波士頓市長今早打流感預防針 鼓勵市民一起來

 

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)以身作則，鼓勵市民
注射流感疫苗。(波士頓市府提供)

         (Boston Orange)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)今(9)日一早10點，在波士頓市政府大樓前接種”流感疫苗”，以身作則的鼓勵市民今年儘快打流感預防針，以避免感染，傳染流感。

馬丁華殊和波士頓市公共衛生局(BPHC)人員在波士頓市政府大樓前，為年度季節性流感疫苗門診活動打氣。

該流感門診將從今早10點起至下午4點，在波士頓市政府大樓向大眾開放。預約可上網 here。

波士頓市府人員表示，大部分的健康保險計畫，都包括接種流感疫苗的費用，不需要另外付費。但是如果有市民的保險不包括接種流感疫苗，或是付費令人卻步，波士頓市公共衛生局鼓勵這些人打電話到市長的健康熱線，617-534-5050，該局會提供免費流感疫苗券給無保險，或保險不足的成人。

          波士頓市府指出，流感最常在10月至3月之間發生。在2019至2020年度的流感季節，波士頓居民有5,131人染患流感。因為新型冠狀病毒大流行，一切活動停頓的關係，這數據未必完整。

         最常見的流感症狀包括發燒，肌肉痠痛，頭痛，流鼻涕，喉嚨痛，感覺身體虛弱等。症狀可從輕微到嚴重。懷孕婦女，嬰兒，以及65歲以上老人，已經生病，免疫系統變弱的人，都更容易染患流感。

         波士頓公共衛生局醫療主任Jennifer Lo表示，流感是嚴重病毒，人們是有可能同時染患流感和新冠病毒。雖然現在還沒有新冠病毒疫苗，但是流感有。那也是為什麼每一名6個月大以上的人，每6個月打一次流感疫苗很重要。

新型冠狀病毒和流感的差異:

	COVID-19 新冠病毒	Flu 流感
暴露在病毒之下幾天後會感染該病毒？	2-14天，但通常在4到7天之間	1-4天
某個人傳播病毒的時間會有多長?	出現症狀之前2天，到有症狀之後10天	出現症狀之前1天，到有症狀之後7 天
病毒是怎傳播出去的?	主要通過呼吸飛沫	主要通過呼吸飛沫
誰的感染危險最高?	耆英 有某種病症的人 懷孕婦女	耆英 有某種病症的人 懷孕婦女 5歲以下幼童，特別是2歲以下
感染的人可以怎麼治療	主要是支持治療 Remdesivir 是抗病毒藥，目前用於症狀中等到嚴重病患	主要是支持治療 應盡快使用抗病毒藥
有病毒疫苗嗎?	沒有。正在研發疫苗	有，每年都收產很多種疫苗

 (更新版)

「僑見世界臺灣」徵短片 總獎金台幣30萬元

                (Boston Orange) 僑委會與全球華人同慶雙十，刻正以「僑見世界臺灣」為主題，徵短片，要” 讓在臺灣的我們看見你，讓臺灣被世界看見”。比賽總獎金高達新臺幣30萬元，社會人士組首獎獨得8萬元，學生組首獎獨得6萬元。

               波士頓僑教中心表示，今年因新冠肺炎疫情，許多海外華人無法回臺灣參加雙十國慶活動，僑委會特地辦理「僑見世界臺灣」這短片徵集競賽，廣邀海內外華人透過短片，記錄在世界各個角落的心動時刻與精彩大小事，以動人故事，展現創意，彰顯臺灣價值。

               這一活動分學生組及社會人士組，無論是在海外或國內，只要是認同臺灣者均可參加比賽，並不限制以個人或團體名義報名。

僑委會鼓勵在世界各地求學、工作或正在尋找一個夢想的熱愛台灣者，透過影片，分享各自與臺灣這片土地心心相連的情意。

               短片作品徵件時間自109年10月1日至11月16日。詳細活動辦法見活動網站：https://Film.Taiwan-World.Net。

10/8 新冠確診新增個案 美國53,051, 麻州409，波士頓68 新增死亡人數美國900，麻州8，波士頓0

 

疫情期間減壓可諮商心理師、練六字訣氣功，指壓

右上起，主持人林思妤，慈濟波士頓聯絡處聯絡人長金滿(右排中)
，講者陳慧盈(中排上往下)，劉禹秀，吳佳璇(左排中)，波士頓急難
關懷救助協會會長歐陽露(左牌下)。(周菊子攝)

