MAYOR WALSH AND FUND STEERING COMMITTEE AWARD $3 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY GRANTS THROUGH BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND

MAYOR WALSH AND FUND STEERING COMMITTEE AWARD $3 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY GRANTS THROUGH BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND

BOSTON - Monday, April 6, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee today announced the distribution of an additional $3 million in funds to support 29 organizations that provide essential services to front-line workers, health care providers and Boston families whose wellbeing is most immediately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Boston Resiliency Fund already distributed $5.4 million in emergency grants to eight organizations on March 25, 2020. "We are in the midst of a crisis that we haven't seen in our lifetimes. Many people are out of work, and many are dealing with illness in themselves or their family," said Mayor Walsh. "During this stressful time, people should not have to worry about accessing food and meeting their basic needs, and organizations should not have to worry about their ability to keep serving their communities. I am incredibly proud and thankful for everyone's generosity as we come together to support one another. We are confident these contributions will expand our capacity to move things forward together, using every available tool to help our most vulnerable residents." The three initial priorities for the Boston Resiliency Fund are: ensuring Boston's children, families and seniors have access to food; supporting first responders, front-line workers, and health care workers to promote public health, and providing technology to Boston students for remote learning. Since its creation on March 16, 2020, the Boston Resiliency Fund has raised over $22 million. The Fund will continue accepting donations from individuals, organizations and philanthropic partners who wish to contribute and offer their support, and 100 percent of donations will be awarded to local organizations, with the majority of future grants to be made throughout April and May. Organizations are encouraged to complete a statement of interest to be considered for future grants. Today, 29 organizations will receive grants to expand their capacity or adjust their service model to meet the immediate needs of Boston residents during this public health emergency, targeting $1.8 million towards access to food and other basic needs and $1.2 million towards Boston's front-line workers and health care systems. 41 percent of the organizations receiving grants today are led by a person of color and 79 percent are women-led organizations. "The YMCA of Greater Boston is moved beyond words by the Resiliency Fund's support of our work, and we thank those who made these critical funds available," said James Morton, President & CEO of YMCA of Greater Boston. "The Resiliency Fund is a perfect example of our community coming together, in a time of grave uncertainty and immense need, to make certain that no child or senior goes hungry and that we are providing care for the children of essential workers - to whom we are so deeply indebted. The YMCA's decision to feed children and provide emergency child care came at great risk to our resilience; however, we are uplifted by the Fund's support. We will continue to work, with our many partners, in service to others and will do so with greater confidence thanks to the Fund. On behalf of those we serve, we offer our deepest gratitude." "On behalf of the Boston Immigrant Covid-19 Collaborative, a partnership of 11, diverse immigrant support groups, we are deeply grateful to the Boston Resiliency Fund for providing this emergency relief to our Boston immigrant neighbors," said Patricia Sobalvarro (Agencia ALPHA), Natalicia Tracy (Braziian Worker Center) and Ronnie Millar (Rian Immigrant Center). "Immigrants are especially vulnerable during this crisis as they work in frontline jobs in health care, food services, retail, tourism, construction, house cleaning, and many have lost their jobs, and income. Many are not eligible to receive unemployment benefits, or federal relief, and need immediate support to pay for basic needs. We are fully committed to making sure they have immediate access to this support." The grants range in size and will be awarded to the following organizations: Black Economic Justice Institute has already distributed $20,000 in grocery gift cards to those in need. This grant will help continue that work. Black Men's Engagement Network Foundation has helped facilitate support for hundreds of people in Dorchester through coordinating phone banking efforts. This grant will be used to help deliver food, gas cards, and gift cards to additional residents in need.  Boston Cares mobilizes and trains individual and corporate volunteers who strengthen communities and improve the lives of people in need. This grant will support volunteer recruitment and management for food access and distribution at Boston Public Schools meal sites. Boston Immigrants COVID-19 Collaborative brings together 11 immigrant-serving organizations to provide direct emergency relief and culturally competent food to over 1,200 families. Partners include: Rian Immigrant Center (fiscal sponsor), Agencia ALPHA, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Brazilian Worker Center, Centro Presente, Immigrant Family Services Institute, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, Center for Collaborative Education (BINcA), Caribbean Youth Club, Sociedad Latina, and  ICNA Relief.  Bridge Over Troubled Waters is expanding capacity to effectively and safely provide food, shelter, housing, physical and mental health care, and safety to individuals experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Building Audacity delivers breakfasts and lunches to Boston residents each week. This grant will help provide additional groceries and meals for families in need. Cape Verdean Association of Boston provides food from local restaurants, toiletries and essential needs to low-income immigrant families and seniors. This grant will help continue that work.  Casa Myrna provides direct support for food, medical supplies, and emergency housing for survivors of domestic violence, and members of their household. Domestic violence survivors forced to remain with abusers due to the virus are at increased risk and need additional supports.  Catholic Charities of Boston has two food pantries that serve 180 to 200 people daily and provide food bags for partners to distribute to clients. This grant will help provide food, emergency essential supplies and food pantry program supplies. Catie's Closet provides access to basic necessities, such as toiletries and feminine products, to students and families in collaboration with Boston Public Schools' meal sites.  