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HomeMy Public PortalAboutTown Managers Coronavirus COVID19 Update 7-30-2020Michael 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 July 30, 2020 COVID-19 Numbers The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is reporting that as of July 30, 2020 there are: • 109,400 cases statewide • 25,617 Middlesex County • 8,375 deaths statewide For more state data, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information Watertown has a total of 442 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 416 community members have recovered from the virus. Four Town employees have had confirmed cases. Watertown has recorded twenty-three 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 60- and Unknown/no Under 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 69 over age recorded Total 20 61 97 55 65 63 80 1 442 New Travel Order Effective August 1st (Read Press Release Here) Governor Charlie Baker announced that effective August 1st, all travelers entering the Commonwealth, including both out of state residents and Massachusetts residents returning home, will be required to comply with a new travel order. The travel order and other information is available at www.mass.gov/MAtraveler. Watertown Public Schools (WPS) The Watertown Public Schools continues considering three scenarios for reopening safely this fall: in - person every day, remote learning, or a hybrid of the two. The Superintendent and her team presented the three options at the Watertown School Committee meeting on Monday, July 27, and is currently conducting community and staff forums to gather input and feedback before making a final recommendation to the School Committee. If you wish to view the meeting, follow this link to the video: https://bit.ly/39Hi5fV. 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 The School Committee will meet on August 3 to learn more about the Superintendent's recommendation and ultimately vote on a final option either that evening or later in the week. The final plan for reopening schools in Watertown will be submitted to the State on August 10. Please check the Watertown Public Schools Website for more information about upcoming forums. Also, the Superintendent's Newsletter has more information about the three plans and other district news and can be found at the following link: https://www.smore.com/yrz4d. The School Nutrition Department continues to provide free breakfast and lunch for families on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:00-1:00 in the Watertown High School parking lot. This service continues through the end of August. Vote by Mail for 2020 Recently, Chapter 115 of the Acts of 2020 was enacted relative to voting options in response to COVID-19. One such option is VOTE BY MAIL, also known as no excuse voting, which allows for the voter to submit a "Vote by Mail" application to the local Election Department. Watertown voters received a mailing last weekend from the Elections Division of the MA Secretary of State's Office that provided a post card application to be filled out and mail back (postage included) to the Town Clerk's Office. The application can also be faxed (617-972-6595) or emailed (townclerk@watertown-ma.gov), as long as the signature is visible and is signed in a substantial manner as a handwritten signature including applications signed with a mouse, stylus, or finger. Applications with typed signatures are still not accepted. The deadline to submit a Vote by Mail application or absentee ballot application for a mailed ballot for the September 1, 2020 State Primary is Wednesday, August, 2661. 2020 Saltonstall Park Concert Series Great news! Concerts are still happening! This year marks twenty-one years that the Saltonstall Park Concert Series has provided free music and entertainment in Watertown's historic Saltonstall Park. The concerts will be a very different experience this summer. We are requesting that everyone follow the latest State and Town guidance in regards to masks and social distancing. The Saltonstall Park Concert Series Committee will take steps to help make the process easier, such as social distancing squares. We are very excited to invite our concert -goers back! Concerts are as follows: Wednesdays — starting at 6:30 PM August 5 - The Band from U.N.C.L.E. There isn't enough room here to list everywhere these musicians have gigged, recorded and toured. Now they're on a secret mission to bring 50s -60s rock & roll, garage rock and girl group/soul music to the masses. They'll probably leave behind their exploding briefcases, fountain pen missiles and flame -throwing umbrellas, but they will rock the house for sure. August 12 - Southbound Train is a seven -piece group, including fiddle and steel guitar, that covers all the top country hits: old, new, and everything in between. August 19 - Gainsville Road is a female fronted dance/party band with a great song list, excellent musicianship, powerful vocals and genuine stage presence. August 26 — Lightning Rose. Good friends and Palfrey Street neighbors, John Copeland and David and Dawn Scaltreto, found that one of the hardest parts of quarantine was not being able to play live music with their respective bands, or play live in clubs and restaurants. When the Scaltretos heard John playing one day on his front steps, they wanted to join in the fun! That weekend they began playing concerts in the backyard 2 over the fence. Appreciative neighbors came out with their lawn chairs to listen, and everyone loved it! With the addition of Watertown native David Donnelly on drums, the band was complete. John's adorable 5 year -old daughter, Natalie, came up with the name for the new ensemble, and "Lightning Rose" was born! They play a selection of popular classic rock tunes with a bluesy-jazzy-country spin and lots of beautifully layered vocals. The 2020 concert series is sponsored by the Watertown Savings Bank, Eversource, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Graphic Connections and Town of Watertown Town Re -Opening Plan Update As indicated in the May 22°1 Coronavirus (COVD-19) Update, the