-2020.
• The Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance offers free resources for victims, survivors and providers at 844-878-MOVA or mass.gov/askMOVA.
• If you have experienced domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available 24/7. Text LOVEIS to 22522, call 1-800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.org/help.
• If you have experienced sexual violence, you can get access to confidential services, including a sexual assault kit, at no cost. Visit this site for more information and to find local resources in your area: janedoe.org/find_help.
• If you or someone you know has been the victim of a violent crime, you can get an application for the Victim Compensation program here. For help with the application, please call 617-963-2160.

 

The website also provides information on how to request an abuse protection order or harassment protection order and reminds survivors that these orders are still available during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Advocates have attested that the best time to reach survivors is when and where they are alone – away from those who abuse them – and usually during their normal everyday routines. The AG’s Office created a resource flyer, in conjunction with MOVA, to provide information in a quickly digestible format for survivors. The AG’s Office partnered with MOVA to distribute the flyers to various essential businesses by working closely with the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, the Massachusetts Food Association, the Coin Laundry Association, and the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. The flyers are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese and Chinese. 

“The Massachusetts Food Association and many of its grocery store members are pleased to support this important initiative of Attorney General Healey to distribute vital information that will provide access to information and services needed during these trying times,” said Brian Houghton, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications of the Massachusetts Food Association. “For everyone’s safety, please take advantage of these services as appropriate.”

“Coin Laundry Association is appreciative and proud of this opportunity to do our part to support the important work of Attorney General Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance,” said Brian Wallace, President and CEO of Coin Laundry Association. “Raising awareness for the resources available to those vulnerable to domestic violence is vitally important especially given the unique circumstances brought forward during the COVID-19 crisis. The laundromat industry has always proven to be an effective channel for reaching local families with the information and resources they need most.”

“May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and never before has awareness and education been more important than in May 2020,” said Jon Hurst, President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. “We urge our members to be an important part of the public education effort to protect the survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault by displaying in store and virtually these resources.”

“We want to make sure that survivors of domestic violence or other abuse have access to assistance during this difficult time,” said Patricia M. Noga, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Vice President, Clinical Affairs, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association. “We are grateful to join this initiative to help ensure that survivors can find resources where and when they are able to.”

Recognizing the increased risks that domestic violence victims and survivors face during the COVID-19 pandemic, AG Healey joined 24 attorneys general earlier this week in calling on the U.S. Senate to immediately reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which expired more than a year ago. The Act provides billions of dollars for the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, as well as financial support to women in need.

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

Baker-Polito Administration, Partners in Health, Public Health Officials Provide Update on Community Tracing Collaborative

Baker-Polito Administration, Partners in Health, Public Health Officials Provide Update on Community Tracing Collaborative

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration joined Partners in Health and local public health officials to provide an update on contract tracing efforts through the COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) launched last month. The initiative focuses on tracing the contacts of confirmed positive COVID-19 patients, and supporting individuals in quarantine, building on COVID-19 Response Command Center efforts to leverage public health college students to augment the contact tracing being done by local boards of health.

If an individual tests positive for COVID-19, the MA COVID Team will reach out by phone to connect the confirmed case with support and resources necessary for quarantine, and to identify any close contacts that may have been exposed. As the CTC continues its contact tracing work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, it is critical that Massachusetts residents answer the phone when a contact tracer calls or texts. Contact tracers will only reach out from phone numbers with 833 or 857 area codes, and the phone’s caller ID will say MA COVID Team.

Since calls began on April 12, tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents have participated in contact tracing. Staffed with more than 1,600 tracers, the Tracing Collaborative has reached nearly 14,000 confirmed cases and established more than 7,500 of their contacts since calls began on April 12. In part due to effective social distancing measures, the median number of contacts reported by each confirmed case remains approximately two.

To learn more about the MA COVID Team and the Community Tracing Collaborative, visit www.mass.gov/MATracingTeam.