• Case Counts: As of 9:30 a.m. today, May 9, a total of 685 Somerville residents have tested positive for COVID-19, 330 of them have since recovered, and sadly there have been 11 deaths. More Somerville case data can be found on the city’s COVID-19 Dashboard.

• Free COVID-19 testing: To sign up for free COVID-19 testing for Somerville residents, call 617-665-2928, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. You do not need to have symptoms or a doctor’s referral.

• City cosponsors free COVID Recovery Inn to keep you, family, and roommates safe while you recover: If you have COVID-19 and don’t have a separate room where you can sleep and stay alone for 14 days while you recover, there is an option to keep you and your household safer. Somerville residents who either test positive or are presumed positive for COVID-19, can have free access to 24/7 medical care by Mass. General Hospital at the Recovery Inn if they cannot safely isolate at home. Private rooms, healthcare, food, TV and wifi, and other supports are provided free to patients. This offers patients quick medical intervention should symptoms worsen and it reduces the chance that others in the household will catch the virus. Here’s a short video about The Inn (Spanish version). Recovering outside the home is especially important if elderly or other persons at higher risk for severe illness live in your home. Call 617-819-4528 for more information.

• Virtual town hall series to discuss COVID-19 starts 5/12: Join us for a series of virtual town hall meetings with Mayor Curtatone where you can learn about local COVID-19 impacts and the city’s response. Five meetings are planned. You can either participate live via Zoom or by calling in by phone, or submit questions in advance and watch live on City Cable TV (channels 13 and 613 on RCN, channel 22 on Comcast). Meetings will also be recorded and rebroadcast later on the City YouTube Channel and City Cable TV. For more information on how to participate, visit somervillema.gov/virtualtownhall. The meeting schedule is as follows:
  • Seniors Town Hall – Tuesday, May 12, 7 to 8:00 p.m.
  • Spanish Language Town Hall – Wednesday, May 13, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. (will be held in Spanish)
  • Community Town Hall – Tuesday, May 19, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. (for general public)
  • Parents Town Hall – Thursday, May 21, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
  • Youth Town Hall – date to be announced (for teenagers and high school students)

• Curbside textile recycling is back: You can once again put out Simple Recycling pink bags on your normal trash day for pick up. If you need pink bags please call Simple Recycling at 866-835-5068 or put in a request at simplerecycling.com.

• Affordable Housing Opportunity: Four income-restricted condos are available for purchase through the city’s Inclusionary Housing Program. Located at Cedar Place (17-25 Murdock Street), the two- and three-bedroom condos will be offered to income-eligible households at below market-rate prices via an application and lottery process. More info and a video of the units are here.

• Planning, Zoning, and other board and commission meetings taking place online: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Baker has allowed official public meetings to take place online. Planning Board, Zoning Board, Historic Commission, and other boards and commissions continue to meet. To review upcoming agendas and learn how to participate, visit somervillema.gov, click the “Your Government” tab, and then click “Meetings, Agendas, and Minutes”.

• 10,000 Homemade Masks Drive: Along with the city distributing 100,000 commercial masks to residents, we’re calling on the community to make 10,000 reusable homemade masks to give to vulnerable residents. We already have our fist 1,100. Find out more here.

Today’s Assistance Tip: What to do if you haven’t received your stimulus check