Dear Community Members,

Today, Mayor Curtatone has a message specifically for seniors, which you will find further below. Our additional COVID-19 update for April 4 precedes it.

Latest News:
Case counts: As of 10 a.m. today, April 4, a total of 110 Somerville residents have tested positive for COVID-19, 32 have since recovered, and sadly one person has passed away.
• Somerville Helps Increase Mask Supply: Mayor Curtatone, Partners HealthCare and Battelle collaborated to bring a machine that can sterilize 80,000 respirator masks a day to the former Kmart site in Assembly Square, which Mayor Curtatone secured for the effort using his emergency powers. Having access to mask sterilization allows healthcare workers to reuse N95 masks up to 20 times. The Battelle system will be just the fourth such site in the U.S. The Boston Globe has a story about how this will help the healthcare industry respond to COVID-19.

• State Projects Surge in Cases and Details Response: On Thursday, the State projected a coming surge of COVID-19 cases in the Commonwealth and detailed its efforts to respond, including a significant increase in hospital capacity, staffing, and equipment. They project between 47,000 to 172,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts over the course of the epidemic (or 0.7% to 2.5% of the State population). Hospitalizations would potentially peak between April 10-20. Among other efforts, the Administration is aiming to add an additional 750 to 1000 beds in alternate care sites to reduce strain on hospitals. More details here.

• COVID-19 Tracking: The State is working with Partners in Health to set up a coronavirus tracking program to help identify people at risk of having the disease. Partners in Health is hiring and training 1,000 contact tracers who will talk to everyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to find out who they have been in contact with. The contact tracers will then reach out to those people to let them know they are at risk and what they should do to follow-up.

• Market Basket Expands Social Distancing Measures: City staff have been working closely with local grocers to support social distancing for shoppers. On Thursday, Market Basket began limiting the number of shoppers inside the Somerville store to 90 customers. The store manager reports that people are taking well to store limiting, and it allows staff to feel more at ease. It’s currently about a 20-minute wait outside, and there have been no complaints from customers. On Friday, they added someone outside to help keep people in line at a safe distance.

Today’s Assistance & Public Health Tip:
A Message to Seniors and their Families from Mayor Curtatone

Dear Community Members,
I want to share some information specifically for Somerville’s older residents. Even if this information doesn’t apply to you, please read and share it with anyone you know who might find it useful.

Because older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at greater risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, it’s especially important for seniors to take precautions against the disease. That includes frequently washing your hands with soap and water, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, staying home, and monitoring your health and calling your doctor if you have any COVID-19 symptoms (including fever, coughing, and trouble breathing).

Minimizing contact with others is the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19, but it can also be lonely and isolating, especially if you live alone. Take time to connect with friends and family via phone, letters, emails, or other virtual methods. The Council on Aging also has a friendly caller program where they will match you up with someone who will call periodically just to chat.

Unfortunately, there are people who use emergencies to try to take advantage of others. Don’t share health, financial, or other personal information with people you don’t know. If someone is claiming to be from your doctor’s office or bank, you can hang up and call them back on the number you already have for them. It’s also always a good idea, and especially important now, to not let anyone you don’t know into your home. If you get a suspicious phone call or knock at the door, please report it to the Council on Aging.

Our Council on Aging staff are working remotely while City buildings are closed, and they remain available to provide support to you throughout this crisis. If you need help getting food, medication, Internet access, or accessing other services, or if you have questions, please call 311 or (617) 625-6600 ext 2300 to connect with the Council on Aging directly. Please also stay informed, we’re sharing useful information via City Cable TV on RCN Channels 13 and 613 and Comcast Channel 22. Or visit somervillema.gov/coronavirus.

As we continue to make our way through this public health crisis, please take care of yourself and take precautions to protect your health. And please reach out if you need to; we’re here for you.

Sincerely,
Mayor Curtatone