Chinese Progressive Association will work with partners to staff City meal sites and deliver food straight to the homes of families in need. Staffing efforts will be focused on residents who have been laid off because of COVID-19 and who represent the diverse languages and cultures of Boston. In addition, this grant will support the Asian Community Relief Fund, launched in partnership with the Asian Community Development Corporation, AAARW, GBLS Asian Outreach Unit and VietAID. City Mission will utilize this grant to increase food security for low-income single mothers in Boston through the purchase of gift cards. CommonWealth Kitchen will meet the growing need for prepared foods for seniors, low-income families, and other frontline workers by engaging member businesses to help with meal production and distribution.  Dominican Development Center will use this grant to provide essential needs to domestic workers and immigrant mothers in need of food and other supplies.  East Boston Neighborhood Health Center provides COVID-19 testing services for first responders at a drive-through clinic at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, in coordination with the City, State and EMS agencies. This grant will support the staffing and supplies needed to operate the testing site.  Emergency Child Care Program Relief (Boston Opportunity Agenda) will support current family child care and center-based emergency child care providers for essential workers. This grant will help close the gap between state funding and operational costs to ensure the continuity of emergency child care operations through May 4th. Partners include: 20 family child care programs, 9 YMCA programs, Whittier Street Health Center, Nurtury and Wee Care JP.  EMS Wellness Screening Automated Texting Tool (LivableStreets Alliance) will allow central EMS staff to connect, interact with and monitor the health of front-line EMS staff through a new mobile automated texting tool.  Elizabeth Stone House will provide food, medicine and hygiene products to low-income and/or homeless domestic violence survivors, who are unable to openly travel to established food pick-up sites. Heading Home currently serves over 500 households through shelter and housing programs. This grant will provide food, water, baby formula and the logistics support needed to deliver to Heading Home's Boston families. International Institute of New England will provide Boston refugees, unaccompanied minors, and undocumented immigrants in their care with emergency food.  John F. Kennedy Family Service Center will provide low-income families and seniors in Charlestown with additional needed emergency food relief. Lovin' Spoonfuls rescues food from grocery stores and produce wholesalers and delivers it directly to over 60 Boston-based nonprofit partners each week. This grant will rescue approximately 120,000 lbs of food, creating more than 96,000 meals over the next month. Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is continuing to deliver services via telehealth to its clients, including teen parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, and children with behavioral health needs. This grant will support the purchase of food, diapers, formula, and medicine. Off Their Plate collaborates with Boston restaurant owners to restore food industry jobs while safely preparing and delivering meals to Boston hospitals and health care facilities. Smart from the Start provides home deliveries of food and supplies and are currently delivering over 300 meals per week. This grant will help provide additional home deliveries of food and emergency care packages. Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (VietAID) provides meal packages and hot meal delivery to older adults and families in Dorchester. This grant will help expand the capacity to additional households in need. Women's Lunch Place will provide boxed breakfast and lunch for take-out, COVID-19 educational materials, toiletries, and feminine products for women experiencing homelessness.  WORK Inc. operates a Family Support Center for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. This grant will support the delivery of food, toiletries and supplies to the families at the center. YMCA of Greater Boston strives to meet the needs of low-income Boston families through the activation of food sites and emergency child care centers throughout the city.This grant will support additional staffing costs, food supplies, and meal delivery.  Since its formation, the Fund has raised more than $22 million from over 2,800 individual donors, with commitments of $1 million or above from Berkshire Partners, Michelle and Bob Atchinson, Bain Capital, Bank of America, Paul and Sandy Edgerly, John & Cyndy Fish / Suffolk, Gross Family Foundation, John Hancock, Liberty Mutual, Partners HealthCare, and the Vertex Foundation. Over 70 percent of donors to the Boston Resiliency Fund have contributed under $100. A Steering Committee was established after the Fund's formation to provide direct oversight and funding recommendations based on statement of interests received. The three-member committee includes Jack Connors, Jr., Anne Klibanski, MD, President and CEO of Partners HealthCare, and Jeffrey Leiden, MD, PhD, Executive Chairman of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Goodwin Law serves as pro bono legal counsel to the Fund. The review committee, which reviews applications and provides recommendations to the Steering Committee, is composed of more than 25 representatives from City departments. "We know that we are entering the most challenging phase of this pandemic. Since we started planning for this last month, the Boston Resiliency Fund has awarded and continues to support the immediate needs of our community with access to healthy food, support for our health care workers, and mechanisms for meeting other needs created by this pandemic," said Anne Klibanski, MD, President and CEO of Partners HealthCare. As the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are quickly evolving and potentially long-lasting, the City and the Steering Committee will work closely with non-profit partners and service providers to understand how their needs will change. As a result, the priorities of the fund may change as the needs of Boston residents evolve. The Boston Resiliency Fund exists within the Boston Charitable Trust, an existing 501(c)(3) designated trust fund managed by the City of Boston's Treasury Department. For more information on how to make a donation, please visit: boston.gov/resiliency-fund. For general inquiries, please email brf@boston.gov. To learn more about other funds serving Boston nonprofits, please visit Philanthropy Massachusetts' resource page. In addition, the COVID-19 Response Fund at The Boston Foundation and the COVID-19 Family Support Fund at the United Way are working to rapidly distribute resources to organizations and individuals in Greater Boston that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