                 (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓急難關懷救助協會和波士頓僑教中心，慈濟功德會波士頓聯絡處等機構，10月4日合作舉辦”COVID-19防疫無所不在”講座。吳佳璇、劉禹秀，陳慧盈等3名講者，從心理諮商，中醫養生角度，分享了許多有用知識。

              駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮在講座開始前致詞，嘉許主辦機構及講者在新型冠狀病毒疫情期間發揚關愛精神，為社區大眾提供有狀況可應用，無狀況可參考的做法。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元致詞。(僑教中心提供)

             講座主持林思妤介紹波士頓急難關懷救助協會會長歐陽露，慈濟功德會波士頓聯絡處聯絡人長金滿之後，說明講座主題為”穩定心情、正向面對疫情”。3名講者主要是介紹疫情期間，幫助人安定心靈的途徑，中醫的養身安神做法，以及有需要時如何尋求協助。

吳佳璇目前在東北大學的健康輔導服務部門任職，擅長輔導學生。她先從壓力對人體健康會產生疲勞，焦慮，頭暈，頭痛，睡眠障礙，注意力不集中，高血壓，心律不整等急性影響說起，接著鼓勵人們要學會自己找快樂，每天早上起床後，先自我詢問一下自己的心情，活力。

吳佳璇指出，市面上現在已有簡單的小城市，可以幫人做自我檢查。例如”心情溫度計”，專注於冥想和睡眠的Calm，做每日自我照顧的Fabulous等。麻州的有保險計畫，也提供這類軟體，例如藍十字藍盾(blue cross blue shield)就是其中之一。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮致詞。(周菊子攝)

其他方法包括藉由飲食/營養，運動，關係，娛樂，放鬆，壓力管理，親近大自然，參與靈性宗教生活，為他人服務等途徑，學會”自我照顧”。

劉禹秀專長創傷、家庭婚姻療法，精通中文、英文、台語、日語以及客語，目前在Bright Approach Counseling Center服務。她列出的心理諮商流程，有3個簡單步驟。先依照自己的保險，選擇心理醫師或心理諮商師，再依自己的需求，譬如希望做個人諮商，或是團體治療，是想要處理憂鬱，喪偶，退休恐懼等來選擇類型，然後聯絡諮商中心，或預約私人診所等。如果排期的等候時間過長，可以另外再找。

陳慧盈示範按摩穴位，"神門穴"。(周菊子攝)

劉禹秀指出，諮商時間，一般是45分鐘至1小時一節，諮商內容任定，收費視乎個人的保險方案，共同付款額從0到60元不等。有些人會選擇團體諮商，以期藉由他人的敘述，更容易得帶出自己想要討論的內容。

陳慧盈是麻州新英格蘭中醫學院二年級學生，也是泰式按摩治療和系統組合列引導師。她主要是談”中醫養生防疫”，用黃帝內經素問宣明五氣篇來講人生病的原因，以及何謂五勞七傷，用上古天真論篇來講防疫保健方法，秋季養生。在食療分享上，她建議潤肺美容的銀耳、蓮子、百合、紅棗、枸杞，以及安神茶，玫瑰花、薄荷，菊花茶等。

六字訣氣功圖。(周菊子攝)

  在回答提問時，陳慧盈還提出”六字訣”氣功，噓，呬，呼，呵，吹，嘻，教人按照子丑寅卯的中國時辰來唸這六個字。

想聽眾問有沒指壓，可以幫助人減壓。陳慧盈即場示範，教人自己按壓神門穴，內關穴，印堂，湧泉穴等四個穴位，來舒緩壓力。

長金滿，歐陽露指出，在疫情期間，他們的協會持續辦有不同主題的講座，歡迎有興趣的人參加。

Statement from Boston City Councilor and Mayoral Candidate Michelle Wu regarding BPS

 

Statement from Boston City Councilor and Mayoral Candidate Michelle Wu regarding BPS

 

Boston, MA— “From the outset of the coronavirus outbreak, teachers, students, and families have offered recommendations for a reopening plan that prioritizes the health and well-being of our school communities; that centers the disparities in infection rates between neighborhoods and the needs of specific student populations for in-person learning; and that provides needed predictability to allow for families and teachers to make plans under these difficult circumstances. Instead of listening to and learning from those on the frontlines of this crisis, what we have seen is a failure of leadership -- continued tweaks that undermine long-term planning for recovery and risk health and safety. 

