Dear Community Members,

• Data to consider during the reopening: When Governor Baker announced the Stay at Home advisory on March 23, there were a total of 777 known COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts. This past Saturday, June 6, when the State’s Phase II reopenings were announced, there were 575 new known cases reported for that one day. The virus is still circulating in the community. Please don’t let your guard down as more opens back up. Wear face coverings in public, maintain a 6-foot social distance, wash your hands, cover coughs and sneezes, stay home if you are not well or may have been exposed to the virus, and avoid unnecessary outings. Please keep that your routine and stay safe.

• Phase II reopening: Somerville’s Phase II reopening timeline matches the State’s, but the City has adopted some additional safety measures to protect public health as more people are out. You can see full reopening information on the City’s website, but here are some details about two things we’ve gotten a lot of questions about – restaurants and playgrounds:
  • Restaurants can open with outdoor seating as soon as their City-required site safety plans are approved starting today. Somerville’s Licensing Commission has agreed to meet as frequently as needed to prevent any delays. We’re also looking at creative options, like expanded sidewalks and parking conversion, to add more space for outdoor restaurant seating so that businesses that currently don’t have space won’t be left out of the reopening. Bring your face covering for when your server is at the table, and be prepared to follow social distancing rules.
  • The opening date for playgrounds and splash pads will be announced soon. We are working to finalize cleaning and safety protocols before reopening. Here too, there will be social distancing and other safety guidelines to follow. We’ll keep you posted.

• Somerville Cares COVID-19 Relief Fund update: So far the Somerville Cares Fund, which gives direct assistance to residents so they can pay for essential needs, has raised $382,000 from mainly small donations. To date, the fund has been able to provide emergency assistance for 544 applicants, but there are more people in our community who need help, and for some the situation is growing more, not less, dire. If you can, please consider making a donation to the Somerville Cares Fund. If you’re unable to give money, but still want to help, please share information about the fund with your networks or others who may be able to give. And thank you to everyone who has given or helped so far. It’s a bright spot amid the pandemic to see people step up to support others.

• Property tax, excise tax, and water bill reminder: Property tax bills, which are normally due on May 1, had their due date extended to June 1. If you missed the June 1 deadline, you have until June 29 to pay your property tax bill without incurring any interest or penalties. For excise tax and water bills, the City’s Treasury Department will not charge any interest or penalties for bills with a due date of March 10 or later, as long as they are paid by June 29.

• Free COVID-19 testing: 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. 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.

Today’s Assistance Tip: Where can I access virtual recovery services?