NECINA抗疫行動第一波 送出逾千件防護衣

(Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導)紐英崙中華資訊網路協會(NECINA)3月底提出抗疫募捐支援麻省醫護人員的倡議後，僅短短5日，已於上週五完成第一梯次行動，送出57箱，1289件防護服給5個醫療機構、現又收到至少3家醫院的求助訊息，將研擬調整下一步行動。

            網協董事王振榕負責統籌這一支援活動。他透露，從找貨源，採購個人防護用品(PPE)，一直到和醫院對接，事務之繁雜，障礙之多，遠超想像，幸好該會董事全力支持，會長高弘更是率領幹事不辭辛勞地奔波，充分證明了團結就是力量。

Cape Cod Healthcare醫院代表點收網協捐贈的
防護衣。(NECINA提供)

王振榕指出，新型冠狀病毒襲捲全球以來，個人，機構，或國家都瘋搶個人防護用品，不少國家甚至管制出口，無論在那兒都不容易買，何況還有海運得40天，空運費用已漲成天價，疫情期間的貨運出口，進口，通關查驗手續全都變得更為嚴格，緩慢，即使想要從中國買口罩，都簡直是不可能的任務。

由於醫療體系目前已面對很大壓力，網協不希望擾亂醫院的正常採購，不得不更為辛苦的到處探問，最後才落實購買一批當初在中國疫情嚴重時，經人蒐購，但未趕得及運過去的個人防護用品。王振榕透露，貨源管道和牛頓華協相同。

在該捐贈給哪家醫院上，網協行动起初是自己打電話去一家家醫院問，後來發現這麼做吃力不討好，於是請出會內醫療體系人脈很廣的楊湛萍，聯繫上醫藥協會的趙潔等醫藥專業人士及醫師，還徵詢了網協元老許基康，才敲定塔芙茨醫療中心(Tufts)，麻省總醫院(MGH)，布里吉婦女醫院(BWH)這3家已經有不少醫護人員確診，以及流動兒童醫院(FCH)，位於郊區的Cape Cod Healthcare等急切需要防護設備的這5家醫療機構。