 

Although postponing the return of large groups of students to school buildings is safer than the original phasing-in schedule, it is unacceptable that BPS has been overseeing remote learning since March and we still lack clarity and predictability about the larger plan. Today’s announcement suggests a reversal of previous safety guidance. Teachers and families must be part of decision-making, and administrators must be accountable to prioritizing the safety and health of school communities.”

波士頓市新冠確診率躍升至4.1% 公校第三階段重新開放推遲至10月22日

 

波士頓市長馬丁華殊強調許多家長希望學生能回校上課。

            (Boston Orange周菊子綜合報導)波士頓市新型冠狀病毒確診率陡升至4.1%。市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)今(7)日因此宣佈暫緩學校重新開放步驟，第三階段重新開放日期將從10月15日推遲至22日，各年級學生回校上課日期，未來將視實際情況做調整。

             波士頓市早在今年8月時就宣佈，全市125所學校的共約5萬多名學生，將在階段式安排中，逐步回校上課。

9月21日先開始遙距上課，10月1日起，有3,419名學生開始回校上課，另有3,321名學生，從本週一開始回校上課，平均每天都有大約1300名學生回校上課。

幼稚園K0-K2的3至5歲學生，可以回校上課的日期，現在也推遲到最早10月22日。

有特別需求的學生，包括殘障，正學習英語，無家可歸，以及正接受保護的兒童等，將可優先回校上課。這些學生的家長若選擇讓學生回校上課，都可繼續這麼做。

馬丁華殊表示，許多家長及專家向他反應，對這類學生來說，無法回校上課所造成的損害，可能難以彌補。

波士頓公校特別教育家長委員會主席Roxann Harvey也說，波士頓市共有大約11,000名需要特殊教育的學生。回學校上課，對這些學生格外重要。在不能上學6個月之後，這些學生只不過回學校2天，就已經有如完全不同的人。她強調新冠病毒大流行對每個人所造成的影響不一樣，在公共教育領域還使得原本就已存在著的不公平更加明顯。

波士頓公校總監Brenda Cassellius也在疫情匯報記者會上表示，波士頓公校已做好準備，讓學生安全回校上課。

波士頓市府和波士頓教師工會早前曾有協議，一旦確診率達到4%，就要關閉學校。波士頓市的確診率，最近這幾週不斷上升。9月27日至10月3日這一週，從之前的3.6%陡升至4.1%。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊及健康及人民服務長(Chief of Health and Human Services) Marty Martinez認為，波士頓市的確診率的陡升，和人們開始對病毒掉以輕心有關，海德公園及多徹斯特的確診率都出現大增情況，反倒是原本確診率最高的東波士頓降下來了。他們提醒人們現在仍然應該出門戴口罩，勤洗手，保持6英尺的安全距離。

波士頓市目前希望保持原本的學校逐步開放計畫，1到3年級學生預定10月22日及26日開始回校上課，4到8年級學生訂11月5日及9日，9到12年級學生則是11月16日及19日。

波士頓教師工會會長Jessica Tang呼籲立即調整，降低學校建築物內的非必要工作人員人數。她還認為波士頓市府目前的作法，會讓數以千計的教職員及學生，暴露在不必要的危險中。

10/7 新冠病毒確診新增人數麻州509, 美國38,984 新增死亡人數麻州19，美國672

(更新版-10月8日清晨)

10月7日的麻州新冠病毒數據，6點半以後才出爐。

波士頓市的新冠病毒疫情資訊，波士頓公共健康局網頁上公佈了10月7日的3項數據，累計確診人數為17,774，累計痊癒人數14,981，累計死亡人數764。

波士頓市府網頁上的圖表，入夜後才由10月6日更新為10月7日的資訊。

Boston's Latest Numbers (As of October 7, 2020): (Updated Monday-Friday)

• 17,774 confirmed cases 

• 14,981 recovered

• 764 deaths

  
  
  

• 
  

 

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES STATEWIDE VOTER PROTECTION INITIATIVE

 

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES STATEWIDE VOTER PROTECTION INITIATIVE

Pledges Prosecution of Voter Intimidation; Establishes Task Force to Ensure Election Protection; Launches Voter Education Campaign Across Massachusetts

            BOSTON – With a clear message that her office will protect the right to vote in Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey today announced major initiatives to ensure election integrity in the weeks leading up to November 3.

