Fenway Civic Association

Please find the latest updates from The City of Boston regarding COVID-19.

COVID-19 CASES

TESTING UPDATE

FACE COVERINGS AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING

IMPORTANCE OF SAFE DRIVING

COMMUNITY OUTREACH UPDATE 

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

BOSTON SOCIAL FITNESS VIRTUAL EVENT

CITY OF BOSTON COVID-19 OPERATIONS

BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS UPDATE

CONSTRUCTION

HELP COVID-19 EFFORTS

STAY INFORMED

COVID-19 CASES

The City of Boston has 9,590 positive cases of coronavirus (confirmed and presumptive) in Boston residents. So far, 2,201 of these 9,590 residents have fully recovered. There have been 410 COVID-19 related deaths in Boston residents. 

The City posts race and ethnicity data for deaths, as well as for confirmed cases here.

The Boston Public Health Commission will be providing the updated total of cases in Boston residents as it is received from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Information can be found at boston.gov/coronavirus or bphc.org.

Massachusetts has 64,311 positive cases of coronavirus (confirmed and presumptive) and 3,716 deaths reported at this time. Massachusetts has also tested 289,636 individuals to date. 

The City of Boston has two dashboards to provide statistics on COVID19 cases in Boston and throughout Massachusetts.  View them here.

The City of Boston has a free texting service to provide daily updates and information about the coronavirus. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to opt-in for English. Language and communications access remains a priority for Mayor Walsh, so this text service which was available in Spanish, Haitan Creole, French, Cabo Verdean Creole, and Portuguese, now includes Somali, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Russian.

• Text BOSEspanol to 888-777 for Spanish

• Text BOSKreyol to 888-777 for Haitian Kreyol

• Text BOSFrancais to 888-777 for French

• Text BOSKriolu to 888-777 for Cabo Verdean Creole

• Text BOSPortugues to 888-777 for Portuguese

• Text BOSSoomali to 888-777 for Somali

• Text BOSChi to 888-777 for Simplified Chinese

• Text BOSbilAraby to 888-777 for Arabic

• Text BOSViet to 888-777 for Vietnamese

• Text BOSRus to 888-777 for Russian

Updates in 10 total languages can additionally be accessed through boston.gov/coronavirus#multilingual-help. Each language has its own page and hosts multilingual print materials distributed citywide. 

TESTING UPDATE

This week, testing in Boston increased over 44% from the previous week. To date, nearly 28,000 Boston residents have been tested for coronavirus. Of those total tests, 32% have tested positive, a slight decrease from the 33% reported last week. Mayor Walsh provided an update on some updates on testing availability and results in different neighborhoods.

• East Boston had 86% more testing than it had the previous week. This was the biggest increase in testing of any neighborhood. The percentage of people testing positive in East Boston went down, but East Boston still has the highest positive rates in the city. 

• Mattapan, Roxbury, West Roxbury and Hyde Park had the largest decreases in positives comparing this week with previous data.

• South Boston and Fenway experienced higher positive rates during the past week compared to previous data. We are working to increase testing in these neighborhoods. 

• The City is working to open new testing sites in Jamaica Plain and Charlestown. 

• We continue to conduct universal testing for Boston’s homeless population in both city-run and nonprofit shelters. 

• Antibody testing of 1000 residents is underway, and should be completed by the end of this week. Participants will be tested for the presence of antibodies as well as for the COVID virus itself. The data from the antibody testing program will provide a snapshot of how prevalent the outbreak is in certain zip codes, and provide important insights into how the virus spreads. We appreciate all of the residents participating as testing will empower them with knowledge about their own status.

FACE COVERINGS AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING

Mayor Walsh continued to stress the importance of wearing face coverings in public. Everyone should wear a face covering over their nose and mouth anytime they leave their home and are around other people. This includes while running, cycling, entering essential businesses, or other buildings.  

• The City of Boston has been working with the State to strengthen the guidance on face coverings. On Friday afternoon, Governor Baker issued an executive order requiring all Massachusetts residents over the age of 2 to wear masks in public, including at grocery stores, retail stores, and on transit. The order goes into effect on Wednesday, May 6. 

