Massachusetts - COVID-19 Covered

Massachusetts

Total Cases: 491,452 (January 23)
Tests Administered: 4,464,525 (January 21)
Fatalities: 13,987 (January 23)
Testing:
  • A list of Massachusetts COVID-19 testing sites can be found here. 

ECONOMIC RESPONSE

Essential Service Designations:

  • In conjunction with Governor Baker’s order to close all non-essential businesses, he issued a list of those that qualify as essential services: health care/public health/human services, law enforcement, public safety, first responders, food and agriculture, energy workers, water and wastewater workers, transportation and logistics workers, public works employees, communications and IT, community-based and government operations, critical manufacturing, hazardous materials and chemicals, financial services, and defense employees. (March 23)

Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:

  • Massachusetts issued mandatory safety standards for workplaces which will apply universally to all reopening workplaces. Details can be found here.  
  • Massachusetts released additional reopening guidance for Child Care, Camps, and Summer Recreational Programs and Close Contact Personal Services.  
  • Governor Baker announced the creation of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, which provides unemployment benefits for individuals who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits, including “self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and those with limited work history.” (April 20) 

Economic Stimulus & Relief:

  • The Baker administration re-filed unemployment insurance legislation initially filed last month. The Governor’s legislation aimed to sustain unemployment benefits and provide an estimated $1.3 billion in unemployment insurance relief to the Commonwealth’s employers over two years. The legislation would also propose financing measures designed to ensure the solvency of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and that federal borrowing that has occurred is repaid in a responsible and affordable manner. (January 13) 
  • The Baker-Polito Administration announced over $4.7 million in grants to address urgent food insecurity for residents across the Commonwealth as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. (November 24) 
  • Baker-Polito Administration announced $5.9 million in grants to address urgent food insecurity for residents across the Commonwealth as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. (October 28) 
  • Baker-Polito Administration announced a $774 million comprehensive plan to stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy. The plan focuses on getting people back to work, supporting small businesses, fostering innovation, revitalizing downtowns and ensuring housing stability. Partnerships for Recovery begins today by directing $115 million in new funding to small businesses and Main Streets hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and for workforce training efforts. (October 22)  
  • The Baker-Polito Administration has awarded over $6.5 million to 13 Massachusetts organizations to develop new products to assist in the response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The new grants from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (MERT) will expand the Commonwealth’s work to drive in-state manufacturing of critical products, an effort that produced more than 11 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical pieces as of September. (October 15) 
  • Building on efforts to ensure a resilient, secure food supply chain in the Commonwealth, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced over $5.5 million in grants to address urgent food insecurity for Massachusetts residents as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. (September 30) 
  • The Baker administration announced a new grant program to help prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in communities of color. Open to applicants until October 14, the $650,000 grant program is available to faith-based organizations and community groups serving Black, Latinx, and other people of color in cities and towns hardest hit by COVID-19. (September 23) 
  • Governor Baker also announced another $5 million in Massachusetts Department of Transportation and federal CARES Act funding would be made available through the Shared Streets and Spaces program, which helps create space for socially distanced commerce, dining, and walking. (September 10) 
  • Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito announced the launch of My Local MA to encourage residents of the Commonwealth to support their local economies by shopping at local Massachusetts businesses and attractions, safely – in person, online, and using curbside pickup or takeout. (August 26) 
  • The Baker administration said it has received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to distribute $300 per week in addition to regular unemployment benefits to those who qualify. (August 25) 
  • The Baker administration announced $3.3 million in grants for combatting food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (August 18) 
  • The Baker administration announces $1.8 billion in capital funding for new public safety, food security, and information technology measures, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (August 7) 

Business Support & Resources:

  • The Baker administration announced $37.4 million in awards to 638 additional small businesses in the fourth round of grants through the COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program. (January 22) 
  • The Baker administration announced three new programs to boost internet connectivity statewide, including a subsidy program to assist job seekers in the MassHire system that are facing a technology barrier. (January 5) 
  • The Baker administration announced $67.4 million in awards to 1,366 additional small businesses in a second round of grants through the COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation. (December 31) 
  • The Baker administration launched a $668 million program to provide financial assistance to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program in part relies on the pending federal COVID-19 relief bill recently passed by Congress. (December 23) 
  • The Baker administration announced that nearly $49 million in grants to small businesses would be awarded through the COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation. (December 21) 
  • Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Polito, Senate President Spilka, and House Speaker DeLeo announced an extension of administrative tax relief measures for local businesses impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, especially in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. (September 15) 
  • The Baker administration announced $20 million would be allocated to support social services and small businesses through the Community Development Block Grant program. (July 16) 
  • Governor Baker announced additional administrative tax relief measures for Massachusetts businesses, especially those in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. (June 19) 

SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS

Reopening:

  • The Baker administration rescinded an existing Early Closing order that required many businesses to close at 9:30 PM each evening. (January 22) 
  • The Baker administration announced it would withdraw its Stay-at-Home advisory urging residents to remain at home between the hours of 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM. (January 22) 
  • The Baker administration announced that all residents in Phase 1 of the state vaccine distribution plan would be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. (January 21)  
  • The Baker administration announced the first location for a COVID-19 mass vaccination site in the Commonwealth, located at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. (January 12) 
  • The Baker administration announced the extension of further restrictions and new hospital guidance to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Industry restrictions for capacity limits and reduced gathering limits that went into effect on December 26 would be extended to January 24. (January 7) 
  • The Baker administration announced that all communities in Massachusetts would return to Step 1 of Phase 3 of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan, effective December 13th. Indoor capacities across a broad range of sectors of the economy would be reduced, and several other workplace restrictions would be tightened. (December 8) 
  • Baker-Polito Administration announced the Commonwealth will increase testing capacity and locations to provide more access for residents in every county. This plan includes five new locations, and the state plans to collect 110,000 COVID-19 tests per week—representing a 50% testing increase for state-financed and organized testing sites alone. (December 7) 
  • Massachusetts revealed a new statewide COVID-19 public awareness campaign on Monday, urging residents to take precautions so they can get back to their normal lives. (November 23) 
  • The Baker-Polito Administration announced that the first field hospital will be stood up at the DCU Center in Worcester as the Commonwealth prepares additional capacity for COVID-19 patients. This site will be built by the National Guard and is the first field hospital to re-open in the state since June. (November 13) 
  • In response to recent coronavirus outbreaks associated with the conduct of interstate youth hockey activities, Governor Baker agreed to suspend interstate competitions for public and private schools and youth hockey effective this Saturday, November 14vthrough December 31. The prohibition will not impact interstate collegiate, professional, or U.S. national team hockey activities, which will remain subject to existing health and safety protocols and/or restrictions. (November 12) 
  • Governor Baker issued a new executive order that requires the early closure of certain businesses and activities each night at 9:30PM. The closure requirement is aligned with the Stay–At–Home Advisory and together the two new initiatives are designed to further limit activities that could lead to COVID-19 transmission. (November 2) 
  • Governor Baker revised the state’s face mask order regarding face mask exemptions. The updated order would allow employers to require employees to provide proof of a medical or disabling condition that would prevent them from wearing a face mask. It would also allow schools to require that students participating in in-person learning provide proof of such a medical or disabling condition. (November 2) 
  • Governor Baker signed an updated order reducing the size limit for gatherings at private residences: indoor gatherings at private residences are limited to ten people and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 25 people. The limit on gatherings held in public spaces and at event venues remains the same. The new order also required that all gatherings (regardless of size or location) must end and disperse by 9:30PM. (November 2) 
  • The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Advisory announced that beginning November 6, all residents of Massachusetts are advised to stay home between the hours of 10:00PM and 5:00AM. (November 2) 
  • Baker-Polito Administration announced a comprehensive set of resources, known as the Eviction Diversion Initiative, to support tenants and landlords during the financial challenges caused by the pandemic. (October 12) 
  • The Baker administration today announced new guidance that allows safe indoor visitation to resume in nursing homes and rest homes, and further expands indoor visitation options in assisted living residences starting Friday, September 25. (September 24) 

SCHOOL PLANNING

K-12:

  • The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $11.7 million in Skills Capital Grants awarded to 47 educational institutions across the Commonwealth to update equipment and expand student enrollment in programs that provide career education. (December 10) 
  • The Baker-Polito Administration and COVID-19 Command Center released updated metrics for schools and municipalities. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education also released updated school guidance. (November 6) 
  • The Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Health announced $3.4 million in grants awarded to programs in Central and Western Massachusetts that promote ongoing efforts by the Commonwealth to provide community behavioral health services to middle school students at risk for substance use, emotional challenges, and conduct problems. (November 6) 
  • Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced that the city will delay plans to reopen schools after the COVID-19 positivity rate climbed higher than four percent. (October 7) 

State Higher Education:

  • A list of Massachusetts universities and colleges that planned to reopen in the fall can be found here. 
  • A group of Massachusetts colleges and universities submitted their recommendations for a four phased approach to reopening campuses in the Fall. Details can be found here. 

Giving Opportunities

April 20, 2020

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is requesting surgical/procedure masks, N95/N99 masks (respirators), face masks with integrated shield, PAPRs, goggles, gloves, protective suits/gowns, booties/shoe covers, head covers, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes.

Produced by Marathon Strategies, an independent PR firm that delivers intelligent communications and research solutions. For information, email Phil Singer at COVID-19@marathonstrategies.com