 

“As Election Day approaches, I want each and every voter to know that my office is working hard to ensure your vote is counted, your voice is heard, and our elections have integrity,” AG Healey said. “We are here to strengthen trust in our democratic process and protect your right to vote.”

 

Election Protection Task Force

 

AG Healey has made voter protection and election integrity a priority of her office and is taking action to ensure a free and fair election. She convened an internal task force to coordinate election protection related priorities across the office and with state attorneys general across the country. 

 

The task force includes attorneys in the AG’s Office with expertise in civil rights, civil litigation, and criminal prosecution. Its work is focused on ensuring that every ballot cast is counted and preparing to respond to and prosecute voter intimidation, which includes staffing the office’s civil rights hotline to address concerns of interference at the polls.

 

Voter Education Campaign

 

The AG’s Office has launched a new website with resources available for voters, including important dates, information about voting options, and how the AG’s Office is protecting your right to vote. For more information, visit mass.gov/protectthevote.

 

This week, the AG’s Office will also distribute thousands of voter protection flyers in multiple languages to the state’s community-based organizations, faith-based groups, neighborhood associations, disability rights advocates, senior centers, colleges and universities, government officials, and municipalities. The flyers have been translated to Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and are also available online at mass.gov/votingflyers.

 

            The AG’s Voter Protection Flyer has information about how to vote, including making sure voters register or confirm their voter registration at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com by the deadline of October 24, 2020. Voters can vote four ways:

 

• Vote Early by Mail: Apply now at www.MailMyBallotMA.com. We recommend you submit your application by October 20. Return your ballot by mail or deliver it in person to your local election office, an official ballot return drop box, or any early voting location in your city or town during early voting hours. Your ballot must be postmarked or dropped off by November 3 and, if mailed, must be received by your local election office by November 6. Track your ballot at www.TrackMyBallotMA.com or look up drop-off locations at www.mass.gov/vote.
• Vote Early in Person: Vote at an early voting location in your city or town between October 17 and October 30. Early voting locations and hours will be posted by October 9 on www.MassEarlyVote.com.
• Vote Absentee: You can vote absentee if you will be out of town or have a physical disability or a religious belief that prevents you from voting at your polling location. Request an absentee ballot by October 28 and postmark or drop off your ballot by November 3. If mailed, your ballot must be received by your local election office by November 6. Request an absentee ballot application by calling 1-800-462-VOTE or visiting www.mass.gov/vote.
• Vote in Person on Election Day: On November 3, vote at your polling location between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you have the right to vote. Confirm your polling location at www.WhereDoIVoteMA.com.

 

The AG’s flyer also discusses voters’ rights to equal access, to vote without intimidation and to have their vote counted. 

• Right to Equal Access: All polling locations are required to be accessible, have an accessible voting booth, and have a system that allows voters with disabilities to mark their ballot privately and independently. People with disabilities may also have someone assist them at an early voting or polling location, use the accessible vote-by-mail system, or vote absentee. Call 1-800-462-VOTE / TTY: 1-800-720-3480 for more info or visit www.mass.gov/vote.
• Right to Vote without Intimidation: State law prohibits election interference and voter intimidation. If someone verbally or physically confronts you while you are trying to vote, requests documentation where none is required, follows you, or interferes in some other way with your right to vote, call the Attorney General’s Office at 617-963-2917.
• Right to Have Your Vote Counted: If you vote by mail, track your ballot at www.TrackMyBallotMA.com to make sure it is received and accepted. If your ballot is rejected, your local election official should contact you and send another—you can submit the ballot or vote in person. If you receive a mail ballot but do not return it or if you are concerned your election office will not receive it in time, you may vote in person.

 

Protecting Against Voter Intimidation 

Voters have the right to cast their ballot free from intimidation, harassment, or interference. State and federal laws protect this right and AG Healey has said that those who engage in this type of illegal activity will be prosecuted. The law prohibits voter intimidation by public officials and private citizens alike.

 

In September, after President Trump threatened to send law enforcement officials to polling locations to monitor elections, AG Healey’s Office issued an advisory to make clear that intimidating or interfering with voters is illegal. The advisory reminds voters that their right to vote safely and free from intimidation, harassment, and coercion is protected under federal and state law.

 

AG Healey is reminding voters that if someone verbally or physically threatens or harasses you while you are trying to vote, or interferes in some other way with your right to vote, you can call the AG’s Civil Rights Division for help at 617-963-2917. If you need immediate assistance, dial 911 or contact your local police department.

