March 14, 2020 – COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) Update

State Launches 211 Hotline for COVID-19 Information, Referrals

You can now call 211 from a cellphone or landline for real-time COVID-19 updates and referrals including:

• COVID-19 prevention, treatment, and symptom information
• Information about testing
• Guidance for people returning from travel

The 211 hotline is available 24 hours a day and can provide information in 150 languages. When you call 211 you will hear an automated message and should press 2-6 for COVID-19 information. You can also access 211 resources through the Massachusetts 211 website.

City, Schools, and Partners Organizing Support Services and Food Programs

A number of efforts are underway to address food security, healthcare access, and services for our most vulnerable populations including the many students who rely on the schools for meals and seniors who rely on a range of other services for meals and other needs. Resources will be posted to and continually updated on these pages. The schools have 2,000 meals ready to go for students starting Monday 3/16 with pickup information being sent via the schools directly to families. More to come. For those who wish to donate or help, we will also post information. Again, this is developing rapidly.

Social Distancing Measures in Place in Somerville and Statewide

Public health experts have emphasized the critical importance of social distancing – limiting interpersonal contact and maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others, halting large group activities, reducing overall social contact – to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Gov. Charlie Baker has issued an order prohibiting most gatherings of 250 or more people statewide.

Somerville and Boston recently convened regional leaders for a meeting with epidemiological and medical experts (extreme social distancing at the meeting was practiced including virtual participation). The core message was that the entire region must swiftly enact social distancing measures to avoid repeating the situation in Italy here: overwhelmed hospitals, rationing of care, higher fatality rates, and full lockdown. As a result of this meeting cities and towns across the region began closing schools and municipal buildings. Pressure is building on the State to follow. Starting Monday, March 16, all City and School buildings will be closed to the public for a minimum of two weeks and all City and School events are canceled during this time. Services essential to public health and safety will continue.

The public should be prepared for the closures to continue longer. Please also prepare for potential quarantine or self-isolation by having at least a two-week Emergency Kit with a supply of food, personal products, medicine, and other needed items. More info is available on this under the How to Prepare tab on this page.

Somerville Status Report

In Somerville, a total of 36 people have self-quarantined to date (3/14/20) in Somerville. Three are people with presumptive positive cases, the rest have been asymptomatic. Currently, 27 people are in quarantine.

• For the latest on monitoring of cases in Massachusetts, visit COVID-19 Quarantine and Monitoring.
• For the federal case counts in the United States, visit the CDC website.
• For the latest of U.S. and global case count, visit the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Public health tip:

• Supporting friends, family members, and neighbors who may need help preparing to practice social distancing or the possibility of quarantine is important, but when doing so you should still exercise caution to keep yourself and the person you are helping safe. If you are delivering food or medical supplies to someone, consider dropping them off on a porch or front steps, especially if the person you are delivering to is sick or a stranger. Make deliveries with a partner whenever possible and use hand sanitizer frequently until you are able to wash your hands with soap and water.