Business

Watertown Company Developed More Accurate COVID-19 Testing Swabs

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The following announcement was created by Watertown-based Markforged:

 Markforged, the leading manufacturer of metal and carbon fiber 3D printers, today announced that it is partnering with Neurophotometrics to produce Fiberflex Rayon, a 3D printed nasopharyngeal (NP) swab for use in diagnostic testing for COVID-19. The new 3D printed swabs take just minutes to make, and in testing, they successfully detected the virus in all of the patients, while the commercial swabs reported false negatives. The team is currently producing 10,000 swabs per day, with plans to scale to 100,000 per day. “Identifying COVID-19 infected patients is the best way to slow down the spread of the disease, but we’re seeing a lot of issues with wide-scale testing,” said Greg Mark, CEO and Founder of Markforged. “There are massive shortages of nasal swabs and to make matters worse, hospitals are reporting false negatives with the current swabs on the market.”

In a collaborative effort by the San Diego Covid Research Enterprise Network (SCREEN) Initiative — a group of scientists, students, research institutions, and others in the San Diego area — Neurophotometrics, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, the Scripps Research Institute, and the University of California San Diego designed and tested the 3D printed swabs with fifty volunteers.

Business

Watertown Business Coalition Hosting Online Coffee Connect

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The Watertown Business Coalition invites you to join its virtual coffee connect on April 22. After a general discussion, attendees will break out into smaller groups to discuss specific topics:

Working with SBA Loans, Banks and CreditorsIndependent Contractor IssuesPlanning for a RecoveryHospitality Corner: Restaurants, Caterers, Food Service, Functions, etc.Social Media & Marketing in Our Current Business EnvironmentTalk of the Town: Watertown Specific Issues & HELPING Our Community

The group sent out the following information about the event:

The Watertown Business Coalition presents:COFFEE CONNECTWednesday, April 22  |  9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.In the comfort of your own home! Watertown Business Coalition is hosting an online forum to discuss the challenges of our COVID altered reality and a path back to some level of economic normalcy. Our online forum is free to Watertown Residents and our Business Community:

Format will include:

Find a comfortable place in the home with a cup of coffee or tea! General Session run by WBC Leadership TeamChoice of up to two breakout rooms with relevant themes

Let’s get through these times together, Watertown! 

WHEN: Wednesday, April 22, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

WHERE: Your home! 

The Watertown Business Coalition was started by a group of people doing business in Watertown and town residents looking to make local connections, and to support and strengthen the Watertown business community. 

The Watertown Business Coalition invites the following groups to the Coffee Connect:

All in the Watertown Business CommunityResidents who own a business in or out of town Entrepreneurs seeking Networking OpportunitiesFormer Members of Watertown-Belmont Chamber of CommerceThose looking to connect with business owners in Watertown

Register to let us know you are coming!

Real Estate

Three Watertown Homes Sold This Week

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These three properties were sold this week around town. $442,500 – 73 Carroll St. Unit 73, Condo – Townhouse, 954 Living Area Sq. Ft.,6 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

$675,000 – 507 Main St. Unit 507, Condo – Townhouse, 1,229 Living Area Sq.

Business

Watertown Farmers Market Plans to Open on Schedule, Vendors Offer Delivery & Pick Up Ordering

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The Watertown Farmers’ Market will be back this June, organizers say. Residents can support the vendors who appear at the Watertown Farmers Market even before the season begins in June, and organizers say that the market plans to open on schedule in June. While the COVID-19 outbreak has closed many businesses, Stephanie Venizelos, manager of the Watertown Farmers Market, said that the market will be opening in June. “Farmers markets have been declared an essential business, like grocery stores,” Venizelos said. “We are planning for a safe market that adheres to all the guidelines.”

Around Town

Mass. Grocery Stores Ordered to Limit Capacity to Prevent Spread of COVID-19; Most New Cases & Deaths in 1 Day

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Grocery stores in Massachusetts will be limited to allowing less than half their capacity of shoppers after an order sent out by the Mass. Commissioner of Public Health. The move is aimed at limiting the spread of the Coronavirus. Stores will be allowed to have 40 percent of their capacity, according to the order issued on Tuesday, according to a report by WHDH Channel 7. The order from Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel reads, in part:

“Each Grocery store shall limit occupancy to 40 percent of its maximum permitted occupancy level as documented in its occupancy permit on record with the municipal building department or other municipal record-holders in order to provide for in-store social distancing while preserving sufficient access for the public to supplies of food and necessities.”

Business

One Watertown Institution Reopening After COVID-19 Break, Another Scaling Back; Latest Case Numbers

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Donohue’s Bar & Grill reopened after two weeks off due to the Coronavirus outbreak. A mainstay in the Watertown restaurant scene will be reopening after a couple weeks off during the Coronavirus outbreak, while a popular local market will be closing for in-store shopping. Over the weekend, J.D. Donohue announced that Donohue’s Bar & Grill will begin serving meals and alcohol for take out and deliver starting on Monday, April 6. “We closed after St. Patrick’s Day to give staff and kitchen staff and myself time to be quarantined,” Donohue said.

Business

Watertown Business Coalition Wants to Know How it Can Help Local Businesses

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The Watertown Business Coalition will be gathering information to help the local business community weather the difficult times brought on by the Coronavirus, and it wants to know what areas to touch upon. The group has put together a survey about what subjects should be covered and how they should be presented. See the announcement sent out on Saturday below:

Happy Saturday, Business Community! Please take 1 minute and fill out this quick survey to help inform how we support all of you during this time. Stay tuned for many ways to connect virtually.And of course, Stay Strong Watertown!