 

Multistate Action

AG Healey joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing for a preliminary injunction, which was granted, in a lawsuit seeking an immediate halt to illegal changes to the United States Postal Service (USPS) that interfere with postal workers’ ability to effectively deliver the mail. In their lawsuit, the attorneys general assert that in some parts of the country, USPS’s actions from July 2020 have led to significant delays, harmed veterans, seniors, and rural communities, and could disrupt the November election without court intervention.

 

Information regarding voter registration and voting procedures in Massachusetts can be found on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Elections Division website at: www.sec.state.ma.us/ele.

MAYOR WALSH PROPOSES NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCING MECHANISM TO HELP ACHIEVE CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2050

 

MAYOR WALSH PROPOSES NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCING MECHANISM TO HELP ACHIEVE CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2050    Property Assessed Clean Energy provides commercial, industrial, and large residential buildings with a financing tool for renewable energy and efficiency upgrades   BOSTON - Wednesday, October 7, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced he has proposed an order that will allow the City of Boston to participate in the Massachusetts Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (PACE), a tax-based financing mechanism that enables low-cost, long-term funding for energy improvements in existing commercial, industrial, nonprofit, and multifamily buildings with five or more units. By adopting this program, the City of Boston is building on the strategies identified in the 2019 Climate Action Plan to accelerate decarbonization in the city's largest buildings and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.   "Boston has set ambitious and necessary climate action and energy efficiency goals to protect our neighborhoods and create a resilient, healthy city," said Mayor Walsh. "PACE will help building owners access critical financing needed to complete energy improvements that will make their buildings healthier and more efficient, supporting the City's progress in reaching its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050."    According to the 2019 Climate Action Plan, buildings in Boston account for approximately 70 percent of citywide emissions. Under the PACE program, MassDevelopment uses an open market, third party direct financing model for qualifying energy projects. Existing buildings in the City of Boston can secure long-term financing for eligible energy improvements through a voluntary better assessment on property tax bills, therefore eliminating certain barriers to traditional financing and possibly alleviating pandemic-related financial impacts.    "As the single greatest source of emissions citywide, buildings in Boston also represent the greatest opportunity for reductions," said Chris Cook, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space. "While we continue to implement actions to reduce Boston's overall carbon emissions and develop a building emissions performance standard, PACE is one in a set of tools that will assist building owners in meeting our goals and building a cleaner, healthier future for Boston."   In order to decarbonize large buildings, the City of Boston is currently developing an emissions performance standard that, when implemented, is projected to decrease citywide emissions nearly 40 percent by 2050. To lead by example, Mayor Walsh last year signed an Executive Order for all new City-owned buildings to target a Zero Net Carbon standard, and recently required that all new affordable housing construction funded by the City must meet Carbon Neutral performance standards.    "Climate action is first and foremost about protecting people - and Boston is helping to show the way. PACE is one tool in the kit that will allow the City to drive down harmful climate pollution, accelerate its clean energy goals, and make communities more resilient. As an American Cities Climate Challenge city, Boston is leading by example and charting a cleaner, healthier future for all," said Jay Orfield, Interim Director of Buildings, Energy & Finance for the American Cities Climate Challenge at NRDC.   PACE offers private building owners access to long-term financing that is paid back through energy savings, similar to the City's Renew Boston Trust program, a performance contract for municipal buildings. There are no savings guarantees involved with PACE, but the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) conducts a technical review of projects to ensure that projected savings will exceed the PACE assessment.   "PACE Massachusetts is a forward-thinking financing tool for energy improvements to commercial and industrial properties," said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. "We are thrilled the City of Boston is pursuing 'opting into' PACE Massachusetts, a key step to enabling local property owners to take advantage of the program, and look forward to supporting projects that create jobs, encourage business growth, and reduce energy consumption."   Legislation signed by Governor Baker in August 2016 and amended in August 2019 directed MassDevelopment, in conjunction with DOER, to create a PACE program. The program officially launched July 28, 2020, with twenty eight municipalities participating to-date. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have active commercial PACE programs.    About the Environment Department The City of Boston Environment Department's mission is to enhance the quality of life in Boston by protecting air, water, climate, and land resources, and preserving and improving the integrity of Boston's architectural and historic resources. To learn more, visit the website at boston.gov/environment.   ###