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Home My Public Portal AboutTown Managers Coronavirus Update 12112020Michael J. Driscoll Town Manager TOWN OF WATERTOWN Office of the Town Manager Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-972-6465 www.watertown-ma.gov townmgr@watertown-ma.gov Town Manager's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update December 11, 2020 Watertown has a total of 1013 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 814 community members have recovered from the virus. Watertown has recorded twenty-eight COVID-19 fatalities. Our thoughts go out to the families as they mourn the loss of their loved one. Watertown COVID-19 Case age Distribution' 70 19 and and Unknown/no Under 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 over age recorded Total 72 196 210 136 137 134 127 1 1013 Free COVID-19 Testing for Watertown Residents The Town of Watertown will be offering, by appointment only, free COVID-19 Testing for Watertown residents. Testing is free, does not require a medical referral, and you do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to get tested. Pre -registration is required to receive a test (pre -registration details below). Testing will be held inside the Commander's Mansion 440 Talcott Avenue on the following dates and times: Tuesday December 15 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM Wednesday December 16 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM Tuesday December 22 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM Wednesday December 23 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM Tuesday December 29 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM Wednesday December 30 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM In order to obtain an appointment a Watertown resident must pre -register by clicking here. This is not a drive up test. Watertown residents who have an appointment will enter into the Commander's Mansion and with the assistance of Pro Ambulance employees will conduct a self-administering nasal swab (PCR test). Results will be returned within 24 to 36 hours. 1 There is a difference between the Commonwealth's reported numbers and what the Watertown Board of Health can confirm through the Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiologic Network (MAVEN). 1 MEMA COVID-19 Command Center Situation Report Yesterday, the Command Center released the comprehensive COVID-19 Weekly Public Health Report, including community -specific COVID-19 case and testing data. The report also includes risk categories for each city and town based on the average daily incident rate over the past 14 days. Health Department The Health Department has a portal for COVID-19 Information: COVID-19 Resource Center where all COVID-19 related information will be posted: https://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/978/Coronavirus Watertown Public Schools (WPS) The Watertown Public Schools welcomed back our high school students Wednesday, December 2 for hybrid in -person learning. All of our students PreK-12 attend school in person for at least two of the five days and participate in online learning on the other three days. We are currently administering voluntary COVID-19 testing for students and staff across the district, and are confident that testing is one of the measures that will allow us to continue with learning in -person. The WPS School Nutrition Department is providing free grab and go meals for families on Monday from 12:00-1:30 pm and from 4:30-6:00 pm. Students also receive grab and go meals at school on the days that they are in school for free. Town Hall is open to the public by appointment and drop-off transactions only. All payments may be placed in the silver box next to the Library book drop-off labeled "Payments Drop- off' located on Thaxter Street. You may also drop-off transactions in person in the Philip Pane Hearing Room, Saltonstall Park side of Town Hall. Members of the public must wear a face covering while in the building and is asked to maintain physical separation from employees and other visitors of at least six feet. Many departments offer residents and businesses the ability to conduct transactions by phone, online or by mail. Individuals should check with their intended departments to see if there are options for service. Visit the Department directory for phone numbers. This includes the following Town Offices: - Town Manager, TownMgr@watertown-ma.gov, (617) 972-6465 - Health Department, Health@watertown-ma.gov, (617) 972-6446 - Senior Center, SeniorCenter@watertown-ma.gov, (617) 972-6490 - Recreation Office, Recreation@watertown-ma.gov, (617) 972-6494 - DPW Administrative, DPW 1 @watertown-ma.gov, (617) 617-972-6420 - Inspectional Services, buildinginspector@watertown-ma.gov, (617) 972-6480 - Treasurer/Collector, Treas&Collectors@watertown-ma.gov, (617) 972-6450 - Assessor, Assessor@watertown-ma.gov, (617) 972-6410 - Town Clerk/Vital Records, TownClerks@watertown-ma.gov, (617) 972-6486 - Veterans Services, PGeorge@watertown-ma.gov, (617) 972-6416 All Departments are open 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday — Friday. The Building Inspectors' Offices are open at 7:30 AM. 2 Recreation Department The Watertown Recreation Department is offering recreational program opportunities for Watertown residents. Winter Session I Brochure. Online registration is open. If a particular class is not full at that time, we might offer a different program during that time slot. Please feel free to reach out to the Recreation Department at 617-972-6494 or recreation@watertown- ma.gov for additional information. Watertown's recreational facilities and activities' rules and regulations are guided by the Governor's Phase III reopening plan. Please refer to this link for detailed instructions. Watertown Free Public Library The Watertown Free Public Library is open for browsing. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM, Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM. Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 10 AM is reserved for patrons 65+ and with high risk health conditions. Every person entering the building must wear a face covering and staff will monitor capacity. In addition, every patron will be asked to sign in with their contact information as required by the State of Massachusetts for contact tracing purposes. That information will be kept confidential and only turned over upon request from the state or local health department. The information will be destroyed after 14 days. For more information on what to expect when returning to the library, please follow this link https://www.watertownlib.org/514/COVID-19-Library-Updates Curbside service continues and has been expanded. For more information visit https://www.watertownlib.org/537/Curbside-Pickup The Museum Pass Program has resumed with passes available for the Discovery Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, Isabella Steward Gardner Museum, and MA Audubon. Due to each museum's COVID- 19 precautions, the procedures for using museum passes have changed. Patrons are advised to carefully review the instructions before visiting museums. For more information and reserve passes visit www.watertownlib.org/museumpasses. The Red Leaf Cafe is now closed at least through at least the end of the year. The book sale is still open for purchases during library open hours. Hatch Makerspace is open by appointment only. For more information visit https://www.watertownlib.org/576/Book-an-Appointment. Hatch will continue to offer curbside pickup for 3D prints and laser cut original work on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 AM and 4 PM. Print and cut jobs must meet certain eligibility requirements for this service. For more information, visit watertownlib. org/hatchpickup Laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots are available for a 2 week loan period from the Watertown Free Public Library. For more information visit www.watertownlib.org/laptops or call 617-972-6431 Homebound Delivery If you are stuck at home due to a medical necessity, we can deliver books to you. Sign up here: watertownlib.org/delivery Print from Home Don't have a printer? You can send up to 10 pages to us and pick up the next day at WFPL. Learn more: watertownlib.org/print 3 Watertown Council on Aging/Senior Center/Food Pantry The Watertown Senior Center remains closed, but Senior Center staff are available to connect you to their Zoom programs and to provide other assistance. Senior Parking Permits can be renewed over the phone by calling the Senior Center and new permits can be purchased by calling the Senior Center and making an appointment. The monthly Watertown Senior News can be found at https://www.watertown- ma.gov/150/Activities-during-COVID-19. The Senior Shuttle Bus is running again on a limited, by - appointment basis to the Stop and Shop on Watertown Street. Call the Senior Center on Fridays from 8:30 AM -1 PM to reserve your ride for the following week. The Watertown Food Pantry continues to be open Tuesdays, 10 AM until 2 PM at 80 Mt. Auburn Street, rear. When going to the Food Pantry, please wear a mask or other face covering to protect your own self and those around you in the parking lot and at the Food Pantry. Food donations (canned goods, cold cereals, peanut butter and other shelf -stable items) are accepted at the Food Pantry on Tuesdays starting at 9:00 AM until 2 PM. For more information about the Food Pantry or any senior issues, call the Senior Center at (617) 972-6490 or send an e-mail to SeniorCenter@watertown-ma.gov. Watertown Veterans' Services Watertown Veterans' Services is closed to the public but is still available to assist with administering and applying for benefits. Families and Veterans may reach out to inquire about applying for benefits. Watertown Veterans' Services, in partnership with the Greater Boston Veterans' Collaborative has a detailed spreadsheet with benefits and services —including but not limited to: financial, mental health, transportation, and food resources— available to Veterans and others during this pandemic. The list is constantly being updated and interested Veterans and families should contact Patrick George, Veterans' Services Officer (VSO) for the most up to date list. Please contact the VSO at: PGeorge@watertown- ma.gov or (617) 972-6416 (Office) and (781) 645-9127 (Cell) How will you find out about local emergencies? To get Emergency Alerts from the Town of Watertown text WATERTOWNMA to 888-777. Your cell phone number will be in the system without having to establish an Everbridge account. You also have the opportunity to add your email address into the system at this time. You would then receive all emails and/or texts from the system. If you already have an Everbridge account, this is not necessary, as you will continue to receive the notifications sent by the Town. Watertown COVID-19 Informational Call Center and Email For general COVID-19 questions not specific to the Town of Watertown, all Massachusetts residents are encouraged to call the State's 2-1-1 Hotline that is staffed by operators 24/7 and with translators available in multiple languages. Residents with questions can dial 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone or use the live chat option on the Mass 2-1-1 website (mass211.org). The Town of Watertown has established a COVID-19 informational call center to allow residents and business owners to ask non -medical questions specific to COVID-19 in Watertown. The call center will be staffed Monday through Friday from 8AM to 4PM and the number for the call center is # 617- 972-6565. Questions can also be emailed to COVID19(li police.watertown-ma.gov. Please call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency. Calls should not be made to 9-1-1 for questions regarding COVID-19. 4 Please continue to take the following actions to limit the spread of COVID-19: • Stay safe, stay home • Practice social distancing — when in public spaces try to remain at least 6 -feet away from others. • Stay home if you are sick — and avoid close contact with others. • Cover your mouth — when you cough or sneeze use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands. • Wash your hands — with soap and warm water or use an alcohol -based sanitizing gel. Helpful Links: • COVID-19 Travel Order • Mass.gov/findfoodhelp • Stop the Spread • Reopening Massachusetts • Mass.Gov/covidl9 • Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency • Unemployment & COVID-19 • Dept. Of Transitional Assistance Online Portal • Emergency Childcare Site • COVID-19 Cost Eligibility and Tracking Guidance • Watertown COVID-19 Resource Guide Town Manager's Coronavirus (COVID-19) (36) Updates/Statements We are in this together We are living in an unprecedented time where our world, our nation and our community, is faced with the threat of an international pandemic known as COVID-19. All of our Town employees are incredibly committed to ensuring the Town can safely meet the needs of our community while we are also protecting our employees' safety. All departments have implemented vigorous social distancing and hygiene protocols. I am so grateful for all of our employees' efforts under difficult circumstances. The members of the Honorable Town Council continue to be available to help all residents and to provide updates/information to protect the health and safety of all the residents of Watertown. I want to thank all of the members of our community for your cooperation and efforts to date; and for your continued actions to limit the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, please check on your neighbors who may live alone. If you have any concerns, please email us at COVID19@police.watertown-ma.gov or call the Police Department at (617) 972-6500; and we will follow up. Watertown is a resilient community and we are all in this together. We will continue to support each other and stay strong, Watertown Strong! 5