Coronavirus

Some MassBay College’s Spring Classes Going Online, Others Rescheduled

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The following information was provided by MassBay Community College:

MassBay Community College has transitioned all courses to a remote learning format beginning on Monday, March 30, 2020, in an effort to help the Commonwealth combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). This distance-learning format will replace any previously scheduled face-to-face courses that were scheduled for the spring 2020 semester. MassBay faculty have been transitioning their courses this week, and students will begin their studies with the new format beginning Monday. Students are strongly encouraged to check their MassBay email accounts daily as individual faculty members will reach out with specific instructions about the new format and for any coursework changes. “This is a rapidly-changing situation and our faculty have worked diligently to adjust their course delivery formats.

Around Town

Coronavirus Cases Grow by 33% in Mass., Up in Watertown; FEMA Will Provide Assistance

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On the same day that Massachusetts had its largest increase in positive Coronavirus cases, FEMA announced it will make disaster assistance to the Bay State to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. Watertown also saw its positive cases grow by three. In Watertown, the cases increased from 24 to 27 in one day, according to the total provided on the Watertown Health Department’s website, and Middlesex County now has 847 cases. Massachusetts had 1,017 more cases and nine more deaths, according to according to Mass. Department of Public’s latest COVID-19 update on Saturday.

Business

Many Watertown Restaurants Open During COVID-19, See the List Compiled by the Town & a Local Business Group

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Looking for a restaurant in Watertown to pick up food or have a meal delivered, check out the list compiled by the Watertown Business Coalition and the Town of Watertown. A few restaurants have closed temporarily during the Coronavirus outbreak, but most remain open for take out and, in many cases, delivery. You can call to order, some restaurants take orders on their website, or through food delivery apps such as Grub Hub, Doordash or Uber Eats. Town officials sent out the following statement:

In order to track what restaurants and other food establishments are open during this challenging and unprecedented time, the Town of Watertown has coordinated with the Watertown Business Coalition to compile and keep an up to date list of food establishments. We will continue to update the list with missing establishments and changes to current status for takeout and delivery.

Business

Watertown Lifts Construction Ban, Reusable Bags Banned; Town COVID-19 Cases up to 24

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The latest orders from the Governor and Town officials changed the situation for construction projects and reusable shopping bags. The measures come a day before the largest jump in positive tests for the Coronavirus in Massachusetts. On Friday, the Mass. Department of Public Health announced 823 new positive tests and 10 more deaths. The total cases in the Bay State rose to 3,240, 24 of which are in Watertown.

Around Town

Two Watertown Groups Get COVID-19 Grants from Tufts Health Plan Foundations

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The following information was provided by the Tufts Health Plan Foundation:

Tufts Health Plan Foundation has identified the first 21 organizations to receive support from the $1 million it has committed to community efforts on behalf of older people affected by coronavirus in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut. “This first wave of funding addresses one of the most pressing concerns facing older people — food insecurity,” said Tom Croswell, Tufts Health Plan president and CEO. “These organizations are working on the front lines to meet critical needs and are well-positioned to respond to emerging priorities. Our communities depend on them, now more than ever.”

The organizations include area agencies on aging that provide meals and other support services to older people, food banks, and community organizations that are serving as hubs for collaborative regional responses. They include:

Massachusetts        $150,000

The Boston Foundation, COVID-19 Response Fund $25,000The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts $25,000The Greater Boston Food Bank $50,000Union Capital Boston, COVID-19 Fund $15,000Watertown Community Foundation, Community Resilience Fund $ 5,000Watertown Food Pantry (via Watertown Council on Aging) $ 5,000Worcester County Food Bank $25,000

Rhode Island                $125,000

Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island $25,000Rhode Island Community Food Bank $50,000United Way of Rhode Island, Rhode Island COVID-19 Response Fund $50,000

New Hampshire        $110,000

Granite United Way, COVID-19 Relief Fund $15,000Monadnock United Way, COVID-19 Relief Fund $15,000The New Hampshire Food Bank $50,000United Way of Greater Nashua, COVID-19 Emergent Needs Response Fund $15,000United Way of the Greater Seacoast, COVID-19 Family Fund $15,000

Connecticut                $100,000

Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut $10,000Connecticut Food Bank $50,000North Central Area Agency on Aging $10,000Senior Resources Agency on Aging $10,000Southwestern CT Agency on Aging and Independent Living $10,000Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging $10,000

“Communities and leaders are uniting to face this challenge,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Tufts Health Plan Foundation and vice president for corporate citizenship at Tufts Health Plan.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters, Police Taking Steps to Reduce Exposure to COVID-19, Need Supplies

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Watertown firefighters and police officers have begun taking extra steps to protect themselves from the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and both departments have found it hard to keep supplies of equipment to protect them from the virus. Along with extra equipment, the Watertown Police and Fire departments have started using some new procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Fire Department may ask people to come out of their homes to reduce firefighters chances of getting COVID-19, said Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn. “On certain Medical calls we will have people exit the home if they have COVID-19 symptoms or are in an environment with a COVID-19 positive person,” Quinn said. “This also reduces the risk to the Firefighters responding to the call as lees people will have interaction with the patient.  All patients will get the proper required care but we will be operating differently to protect unnecessary exposure to our members.”

Around Town

Watertown Health Department’s Tips for Staying Healthy During COVID-19

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Health Department:

The purpose of this notice is to remind our Residents here in Watertown of specific provisions and procedures that can be put in place in light of the New Coronavirus (COVID-19). We as a Health Department take great pride in the safety and well-being of our residents. To ensure we continue to operate this high standard and protect our community, we HIGHLY recommended the following guidelines:

RECCOMENDATIONS

Recommendations that may help you and your fellow residents during this time: Practice everyday preventive actions now. Remind everyone in your household of the importance of practicing everyday preventive actions that can help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.Staying home from work, school, and all activities when you are sick with COVID-19 symptoms, which may include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.Keeping away from others who are sick.Limiting close contact with others as much as possible (about 6 feet).Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles) using a regular household detergent and water. o If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent and water prior to disinfection.

Schools

Watertown Schools Look to Adjust to Extension of School Closings for COVID-19

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The following letter was sent out on Wednesday by the Watertown Public Schools Administration:

Good evening,

I want to provide you with the recent announcement this afternoon by Governor Charlie Baker that Massachusetts schools will remain closed until May 4. We will follow up later this week with further information about the implications of this extended closure, but be assured we will continue with the excellent plans in place for the WPS community. As we learn more about the opportunities as well as the limitations that remote learning presents, we will all become more skilled as partners on this journey to keep the learning moving forward even when our school buildings are closed. Attached you will find a joint statement from the twelve communities that comprise the Middlesex League about our shared vision and goals for the extended closure. Our primary goal for the remainder of this week is to identify students who still need access to online learning and to provide continued support for all of our families. Originally, our focus was on families with limited access to devices or the internet.