VACCINE UPDATES:

• Anyone 16 or older eligible for COVID vaccine on 4/19: All Massachusetts residents age 16 and up will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccines on Monday, April 19. Make sure you’re pre-registered for State sites (see below). You can also look for vaccine appointments at vaxfinder.mass.gov and checking with your health care provider.

• Reminder to pre-register for vaccine appointments: You can now pre-register for a vaccine appointment at state sites by visiting vaccinesignup.mass.gov or calling 211. When an appointment becomes available in your eligibility group, you will be notified and have 24 hours to respond.

• Already pre-registered? Check your spam folder: If you’ve pre-registered for a vaccine appointment with an email address and aren’t getting weekly updates, check your spam folder. If you find messages going there, you can look up how to add the sender to the safe sender list in your email client, or know to frequently check your spam folder.

• Use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine suspended: The FDA has suspended the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine after six persons out of the nearly 7 million people who received it developed rare, but severe blood clots. Before re-authorizing the use of J&J vaccines, scientists will be reviewing information about these rare side effects. Health officials are advising that if you received the J&J vaccine and experience severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks of getting your shot you should talk to your doctor.

• Have questions about the vaccines? The City and CHA are hosting regular virtual and call-in Vaccine Info Sessions with medical providers who you can ask directly. Sessions are in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Kreyol, or Nepali. Check our Vaccine Events listings for updates or links to videos of previous sessions. The next virtual and call-in info session will be held in Spanish on Wed., April 21. A recording of an English info session held on April 14 has just been posted.

GENERAL COVID UPDATES

• Somerville Covid-19 Case Counts: As of April 13, a total of 5,838 Somerville residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since March 2020, and sadly there have been 84 deaths. See the latest Somerville case data at somervillema.gov/covid19dashboard.

• Additional types of outdoor performances and outdoor retail now allowed: Outdoor spoken word performances and outdoor retail or artist stands are now allowed under Somerville’s reopening guidelines with proper safety procedures. If you’re interested in hosting a performance or setting up shop outside, visit our website to learn more about requirements and application processes.

• Remember to mask up and keep gatherings to under ten people: Facemasks are still required in all indoor and outdoor public spaces in MA. The private gathering limit in Somerville remains at a maximum of ten persons. This applies to events held indoors or outdoors. Please stay vigilant as we seek to beat the virus.

• Free COVID-19 testing: CHA Somerville Hospital offers free testing at Assembly Row. To make an appointment, call 617-665-2928 (Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.). The mobile COVID-19 testing unit offers testing for all in our neighborhoods. To make a mobile appointment, call 617-682-0583. Mobile testing schedules, as they become available, and more testing information can be found at somervillema.gov/covidtesting. The State’s Stop the Spread testing sites are also an option, including in the nearby communities of Chelsea and Everett. For more information, visit the State’s website.