Please read the following update from the Age Strong Commission – we ask all residents to follow the outlined social distancing guidelines over the next two weeks.
Hope you and your loved ones are well. Today, Mayor Walsh held a press briefing about the City’s response to COVID-19. Below is a recap of those updates that we’ll be sharing with you regularly. As always, please visit www.boston.gov/coronavirus for up-to-date information, and direct older Bostonians to call 311 if they need access to support or resources.
Numbers:
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As of Wednesday, April 8, in Massachusetts: 16,790 cases of coronavirus and 433 deaths. As of Thursday, April 9, in Boston: 2,812 cases, 325 recovered, 34 deaths.
An update on the Boston Hope Medical Center (photos attached):
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We expect to start bringing unsheltered individuals in need of care into the Boston Hope Medical Center (at the BCEC) as early as tomorrow.
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It has 1,000 beds for COVID-19 patients: 500 for homeless individuals and 500 for general hospital overflow. It includes 6 acute care suites; a physical therapy suite; 52 nurses stations and 48 bathroom facilities.
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The Center is a collaboration between the City, State, Partners HealthCare, Ascension, Boston Health Care for the Homeless, and others.
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Partners is seeking healthcare providers and non-medical volunteers. See partners.org/bostonhope.
Temporary housing for front-line responders:
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We have secured a total of 284 beds for first responders and shelter staff.
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Northeastern University is providing 135 single-occupancy rooms in one of its dorms for Boston’s first responders who need to self-isolate.
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Boston University is providing 75 rooms to homeless shelter staff who work at the Pine Street Inn.
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Hotel Boston in Brighton has 74 rooms available for members of Boston Police, Fire and EMS who have tested positive for COVID-19 or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, and are unable to isolate at home.
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Additional resources for healthcare workers:
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Emmanuel College, MassArt, and Simmons University are making housing available for healthcare workers from Beth Israel, Brigham and Women’s, and Children’s Hospital.
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MassArt, Wentworth, the MFA, Windsor, Emmanuel, Harvard, Simmons, and Boston Latin School have made over 1,100 parking spaces available for healthcare workers in the Longwood Medical Area.
Temporary housing for veterans:
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The New England Center and Home for Veterans will move up to 50 veterans into a former nursing home facility in Brighton who are currently living in group settings. This will allow for better physical distancing during this public health crisis.
Preventing foreclosures:
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We secured the agreement of 12 of the largest housing lenders in Boston to defer homeowners’ mortgage payments by 3 months, and longer if needed.
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They also agree to not charge late fees or report non-payment to credit bureaus.
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After the deferral period, homeowners will not be required to pay the deferred payments in one lump sum. They will be able to work with their lenders on a repayment plan.
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Lenders should contact the Boston Home Center if they want to join the agreement. For a full list of lenders moving forward, go to Boston.gov/coronavirus.
Addressing racial and ethnic inequities in the impact of COVID-19:
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We’ve been working to collect as much data as possible about the race and ethnicity of patients in Boston to understand and address inequities, and we’ve asked the State and surrounding communities to do the same.
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We are releasing the data on race and ethnicity available to us so far. It accounts for about 62% of total cases in Boston.
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We created the COVID-19 Health Inequities Taskforce to examine data on health inequities and recommend interventions.
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The Task Force will review data on the health inequities that face Black, Latino, and Asian populations in Boston.
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It will analyze data and best practices related to the COVID-19 response.
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It will strengthen our strategy for equity and accessibility in services.
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And it will provide recommendations for resources and strategies that the City can use moving forward.
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Members will be announced later today.
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We are also working with hospitals to receive any data that helps our understanding, and to partner with them on interventions to reduce inequities and anticipate future impacts to our communities.
Appeal for social distancing during Easter and Passover:
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We are urging people to not travel and not to have family gatherings, especially this weekend.
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Many temples and churches are holding services online, and there are plenty of ways to connect with loved ones virtually.
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We’re also asking people to respect requests from management of senior housing facilities.
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People are still visiting senior housing and assisted living communities, and should be social distancing and protecting our most vulnerable residents.
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Reminders about social/physical distancing:
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The City of Boston is asking community leaders, local organizations, and non-profit partners to push this message out to their networks.
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Local data shows that distancing in the next two weeks are critical to flattening the curve and saving lives.
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Residents should stay home and avoid contact with others; stay at least 6 feet from other people at all times; and wash their hands and clean and sanitize surfaces frequently.
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Everyone should wear a face covering when outside of their home
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The Boston Public Health Commission issued a Public Health Advisory recommending people stay inside between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Use delivery services as much as possible getting food from a restaurant after 9 p.m. We have resources for restaurants that want to get set up with a delivery service.
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City Hall is open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Everyone entering the building will be subject to screening for COVID symptoms, including elevated temperature. People should only come in for services that are absolutely necessary, and not available by phone or online, and you must call ahead to make an appointment. City Hall will also be closed to the public this coming Friday, April 10, in observance of Good Friday.
Please also read this letter from Mayor Walsh to the Boston community that posted last night. We encourage you to share this information with your networks.
Thank you.
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Fenway Civic Association 