Mayor Donna D. Holaday
March 25, 2021
COVID-19 UPDATE
Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for joining in on this latest COVID-19 update. Three major changes took effect in Massachusetts this week with regard to coronavirus guidelines; the state moved into the final phase of reopening, relaxed travel restrictions have taken effect and outdoor dining returns for most of Boston, and for us here locally in Newburyport. The latest reopening phase allows large entertainment and sports venues to reopen and increases gathering limits. Large entertainment and sports venues like the TD Garden and Fenway Park will be able to reopen to fans with 12% capacity restrictions. So, will you be one of the lucky ones in the stands at Fenway Park, for the Red Sox’s season opener on Thursday, April 1?
Additionally, gathering limits at event venues and public settings increased to 100 people inside and 150 people outside. Private gathering limits remain at 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Summer camps, exhibitions and convention halls are also allowed to operate, and weddings and other events can include dance floors.
Our outdoor dining initiative started last year to help restaurants survive during the coronavirus pandemic. We are bringing this initiative back with the addition of parklets and expanded spaces for our downtown restaurants. Some of our restaurants will be ready for expanded outdoor dining as soon as next month. Outdoor dining was one of the bright spots last summer and fall and we look forward to businesses, our residents, and visitors taking advantage of it.
Regarding where we are at with the population and vaccine rollout – as of now Phase 1 comprised mainly health care workers and first responders has been completed. We are currently in Phase 2, with the following currently eligible in priority order: People who are 75 or older, people who are 60 or older, people with 2 or more certain medical conditions, people who live or work in low income and affordable senior housing, K through12 educators, K through 12 school staff, child care workers, and other certain workers such as our public works employees and grocery workers.
On April 5th, people who are 55 or older and people with 1 certain medical condition will be eligible. If your group is not specifically listed in either Phase 1 or Phase 2, you will be eligible to receive the vaccine in Phase 3, which will launch April 19, 2021. There’s hope that the President’s plan to have enough vaccine supply for every adult American by the end of May can happen and get us all back to the important people and activities in our lives that we have been missing.
And to reiterate, there are different ways to find a vaccine appointment. You can pre-register at VaccineSignUp.mass.gov to be notified when it’s your turn to schedule an appointment at one of the 7 mass vaccination locations. You can also go to VaxFinder.mass.gov to search for appointments at pharmacies, health care providers, and other community locations. Individuals without access to the internet or who are unable to preregister or schedule their appointment online can call toll free 211 for further assistance. The state has also implemented a Homebound Vaccination Central Intake Line for our homebound population. Our Council on Again has worked locally to assist those residents considered as homebound, including our Meals on Wheels consumers.
Nevertheless, Massachusetts is still receiving a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses from the federal government. Due to high demand and very limited supply, it may take several weeks to schedule an appointment or to be notified that an appointment is available at mass vaccination locations.
But even with limited vaccine supply, as of last week according to the latest state vaccination report, 35% of Newburyporters have received at least 1 dose, and 18% are fully vaccinated. For our seniors age 65 or older, 83% have received 1 dose and 40% are fully vaccinated. This is encouraging news, and with more local clinics available, including the Lower Merrimack Regional Collaborative, we expect our vaccination numbers to continue to climb. The state has also received guidance from the federal government that vaccine supply will be increased and available to the state soon, so we are hopeful that you can get your appointments shortly.
Regarding our local collaborative clinics being held on the weekends at Amesbury High School, some of the future clinics in April may be dedicated for second dose only vaccines. This Sunday’s upcoming clinic filled up quickly. As I mentioned, we hope to see this ease as more supply of the vaccine is available and allocated. We post all appointment links for the regional clinics on our home page at cityofnewburyport.com and our health department’s page. It is important to check our city website often, and the state’s vaxfinder.mass.gov site.
