Somerville’s COVID-19 Update

On August 1, 2020, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

Here is a COVID-19 update as of Friday, July 31. Please also check somervillema.gov/covid19 for information and resources that are updated frequently.

Latest news:

Case Counts: As of 2:30 p.m. July 31, a total of 1,022 Somerville residents have tested positive for COVID-19, 1,002 have since recovered, and sadly there have been 37 deaths. See more Somerville case data on the City’s COVID-19 Dashboard.

Phase 3 reopening remains on hold: As members of the medical community note rising case counts and some urge a rollback of the State’s phased reopening, Somerville’s Phase 3 Step 1 reopening will remain on hold. Local officials are continuing to review the situation in two-week intervals, with the next update coming on or before Monday, August 17. In Somerville, indoor and outdoor gatherings also remain in Phase 2, with no more than 10 persons allowed until further notice. To provide safer options for gyms and fitness centers to offer some services, the City is encouraging and supporting outdoor alternatives.

City Council hosts public hearing on Tufts reopening plan: The Somerville City Council will hold a virtual public hearing on Tufts University’s reopening plan on Wednesday, August 5, starting at 7 p.m. There are two ways residents can submit testimony:
- To attend and be heard, enter the following link into your internet browser at any time before the meeting: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6975948688038741262. You will be asked to register for the meeting, and after registering, you will receive an email with instructions to join the meeting/webinar when it starts.
- Testimony can also be sent via email to cityclerk@somervillema.gov or mail to the City Clerk, 93 Highland Avenue, 02143. The comments must arrive no later than noon on Wednesday, August 5, in order to be sure they are conveyed to the Council.

Tufts hosts community meeting on reopening plan: Tufts University is also holding a Community Meeting on Reopening on Tuesday, August 4, starting at 5 p.m. To register for the online meeting, click HERE.

Check your hand sanitizer: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that some hand sanitizers containing methanol, which can have toxic effects, are being sold in the U.S. The FDA is keeping a list on its website of brands that contain methanol and the list was recently expanded. Take a look at the list to make sure the products you are using are safe.

Help support your neighbors through the Somerville Cares Fund: We’re just days away from the end of the additional $600 per week unemployment benefit, which will likely create new financial hardship for people in our community. If you’re lucky enough to have some extra money, please consider a donation to the Somerville Cares Fund. This donation-based fund provides direct assistance to Somerville residents, workers, and parents of school children so that they can cover basic expenses like housing, food, and utility bills. If you’re unable to donate you can still help by sharing information about the Somerville Cares Fund with your friends and family.

Care packages for seniors: The Council on Aging is collecting new puzzles, games, arts and crafts supplies, books, and other fun items to create care packages for seniors. If you would like to make a donation, you can leave items in the box located inside the front door of the Holland Street Senior Center, 167 Holland St. Items are being collected through August 7. For more information please contact Outreach Coordinator Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600 ext. 2321 or dhiggins@somervillema.gov.

Protect yourself from West Nile: Although there have not been any human cases of West Nile virus reported this summer, mosquitoes that tested positive for the virus have been found in neighboring towns so it’s important to protect yourself when you’re outside. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk; if you will be outside during those times consider using bug spray and/or covering up with long sleeves and pants.

Free COVID-19 testing in Assembly Square: The Somerville Board of Health strongly urges all residents to be tested for COVID-19. The more people that get tested, the safer our reopening will be. You do not need to have symptoms or a doctor’s referral. No insurance is needed and immigration status is not checked. To sign up for free COVID-19 testing for Somerville residents, call 617-665-2928, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Free mobile testing times and locations: The mobile COVID-19 testing unit offers testing in our neighborhoods to make access easier for residents. You can find the schedule of upcoming testing times and locations under the “Symptoms, Testing, & Medical Info” tab on www.somervillema.gov/covid19. Appointments are required. To be tested, you do not need to be symptomatic and do not need insurance or a doctor’s referral. Immigration status will not be checked. But you must be a Somerville resident and MUST CALL 617-682-0583 to set up an appointment. This number is answered 8:30-4:30 Monday-Wednesday; 8:30-7:30 Thursday; 8:30-12:30 Friday. Please leave a voicemail if your call is not answered and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Because of the volume of calls, there could be a short delay in getting a response.

Additional testing resources: Here’s information on additional options for COVID-19 testing if the times or locations in Somerville don’t work for you:
- The State is offering free testing nearby in Everett and Chelsea, among other locations across the Commonwealth, through August 14. Some locations require appointments, and some offer walk-up testing. Learn more here.
- MEMA, in coordination with the COVID-19 Command Center, provides an interactive map with information about COVID-19 test sites in Massachusetts. It also includes a downloadable full list of test sites. Information continues to evolve quickly, so contact a site prior to arrival. Sites may also require pre-screening, a referral, and/or an appointment.

Today’s Assistance Tip: Free virtual camp

Looking for something fun for your kids to do this summer, but not sure what? SomerCamp has a menu of free, online summer activities for Somerville youth in elementary school, middle school, and high school. SomerCamp l provides access to high-quality, age-appropriate, hands-on summer activities like boxing classes, parkour lessons, photography workshops, coding, music production, and group game nights facilitated by a variety of local providers – including Parts and Crafts, Somerville Media Center, Parkour Generations, Teen Empowerment, and the Beautiful Stuff Project. Sign up for one or all of them on the SomerCamp website.

Today’s Public Health Tip: Do not hold large gatherings, even outside. If you do hold a small gathering, here are some tips to be safer.

As a reminder, indoor and outdoor gatherings in Somerville are limited to ten people. We know the warm weather makes it tempting to host parties and get-togethers, but COVID-19 is not taking a summer vacation. The safest thing to do is avoid gathering with anyone outside of your household, but if you are going to see others, follow these safety tips:

Stay at least six feet away from anyone you don’t live with.
Wear a face covering if you will be less than six feet from others, and preferably at all times.
Experts now think COVID-19 is less likely to be transmitted outdoors, so if you do hold a gathering, it’s safer to do so outside. But keep in mind that social distancing and face coverings are still needed.
People at an outdoor gathering may still need to go inside to use the bathroom. Face coverings should be worn by anyone inside and surfaces should be cleaned before and after use. Consider holding a short event to limit the need for bathroom use. Or meet at a public location like a park to avoid the temptation to go inside.
It’s safest to hold BYOE gatherings (bring your own everything) and not share food, serving utensils, chairs, etc. Ask guests to bring their own lawn chairs, food, drink, utensils, etc.
Alcohol can reduce inhibitions and the ability for persons to judge distance and follow safety guidelines. Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum or skip it entirely to be safe.
Make sure to frequently wash your hands or use hand sanitizer and to clean frequently touched surfaces. And again, it’s best not to have communal items, but if you do, don’t forget about cleaning communal items like serving utensils, coolers, and outdoor furniture.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.