COVID-19 CASES
PHASE 1 OF REOPENING
LICENSING UPDATE
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
MEETING THE DEMAND FOR FOOD
PANDEMIC EBT
PANDEMIC EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
VIRTUAL GRADUATION CEREMONY
BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND UPDATE
SMALL BUSINESS FUND UPDATE
MEMORIAL DAY
GENERAL REMINDERS
STAY INFORMED
COVID-19 CASES
The City of Boston has 12,239 positive cases of coronavirus (confirmed and presumptive). So far, 5,627 of these 12,239 residents have fully recovered. Unfortunately, there have been 599 COVID-19 related deaths in Boston.
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 88,970 positive cases of coronavirus (confirmed and presumptive) and 6,066 deaths reported at this time. Massachusetts has also tested 460,826 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.
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Text BOSEspanol to 888-777 for Spanish
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Text BOSKreyol to 888-777 for Haitian Kreyol
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Text BOSFrancais to 888-777 for French
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Text BOSKriolu to 888-777 for Cabo Verdean Creole
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Text BOSPortugues to 888-777 for Portuguese
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Text BOSSoomali to 888-777 for Somali
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Text BOSChi to 888-777 for Simplified Chinese
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Text BOSbilAraby to 888-777 for Arabic
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Text BOSViet to 888-777 for Vietnamese
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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.
PHASE 1 OF REOPENING
Phase 1 of the State’s reopening plan began this week and some of the City’s precautions go further than the State’s. For more information about Boston’s approach to Phase 1 of reopening, go to Boston.gov/reopening.
NOTE: the Statewide “Safer at Home” advisory is in effect, which directs residents to continue staying home except for healthcare, essential errands, and other activities permitted by Phase 1 guidelines.
LICENSING BOARD UPDATE
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Outdoor seating for when restaurants reopen is something the City’s been working on. We want to help restaurants recover and create safe distancing options for everyone.
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The Licensing Board for the City of Boston has taken steps to lift restrictions and streamline existing processes to help small businesses and restaurants as part of the COVID-19 reopening process.
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At its hearing on Thursday, May 21, 2020 the Board took the following actions:
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Voted to pass an emergency amendment to its General Rules codifying its existing administrative review of temporary extensions of licensed premise onto outdoor space using its existing One Day Amendment to Existing License Application;
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Voted to administratively lift citywide the preexisting condition of “alcohol with food only” on outdoor space or any other similar condition that prohibits the sale and service of alcohol on outdoor space without the service of a food item;
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The Board, Boston Transportation Department, Inspectional Services Department, Public Improvement Commission, and Public Works Department will waive fees for the approved use of outdoor space for this program, on both public and private property, on a temporary, non-precedent setting basis.
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On Monday, the Licensing Board issued a questionnaire for businesses that will be used as the starting point for both identifying opportunities for temporary extensions onto outdoor space both on public and private property.
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Extensions into the public way, whether sidewalks or streets, require evaluation by multiple departments to confirm doing so can be done while ensuring the safety of patrons and employees. The goal is to be able to process and approve these temporary extensions administratively without requiring hearings, fees, or multiple applications going to multiple departments.
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To date, 147 businesses have filled out the questionnaire across the city ranging from small restaurants and coffee shops in neighborhoods to restaurants downtown. The questionnaire is for businesses who have licenses from the Licensing Board.
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The data from the questionnaire, in addition to serving as the starting point for the review process, also informs City departments which neighborhoods may not be aware of the temporary extension process so that outreach can be targeted to ensure businesses across the city have access to this opportunity.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
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The City has been working to make sure frontline employees have PPE, and help as many essential organizations as possible, including nursing homes and long-term care facilities, especially those with limited resources.
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With Phase 1 of the State’s reopening plan beginning, more workers will need these items. For small businesses, it’s an issue of both public health and economic equity. The Mayor stated that he wants to make sure that every worker has access to the equipment they need to stay safe, and that no small businesses get shut out of reopening because they don’t have supply chain connections.
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The City is launching a resource to help at boston.gov/business-ppe. It has guidance on what type of PPE businesses and organizations need, how to procure it and avoid scams, and lists of trusted vendors.
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The Mayor stressed that it is the responsibility of the employer to provide protective gear for all of their workers, but he hopes that this City resource will help them meet this responsibility and keep their workers and customers safe.
MEETING THE DEMAND FOR FOOD
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As of Monday, the City of Boston and its partner organizations have distributed over 1 million meals to young people at 65 meal sites across Boston.
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The Boston Public Schools have distributed more than half of those meals. They have also delivered over 200,000 meals directly to the homes of students with special needs.
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The City has completed nearly 5,000 door-to-door grocery deliveries for people who have reached out in need. 50% are to seniors referred by the Age Strong Commission, and the City has increased Meals on Wheels deliveries by 40% as well.
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Information about food resources for all ages is available at boston.gov/covid19foodmap.
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A new report by the Greater Boston Food Bank shows that the number of households they served in April was up 69% compared to a year ago; and the number of children they served is up 81%. The City will continue to focus on food access. So far, the Boston Resilience Fund has distributed more than $9 million in grants to local food providers, and the Fund will continue to focus on food access as a top priority area.