Town is preparing to reopen Town buildings and facilities. We are determining the best ways to responsibly and safely reopen Watertown. The following is an update on the Town's Re -Opening Plan: • The Watertown Recycling Center is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 AM — 4:00 PM • As of June 1st, the Department of Public Works Administrative offices has opened to the public for issuance of permits and for other Public Works related services. • The Watertown Senior Center will remain closed as we continue to review best ways to responsibly and safely reopen. We will provide more information once available in COVID-19 Updates, on social media and on the Town's website. Town Hall Town Hall is open to the public by appointment only. Under this initial reopening, any member of the public must wear a face covering while in the building. Additionally, the public 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 Town Hall Summer Hours through Friday September 4th will be as follows: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday 8:30 AM — 7:00 PM Friday 8:30 AM — 2:00 PM 3 The Building Inspectors' Offices are open at 7:30 AM Parks and Recreation On Wednesday, June 3rd, the following opened: • Parks and Athletic Fields (except Victory Field Turf) • Victory Field Track • Community Gardens On Wednesday, June 17th, the following opened: • Dog Parks • Tennis & Pickle Ball Courts (singles play only - no doubles play) On Wednesday, June 24th, the following opened: • Playgrounds & Tot Lots • Basket Ball Courts • Picnic Tables & Grills (permit only) On Saturday July 11th, the following opened: • Victory Turf Field — Hours of operation will be 8:00 AM — 10:00 PM • Spray pads at Arsenal and Filippello Parks — Hours of operation will be 10:00 AM — 7:00 PM. Capacity at the Arsenal Spray Pad is 8 users at a time; and 15 users at a time at the Filippello Spray Pad Watertown's recreational facilities and activities' rules and regulations will be guided by the Governor's Phase III reopening plan, which began on July 6th. Please refer to these documents for detailed instructions. Parks -Open -Outdoor Education — Phase III https://www.mass. gov/doc/safety-standards-for-parks-open-space-and-outdoor-education-programs-phase- iii-step-1-0/download Saftey Standards for Playgrounds -Spray Parks and Outdoor Fitness — Phase III https://www.mass.gov/info-details/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs-eea-covid-19- guidance-documents#playgrounds,-spray-decks-and-outdoor-fitness-areas- Youth and Adult Amatuer Sports: Phase III https://www.mass. gov/doc/safety-standards-for-youth-and-adult-amateur-sports-activities-phas e- iii -step - 1 /download Face coverings are mandatory at all times in the Town's recreational facilities in accordance with the Watertown Board of Health's Emergency Order. The Recreation Department began a summer programming schedule on Monday, July 13th. Click here for the Summer Program Offerings Brochere The Watertown Free Public Library is open for browsing only, at reduced capacity, and shortened hours in compliance with the State's phased reopening guidance. 4 Emergency Order Mandating Face Coverings The Watertown Board of Health adopted an Emergency Order on April 3e mandating face coverings effective Monday, May 4th . Mask and Face Covering Order Took Effect Wednesday, 5/6 The Baker -Polito Administration has ordered all residents over the age of two to use a face covering or mask in public places where maintaining proper social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is not possible. This statewide order went into effect on May 6th. This order applies to all workers and customers of businesses and other organizations that are currently open to the public and permitted to operate as COVID-19 Essential Businesses, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail stores. Residents are also required to wear a mask or face covering at all times when using any means of transportation service or public mass transit. Read the Order here Watertown COVID-19 Resource Guide The Watertown Free Public Library has developed a COVID-19 resource guide for Watertown residents. The guide will be updated frequently. www.watertownlib.org/covidl9guide 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(a,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. Four (4) electronic sign boards have been placed around Town with the message: "Wear Face Coverings". Further message updates will be provided as needed. Health Department The Health Department has created 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 Free Public Library The Watertown Free Public Library is open for browsing. Hours open are Monday through Thursday from loam -7pm with 9am -loam reserved for seniors and at risk patrons, and Saturday from 9am to 12pm. 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 5 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 Hatch Makerspace continues 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. Watertown Council on Aging/Senior Center/Food Pantry The Watertown Senior Center and the Senior Shuttle Bus remain 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 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) Emergency Management Team The Town of Watertown Emergency Management Team is meeting to monitor the developments in the outbreak of the coronavirus. We have used these meetings to keep an organized flow of information and to develop strategies to best respond to the needs of our community. We will continue to update the community through the Watertown Health Department's web page. https://www.watertown- ma.gov/965/CORONAVIRUS. 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. 6 We also recommend the following resources: Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Resource Page: https://www.mass. gov/2019coronavirus Center for Disease Control COVID-19 information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/index.html Town Manager's Coronavirus (COVID-19) (19) 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(apolice.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!