打點安排好之後，王振榕找來可靠的運輸公司，不但貨品打包得很好，還記得貨送到後，拍照存證，拿取簽名收據，整個募款，採購，捐贈的流程，於焉順利完成。

王振榕透露，最開始時網協董事會擔心該會醫療方面經驗不夠，人力也有限，或許應該以網協籌款，和其他機構合作的方式來辦理，不過他和網協董事陳君瑤，會長高弘，總經理倪繼紅，網協律師戴晨方商量後認為，這是很有意義，也很有時間壓力的一件事，若由網協自己推動，既可展現網協的愛心，可能效率也高些，如今他們在短短5天內，真的完成了這任務，絕對應該感謝所有參與協助的人，尤其是網協會長高弘，管理團隊中主要成員，包括倪繼紅，戴晨方，楊湛萍，徐永光，Mellissa Qian，廖屹健，王嵐，Michael還有資深董事陳君瑤，董事會副主席陶東斌，董事陸德禮，鄭茹等人的大力支持與配合。

他們將集中精力，籌備第二梯次行動，盡快把更多個人防護用品，捐到最需要這些用品的醫院。
網協目前仍在接受捐款，有意加入網協的支持抗疫行列者，若透過paypal捐款，可經由master.NECINA@gmail.com，若寫支票，抬頭請寫NECINA，寄到Joan Ni，396 Washington St., #318,  Wellesley,  MA 02481。
(更新版) 

麻州確診人數新增再破千1337 累計死亡260

            (Boston Orange 編譯)麻州4月6日的新型冠狀病毒疫情，從數字上看，又回升了，確診人數新增1,337，累計為13,837:死亡人數新增29，累計260。

麻州全州近700萬居民，這天有4,492人做了病毒檢測，總計已有71,937人做過檢測。

                      有防疫專家稱，新型冠狀病毒患者，大約有25%無症狀，很可能在自己也不知道的情況下，散播病毒。麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)和波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)因此都一再強調社交距離(Social distancing)的重要。

查理貝克在6日的疫情匯報，以及”麻州COVID-19救濟基金”成立發佈會中表示，天氣漸暖，看到海灘上，公園中的人多了起來，的確擔心。他認同波士頓市長馬丁華殊的”宵禁”措施，雖然他自己還不會這麼要求州民，但認為該措施傳遞了很重要的訊息，也就是”沒必要，別出門”。

查理貝克也鼓勵州民多想想，保持社交距離，加強衛生習慣，不只是為保護個人自己，更為保護親人，朋友，鄰居，社會。換言之，就是不給病毒傳播機會。

在活動中，查理貝克還報告麻州已從聯邦政府那兒收到100台呼吸器，將分送到最急需的機構。麻州還將於4月7日起，在CVS增設病毒檢測站，讓更多人更快速的做檢測。

羅德島州疫情加厲 確診近千 1日增8死

圖片來自州政府網站

                (Boston Orange編譯)羅德島州(RI) 今(5)日爆出新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)患者1日8死，確診人數1日新增103的疫情陡然更趨嚴峻情況。羅德島州州長雷萌朵(Gina Raimondo)稱該州已出現廣泛的社區傳染。

             在全美50州之中，羅德島是人口最少，約僅106萬，面積最小，約僅3.144平方公里的州。新型冠狀病毒疫情發生以來，羅德島很幸運地一直處於末段班位置，過去這兩天，疫情卻陡然嚴峻。4月4日時，新增97宗確診案例，2人死亡，今日的4月5日，卻一下子新增8人死亡，103人確診，以致全州人口不多，卻已累計有25人死亡，確診近千的有922人了。

             雷萌朵表示，她敢說，情況會很糟糕，會有數以千計的人住醫院，更多人死亡，更多人感染新型冠狀病毒。

             雷萌朵今天並未宣佈更多新規定，但表示她不斷收到有很多人在雜貨店，百貨店，超市等群聚的消息。她勸居民不論出門到哪兒，都戴口罩。州政府正在採購數以千計的外科用口罩，將發給民眾。

             羅德島現在的檢測數量大約一天1000多人，雷萌朵希望下週結束前，能進步到一天檢測2000人。

波士頓市要求市民4月6日起出門戴口罩 晚上9點後務必待在家

            (Boston Orange 周菊子報導)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)今(5)日下午三點多宣佈，4月6日(週一)至5月4日，市民出門請戴口罩；晚上9點到早上6點之間，非必要勿出門。

