Around Town

Gov. Baker Gives Estimates for COVID-19 Cases in State, Beach Parking Closing

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Massachusetts will see between 47,000 to 172,000 cases of Coronavirus during the outbreak, according to the latest models. Gov. Charlie Baker discussed the figures during an update on COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon. Those numbers would be 0.7 to 2.5 percent of the state’s population, and the peak is expected to occur between April 10 and 20, according to a WBZ Channel 4 story. As of Thursday, Massachusetts had 8,966 cases and 154 people have died, according to the Mass. Department of Public Health.

Around Town

Boston Marathon Organizers Offering Refunds to Entrants

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The organizers of the Boston Marathon announced that refunds will be offered for those who decide not to participate in the rescheduled race in September. The deadline to accept or reject the refund is May 29, 2020. Also, the B.A.A. 5K has been postponed to Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. The following information was provided by the B.A.A.:

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that participants in the 2020 Boston Marathon, which was originally scheduled for April 20, 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, may elect to receive a refund for entry fees associated with the Boston Marathon.

COVID-19

RMV Extends Deadlines for Vehicle Registrations

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The following information was provided by the Registry of Motor Vehicles:

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is continuing to take several important steps following Governor Charlie Baker’s declaration of a State of Emergency the week of March 9 and to complement the work that has been underway for weeks across state government to keep residents safe and healthy. 

Effective today, April 1, 2020, all of the passenger plate registrations that have expired in March or will be expiring in April have been extended for 60 days. Registrations that expired in March have been extended until May 31 and registrations that expire in April have been extended until June 30. Registration renewals can continue to be performed online at Mass.Gov/RMV during this time. Customers seeking to do so in-person will not be able to make an appointment and should delay their visit to a Service Center at this time. In addition, the RMV recently has implemented key changes to service delivery and organizational protocols as follows:

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the RMV has implemented a strict no walk-in policy at a limited number of Service Centers that remain open to the general public.

Applause

Give a Round of Applause Friday for Medical Workers, Grocery Employees & Others Helping During COVID-19; More than 1,100 New Cases

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On Friday, people across Massachusetts are invited to show their love and appreciation for the people on the front line of the fight against the Coronavirus. Following similar efforts in New York City, Italy and London, #ClapBecauseWeCare will come to the Boston area and the whole Bay State on Friday at 7 p.m., according to a piece in the Boston Globe. Let’s clap for Boston’s finest heroes this Friday, Apr 3rd at 7PM. Open your windows and doors and cheer for our brave nurses, doctors, and first responders here and let’s show the country and the world we’re still and always will be #BostonStrong #ClapBecauseWeCare 👏👩🏾‍⚕️👨🏼‍⚕️ pic.twitter.com/57JyFVgMba— Dream Big Boston (@Boston2024) March 29, 2020

People can go to their windows, go outside and clap and cheer for ” doctors, nurses, and first responders; the pharmacists and grocery workers, delivery drivers and postal employees, restaurateurs who have stayed open, and other essential personnel who are risking exposure to COVID-19 so everyone else can stay home and stay healthy,” as the Globe article put it. New Yorkers thanking those on the front lines ❤️ #clapbecausewecare #nyc pic.twitter.com/mS02YOJsOy— Lisa Yaconiello (@lyac21) March 27, 2020

These people are our family members, friends, neighbors and members of the Watertown community.

Government

Congresswoman Clark Hosting Telephone Town Hall on the CARES Act

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Congresswoman Katherine Clark will be hosting a teleconferenced town hall about the CARES Act. The following announcement was provided by Congresswoman Clark’s office:

This week, on Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. EDT, I will be hosting a telephone town hall about the CARES Act, the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) relief bill signed into law to help families, workers, hospitals, and businesses during this national emergency.I will be available to answer questions about the different types of aid available to Massachusetts residents, including direct cash payments for eligible constituents, expanded unemployment assistance, and new relief for affected local businesses non-profits. You can join the town hall by dialing in at 1 (844) 734-8764. If you are not able to join the call but have a question or need assistance, please reach out to my district office. As we continue working together in Washington to help all our communities during this difficult time, it is so important that those in need know how to access the new resources that are being made available to them.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Warn Residents to Beware of COVID-19 Scammers

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The Watertown Police announced that residents should watch out for scammers trying to take advantage of the Coronavirus outbreak. The Police Department put out the following statement:

Please be aware of individuals attempting to take advantage of and scam residents by offering false services related to COVID 19. Below is an example of a craigslist scam that was forwarded to the Watertown Police Department today. If you receive an offer/ad, such as pictured below, check the validity of it by emailing it to the WPD at COVID19@police.watertown-ma.gov.

Business

Gov. Baker Extends Closing of Non-Essential Businesses, New Cases Up More than 800

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Gov. Charlie Baker announced that non-essential businesses would remain closed in Massachusetts through May 4 in an effort to control the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The announcement came before the announcement of the lastest statistics for the impact of COVID-19 in Massachusetts on Tuesday. The Mass. Department of Public Health announced 33 more deaths from the virus, brining the total to 89. Massachusetts has 868 new postive cases for a total of 6,620.

Around Town

Eversource Eliminating Late Fees, Disconnections During COVID-19 Outbreak; Warns of Scams

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Eversources will not charge late fees or disconnect power from customers during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. “We’ve suspended disconnections, late fees and taken other steps to help customers in response to COVID-19,” Eversource announced on its website. Eversource is also offering a flexible payment plan with no down payment. Customers should also be aware of ongoing scams.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has led to an increase in scam activity. Be wary of any unsolicited calls that threaten to disconnect your utility service and that demand payment by unusual means.