• Mayor Walsh also reminded people not to gather in groups of any kind, including this weekend, when the forecast calls for pleasant weather. Please stay home and avoid contact with others, respect the recommended curfew from 9pm to 6am, stay at least six feet from other people at all times, wash your hands frequently and clean and sanitize surfaces frequently.

IMPORTANCE OF SAFE DRIVING

During the public health emergency, there have been fewer cars on the road, and there have been fewer crashes. Mayor Walsh stated that over the past five years, traffic fatalities have gone down by more than half in Boston, and that this is not the time to go backwards.

• BPD has reported more speeding and hospitals are reporting more severe injuries from crashes. Injuries are more severe and death more likely when speeds are higher at impact, even just by a few miles per hour.

• All drivers should respect speed limits, and to pay attention to how fast they are going on the roads, and be aware of their surroundings.

• In Boston, all roads have a default speed limit of 25 miles per hour unless otherwise posted. 

• Mayor Walsh stated that over the past five years, traffic fatalities have gone down by more than half in Boston, and that this is not the time to go backwards.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH UPDATE

Mayor Walsh discussed a key priority is to keep all residents informed about the coronavirus in a transparent and timely manner. Besides these regular emails to community groups, we’re also engaged in the following efforts.

• The City of Boston has more than 200 print and digital billboards displaying critical public health information throughout the city.

• Nearly 65,000 people have signed up for the City’s text alert system, which is available in 11 languages. Sign up by texting BOSCOVID to 888-777. 

• Boston.gov/coronavirus has all the latest information and resources, available in 11 languages, including English. 

• Residents can also call the 3-1-1 helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• In March, 1,000 volunteers delivered printed information in multiple languages to every home in Boston. 

• We have deployed sound trucks to neighborhoods with higher rates of coronavirus, including Mattapan, Dorchester, Hyde Park, East Boston, Roslindale, and Roxbury. 

• Robocalls with new information in multiple languages go out to more than 70,000 seniors multiple times per week. 

• Today the Mayor announced that the City will be distributing community care kits to areas that our COVID-19 Health Inequities Task Force identified as having the greatest need. These kits will contain things like resources and supplies to help residents stay healthy and safe. We are partnering with a local vendor, Dorchester-based College Hype, to distribute these items.

• We’ve also printed new booklets with critical information on how to stay safe during the coronavirus outbreak, including how to make a face covering, how to practice physical distancing, what to do if you get sick, and more. Neighborhood liaisons will distribute nearly 100,000 of these booklets this weekend. 

• The City of Boston will be putting up new signage in high-traffic areas. These signs will include information in 7 languages, and they will start going up this weekend. 

• The City is also producing posters which will be displayed in the windows of neighborhood businesses.

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

May is Mental Health Month, and the Mayor acknowledged the additional stress that people are facing this year due to the global pandemic. He reminded residents that it is normal to feel sad, scared, lonely, or overwhelmed, and that there are resources available. We urge you call your health care provider to get set up with telehealth counseling 

• People can also call the City of Boston’s 24-hour helpline at 3-1-1 to get connected to anonymous counseling over the phone.

• The City of Boston is reaching out to City employees to make them aware of mental health resources that are available to them through the Employee Assistance Program. The Mayor encouraged other employers to make the mental health of their employees a top priority. 

• We also have resources for students who are struggling. BPS School psychologists, social workers, and counselors are reaching out to families to plan and support students while schools are closed. If parents have concerns, and their child does not already see a counselor, they should reach out to their school.

• Mayor Walsh reminded residents that anyone dealing with a health or safety emergency should call 9-1-1 right away. 

• If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text The Samaritans at 877-870-4673. You can also reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. 

• Anyone facing domestic abuse, child abuse, or suspects abuse should call 9-1-1. They can also call SafeLink, the State’s 24/7 toll-free hotline at 877-785-2020. It now also includes resources and support for survivors of sexual assault. 

• All of the City’s recovery services are still open. We have online resources including links to online meetings at Boston.gov/Recovery. You can also call 3-1-1.

