The Baker-Polito Administration announced expanded access to high-speed internet for unserved cities and towns throughout Massachusetts that do not yet have a completed last-mile broadband network. The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech, KCST and local internet service providers will offer communities new WiFi hotspots, building off the Commonwealth’s MassBroadband 123 fiber-optic network.
The Massachusetts Division of Banks (DOB) has joined a multi-state initiative to secure payment relief options for Massachusetts student loan borrowers and issued a Consumer Advisory with important information and resources for private student loan borrowers. Details in today’s MEMA Command Center Report
Secretary Sudders announced today that the Baker-Polito Administration, though the COVID-19 Command Center has launched a Food Security Task Force today with membership from state agencies, the Legislature and other partners such as Greater Boston Food Bank, Project Bread, MA Restaurant Foundation, the Shah Foundation, and representatives from communities of faith.
Today more than 60 Holyoke High School staff members joined a car parade around the City to greet and celebrate their students, who will now be learning from home for the remainder of the school year.
The Holyoke Police Department is hosting a drive to assist senior citizens in Holyoke in need during this pandemic. Officers will be at the Holyoke Senior Center Monday-Friday from 10-2pm collecting personal hygiene products – toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizers, soaps, lotions, masks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. Officers will collect and sanitize before they are distributed. In addition to collecting at the senior center they are available to pick up curbside. Call 413-322-6900 and they will send an officer over. They also accept Venmo donations for those who don’t have items but want to contribute to their purchase.
There is a new form on the Holyoke.org website for people who would like to donate PPE to the City.
Massachusetts now is releasing a comprehensive “dashboard” to illustrate the spread of this virus across regions and demographics. You can view it here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/
Testing has a turnaround time of 1 – 4 days and many cases are being clinically diagnosed (no testing or reporting involved). All are advised to behave as though they are carriers of Covid-19.
482 Holyoke residents have been confirmed positive by testing.
2,678 confirmed cases in Hampden County (10% increase)
345 in Hampshire (4% increase)
196 in Franklin (5% increase)
404 in Berkshire county (4% increase)
The curve we need to flatten: County numbers graphed over time can be found here: https://www.wmasscovid.com/
Massachusetts has experienced a total of 2,182 deaths connected to Covid-19.