                    市立公園及運動場所將關閉。

                 4月7日起，市政府將一週只對外開放兩天，每週二，週五的早上9點至下午5點。

                  馬丁華殊表示，波士頓的新型冠狀病毒確診者，有45%是年紀在40歲以下的年輕人，而根據聯邦疾病防治局資料，25%的染病者，並無症狀，為加強避免病毒傳染，不得不採取更嚴格的措施。

                         馬丁華殊稱警察如果見到有人在街頭群聚，將動用公權力前往驅散。他不排除必要時會採取罰款措施。

                        他也鼓勵民眾加入市政府的口罩小組，幫忙收集，派發口罩。

MAYOR WALSH ENACTS STRICTER MEASURES FOR SOCIAL, PHYSICAL DISTANCING TO CURB THE IMPACT AND SPREAD OF COVID-19

BOSTON - Sunday, April 5, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced strict new measures for social and physical distancing for residents in the City of Boston, in an effort to curb the anticipated peak of COVID-19 in the coming days. The new measures align with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local public health officials, and if followed by all residents, are expected to reduce the impact and spread of COVID-19. As of April 5, there are 1,877 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Boston residents, representing an increase of 259 cases from the previous day. Public health modeling indicates that Boston is only 11 days away from peak demand for hospital resources, an estimate that emphasizes the critical need to flatten the curve immediately.  Source: COVID-19 projections assuming full social distancing through May 2020, Hospital resource use, IHME's COVID-19 projections for Massachusetts "I cannot stress enough that the actions we take now through the next several weeks will help curb the spread of this virus, and save lives," said Mayor Walsh. "There is nothing that I won't do as Mayor of the City of Boston to protect our residents, and at this very critical time, we must do everything we can as Bostonians to protect one another. This is bigger than any one person - this is about the greater good of our people. Stay safe, stay inside, and let's get through this together."  To date, nearly 45 percent of positive tests in Boston are in people under the age of 40 and more cases of severe illness are now being seen in young people. Further, nearly 80 percent of positive tests are in people under the age of 60. The CDC estimates that nationally 25 percent of people infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, and may not know they are a carrier of the virus, or that they could be infecting others. As of April 5, 15 residents of Boston have died from COVID-19.  Social and physical distancing remain the primary strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The new measures that Mayor Walsh is putting into place strengthen the guidance previously issued around social and physical distancing, which include staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of 6 feet or more from others. These new measures will be effective on Monday, April 6 through Monday, May 4, 2020, and include: Encouraging everyone to wear a face covering over their mouth and nose when in public: In addition to social distancing when going out in public for an essential trip, wearing face covers will help to reduce the risk of a person spreading the virus, especially if they do not know they are sick. Face coverings should be worn anytime someone is outside the home, including on walks or other passive recreational activities.  Face coverings should not be placed on children under 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance. Face coverings can include a cloth, scarf, bandana, etc. that cover a person's mouth and nose. Homemade face coverings should be made of intact, close-weave cloth and allow comfortable breathing. Visit CDC guidelines on face coverings for more information and guidance.  Face coverings should be frequently washed using a washing machine with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. They can also be hand washed with soap and warm water and left to dry.  It is advised that residents use a face covering, as opposed to a medical grade facemasks, in order to preserve protective equipment for health workers and those serving on the front lines in response to COVID-19. The Boston Public Health Commission is issuing a Public Health Advisory for everyone in Boston except essential workers to stay at home from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily: This advisory will address unnecessary trips to businesses, restaurants, and other locations, and is intended to encourage people to stay inside their homes at night.  Residents are encouraged to utilize delivery services as much as possible after 9 p.m. As a reminder, residents are encouraged to remain in their homes as much as possible throughout the day and only leave for essential needs, including trips to the grocery store, pharmacy, emergency meal sites and other essential services. Residents are discouraged from visiting essential businesses only to browse and should be mindful of only visiting essential businesses to pick-up essential items.  Closing City parks with recreational sports areas: Recreational sports areas in City parks, such as courts and fields, will be closed to limit exposure and contact between people. As a reminder, all playgrounds in Boston have been closed since March 20, 2020 and will remain closed. Areas for passive recreation, like walking and jogging, will remain open. Additional signage will be posted on all recreational sports areas and outside of parks that will be closed. For a full list of park features that are closed, please visit here. If needed, Boston Police are empowered to disperse gatherings and they can order people to vacate closed sections of parks.  Recommendations for people who are at higher risk: For people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions, the City of Boston encourages taking extra precautions. Trips outside the house should only be made when absolutely necessary, for either food or medications. Those experiencing difficulty with access to food, please call 311 or visit here for assistance. In addition, taking walks or spending time outside is discouraged for the next few weeks, and exercising inside the home instead is encouraged as an alternative. The underlying health conditions that can put someone more at risk are very common and include asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, kidney or liver disease or conditions that can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment and smoking.  In Boston, over 11 percent of adults have asthma, and the rate is higher in black (15 percent) and Latino (12 percent) residents, as well as in Dorchester and Roxbury (15 percent each). One in four Boston public high school students have asthma, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.  In addition, in an effort to limit contact, effective Tuesday, April 7, City Hall will reduce the days of operation that it is open to the public to only Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Public access to 1010 Massachusetts Avenue will be limited to the Boston Public Health Commission on the 2nd Floor and residents must be accompanied when entering the building. Additionally, everyone entering City Hall, including employees and members of the public, will be required to complete a self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms, including elevated temperature. Residents are required to make appointments if they need to visit any of the essential services offered out of City Hall, and can learn more about the status of city departments and hours of operation here. 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 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 a regular basis, available in six languages.

