Please help the MA COVID Team trace and slow the Spread of COVID-19 by making sure to answer calls coming from the Community Contact Tracing Collaborative. If someone tests positive for COVID-19, the Collaborative’s Contact Tracers will reach out by phone to that person, and their close contacts, to slow the spread of the virus. Contact Tracers will make sure residents are getting the medical attention and support they need during isolation and quarantine.
The caller ID will show the call is coming from “MA COVID Team”. Information shared during the call is strictly confidential and is treated as private medical information.
Over the weekend DCR closely monitored and adjusted access to State Parks as the nice weather brought many people out to trails and natural spaces. While most parks are still open, park staff may close parking lots and entry if visitors exceed a safe number.
Governor Baker signed Orders to enforce the use of face coverings in “any place open to the public” where 6′ social distancing cannot be maintained. This includes outdoor spaces, businesses, workplaces, and public transportation. The order goes into effect May 6 and may be enforced by fines.
The general public is still urged not to use medical-grade masks in order to ensure those go to emergency and health care workers, but to use cloth masks, scarves, or other fabric coverings over the mouth and nose.
The Order allows business owners to deny services to those who do not wear a mask.
Anyone who has a medical condition that would prevent them from wearing a face covering is exempt. Children 2 years old or younger also do not have to wear face coverings. READ FULL ORDER
The City of Holyoke Office for Community Development has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Community Development Block Grant Funds for the purposes of preventing, preparing for or responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Holyoke will receive $744,625. in CDBG-CV funds.
To ensure that the Community Development Block Grant-COVID funds are meeting the needs of the City of Holyoke, the deadline for submitting proposals has been extended to Monday May 11, 2020 at 10:00 am EST and the Plan Schedule has been adjusted accordingly.
The application link will remain available until Monday May 11, 2020.
Massachusetts now is releasing a comprehensive “dashboard” to illustrate the spread of this virus across regions and demographics. You can view today’s 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.
653 Holyoke residents have been confirmed positive by testing.
The outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home is reportedly stabilizing, with no new deaths reported on May 3. Full report in attached MEMA Command Center Site Report.
4,066 confirmed cases in Hampden County (4% increase)
559 in Hampshire (2% increase)
260 in Franklin (3.5% increase)
451 in Berkshire county (1.5% increase)
*Two day increases
The curve we need to flatten: County numbers graphed over time can be found here: https://www.wmasscovid.com/
Massachusetts has now experienced a total of 4,004 deaths connected to Covid-19