It is also very important for all of us to recognize our hundreds of volunteers who are helping to make the clinics a success. Volunteers spanning in age across seven decades, from high school students to retired nurses, have taken part in the clinics and they have done an incredible job. We are most appreciative for the work they have done.
As the warm weather is arriving and vaccines, thoughts are turning to travel and vacations. A new travel advisory in effect, which still requires anyone arriving in the state after being elsewhere for more than 24 hours to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival. However, the advisory highlights this no longer applies to travelers who are fully vaccinated, and for those who have a negative COVID-19 result up to 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts.
The next phase of our reopening plans for our schools began this week. The Bresnahan elementary school students returned to a four-day model this Monday; the Molin School follows on March 29th and the Nock Middle School on April 12th. Please check your child’s school website for more details. As planned, the schools also expanded their COVID testing to all schools and grades. Over 600 people within the school community were tested, and we are pleased to say that all came back negative. Over 200 student-athletes were also tested with the same result. We anticipate more testing in the weeks to come, as the program is going extremely well, thanks in a large part to our nursing team. This tool adds another layer of precaution for our schools, and is proving to be really beneficial in helping to get more students back into the classroom.
Related to City business, the City recently received a technical assistance grant from the State through the Rapid Recovery Plan Program. The grant will allow us to work towards creating a recovery plan that will help local businesses support a sustainable economic growth strategy post COVID-19 pandemic, levering our local assets within our community. We have also been informed that state and local governments in Massachusetts are set to receive $8.1 billion dollars in federal aid through the American Rescue plan, signed into law by President Joe Biden last week.
About $1.3 billion is being allocated for counties to be distributed on a per-capita basis. Since Essex County is one of eight that does not have its own county government, this aid will be distributed directly to communities. Newburyport is estimated to receive approximately $5.4 million dollars. The money will be provided in two blocks, this year and 2022. We will be coordinating with the state on all the different streams of the funding which includes support for local aid, K-12 education, small businesses, restaurants, information technology and other needs at the local level.
Small business grants up to $10,000 are still available through the Newburyport/Amesbury Small Business Relief Grant Program. The grants are available to small business owners to help them continue operations as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants can be used to pay for rent/mortgage, employee wages, and technical assistance to help them get back on their feet and adjust to a new economic normal. Applicants will receive funding directly from the City of Amesbury through the Office of Community & Economic Development, who is acting as the grant manager for both cities. Please visit www.amesburyma.gov for more information.
On a positive note, I’d like to recognize Our Neighbors Table for their outstanding work during this pandemic crisis. Together with our local communities, they have been able to put more than 1.1 million meals on the tables of more than 5000 neighbors. Nearly 2000 neighbors, those who are parents, children, frontline workers, people suddenly without a job, and people barely scraping by found themselves at their doors for the first time. More than 57% of these new neighbors were faces with children hit hardest by the closure of businesses and schools. I can’t thank them enough for their amazing work during these difficult and unprecedented times- unity, caring and support perseveres in our communities.
Lastly and sadly, I wish to acknowledge the horrific acts of violence in our country these past few weeks. We condemn the recent deadly attacks in Georgia and grieve with our Asian and Asian American family, friends, and neighbors. And, just the day after honoring these victims, our American flags were once again returned to half-staff to pay tribute to the victims of another mass shooting in Colorado. Our hearts are with the people of Colorado, and with everyone whose lives have been touched by gun violence. Newburyport stands against hatred and racist violence in all forms. Our DEI alliance is working to ensure that everyone in Newburyport feels a daily sense of safety, respect, and belonging. You will hear more about our work with the Alliance very soon as we complete training of our members and roll out community conversations.
In closing, we are not out of this pandemic and it is very concerning to learn of new variants of the virus emerging in our state and across the country. It is critical we continue to take precautions with masks and social distancing- I do not want to see our city move backwards as more of the activities we have so missed are starting to re-open. Please help keep us moving forward!
I hope you all stay healthy and well and have a wonderful weekend. Thank you.