羅德島華人支援抗疫 20萬醫用口罩上路

左起，Central Falls市長 James A. Diossa ，羅德島華人協會主席
葉超，羅德島州副州長 Daniel J. McKee ，以及Cranston 市長
馮偉杰，都來幫忙搬運捐贈品。(羅德島華人抗疫委員會提供)

             (Boston Orange)羅德島州華人協會，國際領袖基金會紐英倫分會等10個組織攜手組成”羅州華人抗疫支援委員會”，已覓得醫用口罩貨源，並下單訂購了20萬個，貨款共需10萬元，該會已募得一半，現呼籲各界共襄盛舉，落實另一半貨款。

              羅德島州華人協會，羅德島華人基督教會，羅州大學中華文化俱樂部，敦煌文化服務中心，羅德島中國教授協會，星星中文學校，羅德島華人基督教會附屬中文學校，路加慈善基金會，國際領袖基金會紐英倫分會，羅德島華人抗疫捐贈群等這10個羅德島州華人社團，4月3日發出公告，呼籲各界支援，齊心協力對抗新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)。

              在公告中，羅州華人抗疫委員會指出，無論是四川大地震，華東大水災，或是席捲全球的新冠病毒，羅州華人都本著有難同當愛心，團結支援。這一次他們籌備數月，決議從加州一家進口供應商那兒，以每個0.5元價格，訂購20萬個醫用口罩，將全數捐給羅德島州政府，代為分發到醫院等機構，供第一線工作人員使用。

              羅德島州政府已審核通過，表示樂意接受這批口罩。

              截至4月2日止，抗疫委員會收到的捐款已超過5萬元，也就是20萬個口罩總價10萬元的一半多，因而已先行付清10萬個口罩貨款，預定4月6日將收到這批口罩。另外10萬個口罩，該會希望各界共襄盛舉，籲請熱心支持者以支票，或是paypal捐款。支票抬頭請寫RIACA，註明 COVID-19 Fund，寄到333 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860。Paypal支付info@riaca.us。查詢可洽401-965-3666，或401-965-3152。

              根據維基百科，羅德島州正式名稱是羅德島及普域敦斯農園(State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations)，因此人口約僅106萬的羅德島州既是全美最小州，也是美國州名最長的州，雖然三面沿海，但在COVID-19衝擊全美之際，也未倖免於難。

迄今，羅德島全州已有711人確診，14人死亡。4月3日新增的確診病例就有54宗之多。

羅德島州長雷萌朵(Gina M. Raimondo)為遏制病毒擴散，4月3日也新頒佈多項措施，包括騰出羅德島會議中心，位於克蘭斯頓市(Cranston)的舊公民銀行大樓，以及Quonset的舊Lowe’s大樓，為安置1000張病床做準備；鼓勵民眾出門戴可以自製的布口罩；直到四月底暫停發放托兒所牌照；在羅德島基金內成立500萬元的COVID-19行為健康基金；鼓勵有症狀者安排檢測，勸諭人們群聚不要超過5人等等。
(4月6日新增抗疫委員會提供的照片)