PANDEMIC EBT
Families with school aged children should be the lookout for a Pandemic EBT benefit coming in the mail. P-EBT is a food benefit that supports families and students during school closure due to COVID-19. This includes any student in a school that provides free or reduced meals to all students. Boston Public Schools (BPS) and Charter schools serve free meals so all BPS and Charter School students will receive this benefit. Families do not need to do anything to receive this Pandemic EBT card and there are no applications required.
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Families will get $5.70 per student per day for every day school is closed to buy food.
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Families receiving DTA benefits will get their benefits on their existing EBT card.
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Families not currently receiving DTA benefits will be mailed a new P-EBT card.
NOTE: Using P-EBT benefits does not impact your or your child’s immigration status. The Public Charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits.
Questions? Call Project Bread’s Hotline Number at: 1-800-645-8333.
PANDEMIC EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
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Massachusetts residents who are eligible for the federal CARES Act and qualify for having exhausted their regular unemployment compensation may now receive the new Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).
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The launch of this program marks the third and final benefit available for the Commonwealth through the CARES Act.
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PEUC provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits to an individual who has exhausted all rights to any regular unemployment compensation and who meets other eligibility requirements of the CARES Act. PEUC will automatically begin for individuals who have been receiving regular standard unemployment benefits on an active claim and those benefits are exhausted, and those individuals do not have to take any further action.
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If an individual’s standard unemployment claim has expired, they must file a new standard claim. If the individual is monetarily eligible on the new standard claim, regardless of the benefit rate amount, they will receive benefits from that new claim. Otherwise, the individual will be eligible for PEUC on the prior claim and it will be automatically implemented.
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Individuals who exhausted their standard benefits but were receiving benefits through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) must apply to claim weekly benefits. Residents should apply through the standard unemployment benefits portal available here.
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Those receiving PEUC will also receive $600 weekly through the week ending July 25, 2020, provided by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program established by the CARES Act.
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The CARES Act signed into law on March 27, 2020, established the PEUC, PUA and FPUC public benefit programs that expanded unemployment eligibility, temporarily increases weekly benefits for all claimants and allows additional categories of people to claim unemployment benefits. This is the largest expansion of assistance for the Commonwealth’s workforce since the Great Depression.
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More information about Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation can be found at mass.gov/peuc.
VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY FOR THE BPS CLASS OF 2020
On Saturday, June 13 at 7:30 pm, a citywide graduation event will be broadcast for the Boston Public Schools on WCVB, Channel 5. Speakers will include Mayor Walsh, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, and former US Education Secretary John King, Jr. The event will feature the voices and stories of BPS graduates, and will pay tribute to their journeys through the Boston Public Schools.
BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND UPDATE
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The Mayor announced 19 new grantees, which will receive a total of $880,000. Consistent with the City’s equity focus, 58% of the organizations are led by a person of color and 58% are women-led organizations.
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These grants focus on helping seniors who are homebound, people experiencing homelessness, and building on some of the early food grants that were distributed in the past two months.
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In total, the Boston Resiliency Fund has raised a total of $30.8 million from nearly 6,000 donations, and distributed $18.5 million to 200 organizations. To learn more, donate, or request grant funding, go to Boston.gov/BostonResiliencyFund.
SMALL BUSINESS FUND UPDATE
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The City of Boston’s Small Business Relief Fund has now given out nearly $4 million in grants to over 1,100 small businesses in every neighborhood across the City of Boston. These are grants, not loans, so they don’t create debt.
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They are from the industries most heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including restaurants, hair salons and barbershops, arts and recreation facilities, retail stores, childcare and home care providers, and more.
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95% of these businesses have 15 or fewer employees, 52% are owned by people of color, 49% are women-owned, and 46% are immigrant-owned.
MEMORIAL DAY
Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day. It recognizes the members of our Armed Forces who gave their lives in the service of our country, from the American Revolution up to the present day.
Ways to celebrate safely:
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Join virtual Memorial Day events that will be happening on Monday and through the weekend.
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Show your appreciation for service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice by decorating the outside of your homes with flags and patriotic symbols in a neighborhood show of support.
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Reminder: The City’s Office of Veterans Services remains fully operational and that veterans and their families can call 617-241-VETS (8387) or email veterans@boston.gov if they are in need of assistance or counseling.
GENERAL REMINDERS
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Stay home. If you must go outside, practice physical distancing from others (6 feet apart); avoid crowded places.
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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.
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Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911. The City of Boston’s EMTs and hospitals have the capacity and ability to treat everyone.
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Observe the recommended curfew for everyone in Boston except for essential workers to stay at home from 9 pm to 6 am daily.
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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
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Cover your coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
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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.
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Donate supplies to first responders here.
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Donate to the City of Boston Resiliency Fund here.
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Volunteer with the City of Boston here.
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Fresh Truck Open Air Markets schedule.
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City Hall is open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 am – 5 pm. Learn more about the status of city departments and hours of operation here.
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Join the Renter’s Rights Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 6 pm here.
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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.
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Tell the Parks Department where you would like to see more open space in our neighborhood here.
STAY INFORMED
Receive the latest COVID19 info from reliable sources.
Call: 311 or 211.
Fenway Civic Association 