Around Town

COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Have Risen in Watertown in Recent Weeks

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The number of active cases of COVID-19 in Watertown has increased more than eight-fold over the past two months, with the total numbers of cases during the pandemic increasing by 60 percent during that time. Similar to the statewide trend in Massachusetts, Watertown has seen a steady increase of COVID-19 cases. Along with the increases in cases, Watertown has had four more COVID-19 related deaths over the past few weeks, bringing the total number to 28, according to the Town Manager’s Dec. 11, 2020 Coronavirus Update. The week prior, the Town reported the first two COVID-19 related deaths in Watertown since the Aug.

Around Town

Free COVID-19 Testing for Watertown Residents in December

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The following announcement was provided by the Town of Watertown:

The Town of Watertown will be offering, by appointment only, free COVID-19 Testing for Watertown residents. 

Testing is free, does not require a medical referral, and you do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to get tested. Pre-registration is required to receive a test (pre-registration details below). Testing will be held inside the Commander’s Mansion, 440 Talcott Avenue, on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, December 15 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Wednesday, December 16 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Tuesday, December 22 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Wednesday, December 23 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Tuesday, December 29 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Wednesday, December 30 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

In order to obtain an appointment a Watertown resident must pre-register by clicking here.          

This is not a drive up test. Watertown residents who have an appointment will enter into the Commander’s Mansion and with the assistance of Pro Ambulance employees will conduct a self-administering nasal swab (PCR test).  Results will be returned within 24 to 36 hours.

Around Town

State Announces Plans for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

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The following announcement was sent out by the Governor’s Office:

The Baker-Polito Administration announced allocation and distribution plans for the first round of COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Massachusetts set to begin around December 15. The state’s first shipment of 59,475 doses of the Pfizer vaccine was ordered from the federal government this past Friday and will be delivered directly to 21 hospitals across 8 counties, as well as to the Department of Public Health Immunization lab. Doses will then be redistributed for access to 74 hospitals across all 14 counties for front line medical workers. The next 40,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine will be allocated to the Federal Pharmacy Program to begin vaccinating staff and residents of skilled nursing facilities, rest homes and assisted living residences. Vaccine is being prioritized for these groups to maximize life preservation and to support the health care system.

Schools

Schools Rolling Out Student COVID-19 Testing Week After Thanksgiving

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Watertown students will be able to be tested for COVID-19 for free starting the week after Thanksgiving, in an effort to keep schools open for in-person learning and to stop the spread of the virus in the school and broader community. Galdston told the School Committee about the district’s testing program on Monday, the same night that a piece on the Watertown Public Schools’ COVID-19 testing program (for which she was interviewed) aired on the NBC Nightly News. “In the 45 minute interview, that was cut to 30 seconds, we spent a lot of time talking about how Watertown has really gone above and beyond to keep our students and our staff safe,” Galdston said. “Here is just another safety net we have for all of our people within our community.” School Committee member Lily Rayman-Read, who teaches in the Cambridge Public Schools, said the NBC story caught the interest of educators in other communities.

Schools

NBC News Features Watertown School’s COVID-19 Testing Program

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A screenshot of Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston’s appearance in an NBC Nightly News piece. A national newscast spotlighted the Watertown Public School’s COVID-19 testing program on Monday. Wearing a Watertown Middle School face mask, Superintendent Dede Galdston was interviewed by NBC Nightly News about the testing program, where students can be tested for free. She described the return of the schools to partial in-person teaching with the district’s hybrid program. “People haven’t said we can’t do this, they said, wow, this is hard, but how can are we going do it?”

Schools

Students Traveling Out-of-State for Thanksgiving Must be Tested or Quarantine

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Watertown students who travel outside of Massachusetts to a high-risk area must either get a negative test for COVID-19 or quarantine for 14 days before returning to school for in-person learning, Superintendent Dede Galdston announced Wednesday. Most states have been put on the the Massachusetts Restricted Travel list, but three of the lower risk ones are in New England — Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — along with Hawaii. When returning from a high-risk state, students must get a negative PCR test prior to returning to school according to the Massachusetts regulations, Galdston wrote. Students must quarantine while waiting for test results. Galdston also wrote that the schools will have two remote days after the Thanksgiving break, on Nov.

Around Town

Reopening Plan for Ryan Ice Arena, Winter Recreation Survey

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The Watertown Recreation Department announced the re-opening of the John A. Ryan Ice Arena, and detailed the policies that users must follow during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, Recreation officials have put up a survey for residents to respond to about programs they would like to see over the winter. See the announcements below:

Ice Arena Re-opening

Please find below the guidelines and actions that will be put into place for the reopening of the Ryan Arena, Town of Watertown MA. These guidelines are per Commonwealth of Massachusetts updates of 11-06-20

This being said, the steps are listed below. Rink flow.

Business

Watertown Eating Institution Starts GoFundMe Effort to Keep Doors Open

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Deluxe Town Diner in Coolidge Square. The owners of Deluxe Town Diner have started an effort to try to raise $100,000 to keep the Coolidge Square institution afloat through the COVID-19 pandemic. Donors who give $100 or more will get a gift card worth $110 to use at the diner. Owner Don Levy posted the following information on the GoFundMe.com page:

Our family owned diner, has been serving Watertown area since 1947, the Covid19 pandemic has in big ways Adversely impacted our business,We survive the 3 months doing take out only, and now its necessary to ask for some help, ” TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN”.  Due to restrictions we  are only  able to service, “less than half of our customers”.  We are asking our loyal customers and friends to donate, and to also buy future food at the diner gift card. $100 cash payment, we will issue $110 in diner card to be used now and in the future , when we are back to the normal.