Dear Community Members,

Latest news:

• Case Counts: As of 9:30 a.m. today, May 16, a total of 767 Somerville residents have tested positive for COVID-19, 497 of them have since recovered, and sadly there have been 20 deaths. More Somerville case data can be found on the City’s COVID-19 Dashboard.

• City events canceled through the end of the year: Yesterday Mayor Curtatone announced that, in an effort to continue to control the spread of COVID-19, all City-sponsored and -permitted events will be suspended through the end of the year. Although the traditional format, in-person events won’t be happening, we’ll be looking for ways to virtually or otherwise safely bring the community together and celebrate some of our favorite festivals and holidays as well as enjoy local culture and arts. We’re calling on the community, as well as our Arts Council staff, for creative and safe ideas. Meanwhile, if conditions improve, smaller events may be reconsidered later in the year. School-sponsored activities, athletics, and Parks and Recreation Programming remain under review, and guidance will be shared at a later time. As a reminder, the Governor’s limit on gatherings to no more than ten people remains in effect, and the Somerville Board of Health still strongly recommends holding off on all gatherings of any size until it is safer to hold them.

• Reopening Somerville: On Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to announce more concrete statewide plans for the phased reopening of the state. After reviewing that information, Somerville will be issuing local guidelines that may differ from State plans, which are expected to be a one-size-fits-all approach with the same reopening schedule for rural and urban areas. The City’s goal is to have a reopening plan that is tailored to our city and region so that it will keep Somerville residents and workers safe while allowing for a sustainable reopening of the economy. After the extraordinary sacrifices we’ve all made to flatten the curve, we need to re-open appropriately to ensure we keep it flat. Keeping the curve flat will protect lives and help ensure that our newly restarted economy won’t falter amid new outbreaks.

• Join an Upcoming Virtual Town Hall Meeting to Discuss COVID-19: Join us for upcoming virtual town hall meetings with Mayor Curtatone and City staff where you can learn about local COVID-19 impacts and the City’s response. 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. Here are the upcoming meetings:
  • Community Town Hall – Tuesday, May 19, 7 to 8 p.m. (for general public)
  • Parents Town Hall – Thursday, May 21, 7 to 8 p.m.
  • Youth Town Hall – date to be announced (for teenagers and high school students)

• Shared Streets Pilot Coming to Somerville: In an effort to provide more walking and biking routes that allow for more social distance, the City’s Mobility Team has been developing a shared streets plan based on international best practices and customized to Somerville’s public health needs. By the end of May, the first shared route will be set up and more will follow citywide over the summer. For Shared Streets, low-volume or residential side-streets are opened up to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users while still allowing vehicles but limiting those vehicles to abutters, first responders, and delivery. Shared Streets provide new options for residents to safely make essential trips for food, healthcare, or other needs, while also offering the wellness benefit of new routes outdoors. Signage and flexible barriers alert all users to the shared use to help keep everyone safe. Somerville’s program will use temporary materials that can be modified based on our experience with the pilot. More info to come.

• 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 p.m. You do not need to have symptoms or a doctor’s referral.

Today’s Public Health Tip: May is Mental Health Month