BOSTON SOCIAL FITNESS VIRTUAL EVENT

The City of Boston in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will be hosting a virtual Boston Social Fitness Festival in honor of National Fitness Day on May 2nd.

• Sign up for FREE live at-home fitness classes here. 

CITY OF BOSTON COVID-19 OPERATIONS

All essential City of Boston services such as public safety, public health and maintenance operations including street cleaning, parks maintenance, trash and recycling pick up, etc will continue to be in operation.

• City Hall is open to the public only on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 am.to 5 pm

• Public access to 1010 Massachusetts Avenue is limited to the Boston Public Health Commission on the 2nd Floor and residents must be accompanied when entering the building. 

• Everyone entering City Hall, including employees and members of the public, will be required to complete a self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms, including elevated temperature.

• Residents are required to make appointments if they need to visit any of the essential services offered out of City Hall, and can learn more about the status of city departments and hours of operation here. 

Residents are asked not to call 9-1-1 unless you are experiencing a medical emergency. All COVID-19 questions should be directed to the Mayor’s Health Line at 617-534-5050 or 311. The City and BPHC will continue to provide updated information on bphc.org and boston.gov/coronavirus.

BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

Boston Public Schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. The next phase of learning from home starts on Monday, May 4. Families will receive additional information from the Superintendent later this week about attendance, grading, and schedules.

• Schools will be creating individualized learning plans for students with the highest needs, to make sure no one falls behind. These expectations may continue to evolve as the City gets further guidance from the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the US Department of Education.

• The City of Boston continues to support remote learning for BPS students, including setting up more than 2,000 wifi hotspots, distributing more than 30,000 laptops, and serving free breakfast and lunch every single weekday to youth and children at 65 locations. To date, the City has served more than half a million meals at youth meal sites. We also operate six adult meal sites for grab-and-go meals. A map of Boston’s food resources can be found here. 

• We are focused on students’ social and emotional health. Going forward, every school will have a Student Support Team to monitor students’ well-being, engagement, and progress. 

• We will continue to share more details about our plans for the Boston Public Schools throughout this week.

Meal Distribution sites near Fenway, Kenmore, and Mission Hill include the following:

BCYF Tobin at 1481 Tremont Street — 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
Boston Latin School at 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur — 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

YMCA at 316 Huntington Ave — 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Blackstone Elementary School at 380 Shawmut Ave — 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Vibrant Boston Community Center at Lenox/Camden at 136 Lenox St — 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

CONSTRUCTION

Due to the public health emergency caused by the spread of COVID-19, Mayor Walsh announced that he is extending the City of Boston’s order to pause non-essential construction for City of Boston permitted sites. The initial order announced on March 16th was set for 14 days and will now continue until further notice. Additional information can be found here. 

HELP COVID19 EFFORTS

• Stay home. If you must go outside, practice physical distancing from others (6 feet apart); avoid crowded places.

• Wear a face covering if you absolutely must go outside. Face covers help reduce the risk of a person spreading the virus, especially if they are asymptomatic. Visit CDC guidelines on face coverings for more information and guidance. 

• Observe the recommended curfew for everyone in Boston except for essential workers to stay at home from 9 pm to 6 am daily 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol; avoid shaking hands

• Cover your coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• If you think you might be sick, please call your doctor or 311 to be connected to the Mayor’s Health Line 617-534-5050. Buoy Health has created a free online diagnostic tool which screens for COVID19 at buoy.com/mass.

• Donate supplies to first responders here

• Donate to the City of Boston Resiliency Fund here

• Volunteer with the City of Boston here 

• For Food access needs, visit our Food Resources Map or call 3-1-1

• Fill out the 2020 Census. The Census informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years. It’s more critical than ever to ensure that all Bostonians are counted. 

STAY INFORMED

Receive the latest COVID19 info from reliable sources. Visit: bphc.org/coronavirus; boston.gov/coronavirus; mass.gov/2019coronavirus. Call: 311 or 211

We will keep you informed as we receive updates. Stay healthy and stay safe.