Around Town

Health Department Plans to Host COVID Vaccine Clinics, Stresses Need to Keep Up Prevention Steps

By |

Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn gets a COVID-19 vaccination shot during the clinic for police and firefighters run by the Watertown Health Department last week. The light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel can be seen, with the first vaccinations by the Watertown Health Department starting last week, but Health Director Larry Ramdin said people must continue their virus prevention practices even after they get their shots. On Jan. 14 and 15, members of the Watertown Police and Fire departments received their first COVID-19 vaccine shots, Ramdin said. He and Public Health Nurse Wil VanDinter have begun planning for public clinics in Town, but do not know when they will be able to administer the vaccine to the general public, Ramdin said.

Around Town

Watertown Back in Yellow COVID Category, Cases Continue to Rise

By |

After moving into the state’s “Red,” or high-risk of COVID-19 transmission, group for a week, Watertown went back into the “Yellow,” or moderate-risk group. The latest Mass. Department of Public Health report (released on Jan. 15), showed that the Town’s positive test rate dropped to 4.91 percent. The previous report had Watertown at 5.14 percent, and any positivity rate over 5 percent for a town of Watertown’s size is one of the thresholds to put it in the Red.

Around Town

Find Out About Applying for Second Round of PPP Loans

By |

Small businesses can start applying for the latest round of federal Payroll Protection Program. PPP loans available for businesses that did not get the grant in the first round, and the application process began on Jan. 11. Also, businesses that got PPP in the first round can apply for the Second Draw can begin applying on Jan. 13.

Government

Watertown Moves into High Risk for COVID-19, Health Director Asks Residents to Remain Vigilant

By |

Watertown moved into the Red, or high-risk, category in the most recent Mass. Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 reporting. The Watertown Health Director fears that people are suffering from “COVID fatigue” and have become lax about taking measures to stop the spread of the virus. In the latest data from the MassDPH, Watertown has an average of 55.8 cases per 100,000 residents over the past 14 days, which was up from 51 per 100,000 the previous week. The number that moved the Town from “yellow” to “red” was the positivity percentage of tests, which was 5.14 percent (up from 4.7 percent the previous report).

Business

State Offering New Round of Pandemic Grants to Small Businesses

By |

Grants are available for small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. A new round of grants for small businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic has been announced by state officials. Sectors given priority for the grants include restaurants, hair and nail salons, gyms and fitness, indoor recreation, event support and independent retailers. The Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) has up to $668 million available to support businesses in sectors experiencing the most significant economic hardship and a loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The application deadline is Jan.

Schools

COVID-19 Numbers Low in Watertown Schools, Officials Look at When to Increase In-School Time

By |

The Watertown Public Schools have significantly lower COVID-19 positive test rates than the Town, and more than two-thirds of students and staff are participating in the district’s free testing program. Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the staff and students tested in the district’s pool testing is 0.15 percent, which is below the most recent positivity rate Townwide, which was 4.4 percent as of Dec. 28. She discussed the COVID-19 rates and the testing program, along with what factors will be considered when looking at increasing the amount of in-school learning during Monday’s School Committee meeting. Galdston credits staff and students taking the COVID-19 protocols seriously for the low rates of the virus.

Around Town

COVID-19 Cases Slightly Down in Watertown, Positive Test Rate Up

By |

The numbers of new cases of COVID-19 in Watertown dropped slightly in the most recent community-by-community report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), but the percent of positive tests rose. The number of cases over the prior 14 days in the Dec. 24 report (released on Dec. 31) was 236, down from 241 the prior week. The drop was the first since the DPH’s Sept.

Around Town

Town Offering Free COVID-19 Testing in January

By |

The following information was provided by the Town of Watertown:

The Town of Watertown is offering, by appointment only, one – free COVID-19 Test 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 (preregistration details below) and we ask that you only sign up for one test to allow other residents access to testing.]

Testing will be held inside the Commander’s Mansion 440 Talcott Avenue on the following dates and times:

Tuesday January 5, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday January 6, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday January 12, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday January 13, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday January 19, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday January 20, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday January 26, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday January 27, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

In order to obtain an appointment a Watertown resident must pre-register by clicking on the following link: https://proemscovidtesting.as.me/watertown

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). Test results: As a reminder, a negative test does not mean you cannot spread COVID-19, or get infected with COVID-19, at a later date.