Mayor Donna D. Holaday
COVID-19 UPDATE
April 1, 2021
Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for joining me this afternoon for my latest COVID-19 update. The work to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in the arms of Massachusetts residents as quickly as possible continues this week. The vaccine rollout in the state has seen many adjustments and developments since it began months ago, with state providing updates to our local governments and to the general public on our progress. As of this past Monday, 1.2 million people have been fully vaccinated in Massachusetts.
At the local level, according to the latest state data available to us every Thursday, 42% of our population in Newburyport has received at least one dose, and 22% are fully vaccinated. On a particularly positive note, 91% of our seniors 65 or over have received 1 dose and 52% are fully vaccinated. Today, the newest numbers will be released and these numbers will continue to increase as vaccination efforts continue. Newburyport is above the state average as far as vaccinations per capita. This is partially due to the local availability of the vaccine through the clinics we were able to coordinate. Since the Lower Merrimac Valley Regional Collaborative clinics began earlier this month, over 7,000 doses have been administered. For now, the clinics will continue on the weekends at Amesbury High School. 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 for the collaborative, and other local vaccination sites.
It is concerning to hear reports from the CDC that cases are rising again in nearly half of the US with the decline in hospitalizations slowing citing potential for a fourth surge. Newburyport still remains in the green, low risk category for positive COVID cases. In last week 14-day period, Newburyport had 20 confirmed COVID cases, and we continue to see low case numbers. The weekly updated report from the state is received every Thursday, and posted on our website. To date there have been 38 COVID-related deaths in Newburyport.
We are entering into the home stretch in April on the final eligibility for who can get a vaccine. Next Monday, people who are 55 or older, and those with 1 certain medical condition can make an appointment. And finally, on April 19, the general public becomes eligible.
As the warm weather is arriving, thoughts are turning to spring and summer, and with the rollout of Phase 4 in reopening the state, many organizations are navigating the possibilities of what they can do as restrictions are lifted, and vaccinating the public continues.
Our local Yankee Homecoming, slated to take place July 31 through Aug. 8, may look different this year, but committee members are working hard to maintain the integrity of our popular summer festival despite COVID-19 concerns. As most of you know, last year this major event was cancelled with the exception of a few modified events. This year we hope to offer a lot more, maintaining social distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines. Some of the events probably won’t happen as we know them including Olde Fashioned Sunday, Family Day at Maudslay State Park, the fireworks show and nighttime concerts due to the crowds they draw. The drive-in movies were a huge success last year and will continue. The annual luncheon for veterans will be done via delivery to over 500 local veterans this year. The committee is looking at all activities in conjunction with applicable guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of the Newburyport community will be prioritized. I have asked Yankee Homecoming organizers to focus on local businesses, no outside vendors; this is another opportunity to focus on supporting our local economy.
Our reopening of the Newburyport Public Schools continues with increased in-person learning from 2 to 4 days per week for Kindergarten through Grade 3 at the Bresnahan, and the Molin Upper Elementary school, with the middle school starting next week, and the high school following school vacation on April 26. Last week the district tested 950 students, and all results were negative. Again, I would like to thank Cathy Riccio, the nursing team and our administrative office assistants that have developed this comprehensive program for the district. I am also pleased to announce that the School District anticipates that 90% of our faculty and staff will be fully vaccinated by April 26 when we are fully reopened. Please check your child’s school website for more details and updates on reopening of our schools.
I’d also like to recognize our staff and volunteers for the Council on Aging at the Senior Community Center. They have been accommodating and assisting with the Beth Israel Lahey clinic which is operational and running at full capacity, while working the AARP Tax Aide program, and preparing for opening of our own programs at the center with capacities as dictated by the state’s guidelines. In addition, we are planning to have our outside white tent on the lawn as of May 1, which will open up in-person programming for our seniors. The Beth Israel Lahey clinic will continue through the end of May, but will shift their schedule to accommodate the phasing in of opening the center. We do not anticipate opening the center for any events or in person meetings until the state guidelines allow.
Onto some city projects – we are preparing to rollout the five-year paving and sidewalk construction plan but this was delayed initially because of the pandemic and again as we asked Beta to merge the street evaluation and paving plan with the sidewalk assessment plan they completed several years ago. This is important as the use of c. 90 state funds requires sidewalks to be upgraded/repaired with each road project using these funds. The Merrimac Street sidewalk and paving work project has resumed from where the contractor ended last season. We anticipate the sidewalks to be completed in the next several weeks, followed by the paving of the street to be completed by the end of May.
We are also planning for pedestrian improvements in the critical downtown intersection at State Street and Pleasant Street. The contractor began last week rebuilding the sidewalk ramps in order to comply with ADA requirements. The new ramps will be brick with cast iron ADA detectible warnings, and the brick sidewalks within the area of these ramps will also be repaired and reset. In addition, the intersection will be receiving all new traffic poles, traffic lights, and crosswalks, which will be installed this week. The entire project will be completed in April.
The Safe Routes to School project on High Street will resume for this season, beginning with landscaping work, and the installation of concrete driveway aprons in April. The road is scheduled to be paved in May. This project makes it safer and easier for our kids to walk and bike to school, and the improvements calm traffic, increase visibility, and reduce the crossing distance at intersections. Thank you so much to the residents in this section of High Street that were impacted by this construction. Striping of High St. will be commencing shortly once plans are finalized.
We are also pleased to report we that the Waste Water Treatment Facility Shoreline Resiliency Project is well underway since it began a few months ago. This project will protect our major investment in the Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrades by creating more resiliency to coastal storm surges and flooding. It features construction of a sloped stone revetment wall, an elevated berm behind the wall, and a paved trail on top to complete the missing riverfront segment of the rail trail. This will stabilize roughly 900 feet of the Merrimack River’s shoreline. The contractor has cleared vegetation, removed debris, and installed over 350 feet of sloped stone revetment to date, as well as begun bringing in fill to raise the grade. The project will be completed in June.
The Water Division of the Newburyport began flushing the city’s water system on Monday and will continue the work through the month of April. The work will begin at the west end of the city and proceed eastward across the entire system. Flushing will take place between the hours of 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. Evening flushing of large mains will occur between the hours of 7:00 pm and midnight. The Business Park and Plum Island Turnpike will be posted at a later date on the city’s website. Residents and businesses may experience low water pressure, discolored water, air in pipe and temporary disruptions in water service. When flushing is complete in your area, running cold-water faucets will alleviate any air or discolored water.
Lastly, this Passover and Easter season is like none other, having been through a year of this pandemic – A pandemic that has cost the lives of more than half a million Americans and resulted in the loss of businesses, incomes, jobs, and health. During this past year, we have seen the best and the worst that humanity has to offer. We have seen selfless people going above and beyond for neighbors, and we have seen people who have refused to even do the smallest of things to protect those around them from the virus. We have seen people learn new skills and be creative in how they connect with people. From outside dining to Live Stream virtual church services, people have stretched themselves to be safe and to continue to be in the community together. We think about all of those who have experienced such great loss during this pandemic.
As we reflect on this holiday, may we take from it lessons on how to be better people, and to put others needs before our own in our community – to be responsible and continue to take precaution with masks and social distancing, as we approach what we all hope may be the beginning of the end of this pandemic.
“Spring brings new growth. Weed out the bad and make new for something beautiful.”- Unknown
Best wishes for a joyous Passover and Easter holiday weekend. Thank you.