Latest News:
- State vaccination grants target harder-to-reach groups (WBUR)
- New England’s success against COVID-19 could be a model (WBUR)
- Mass. lifts Coronavirus-related mandates for child care settings (WBUR)
- Immunity to the coronavirus may persist for years, scientists find (Boston.com)
- New COVID-19 cases haven’t been this low in the U.S. since last June (NPR)
- Bringing pandemic tech into classrooms could provide better access for students with visual impairments (WBUR)
- CDC director defends decision to ditch masks (Boston.com)
- Officials hope vaccinating kids 12 and older will help halt virus spread (WBUR)
- Mass. to ease some Covid-19 restrictions this week (NBC10)
- NEW! May 4 Guidance from FEMA: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Safe Opening and Operation Work Eligible for Public Assistance (Interim)
- Experts now believe reaching ‘herd immunity’ is unlikely in the U.S. (Boston.com)
- Gov. Baker announces plans to lift more COVID-19 restrictions over the next month and ease outdoor mask mandate Friday (Boston.com)
- CDC recommends pregnant people receive COVID-19 vaccines (WBUR)
- NEW: Massachusetts Homebound Vaccination Program Resource Guide and Information
- Guía de recursos e información del Programa de vacunación de Massachusetts para confinados en el hogar
- Mobile clinics help deliver coronavirus vaccine to hard-to-reach Mass. residents (WBUR)
- The CDC changed its list of health conditions associated with a high risk of severe COVID-19. What about Massachusetts?
- U.S. in a race between vaccines and variants, says public health expert (WBUR)
- Local leaders were outraged by the COVID-19 relief bill’s funding for Chelsea and Everett (Boston.com)
- When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines? (Boston.com)
- Here’s why COVID-19 vaccines are safe (WBUR)
- COVID-19 Infections and deaths higher among those with intellectual disabilities (WBUR)
- How to care for the elderly without putting them at risk of coronavirus (STAT)
- How the coronavirus can and cannot spread (boston.com)
PPE Sources:
Reopening Guidance from EOHHS: Purchasing Hygienic or Protective Supplies for the Workplace (Mass.gov)
Alliance Test Equipment, Inc. Webster, Mass. Tel: 508.671.9970 www.alliancetesteq.com
Pharmaceutics, Needham, Mass. Tel: 781-449-9200 www.pharmaceuticsusa.com
Pure Green 24, New York, NY. Tel: 800.306.9122 www.puregreen24.com
Best practices and contributed protocols:
- EOHHS releases recommendations for celebrating the holidays in congregate care settings (EOHHS)
- AG guidance on rights of people with disabilities to accommodations in the context of COVID-19 (Mass. AGO)
- Nonprofits and Coronavirus, COVID-19 (National Council of Nonprofits)
- Lessening the risk of coronavirus at nonprofits (NonProfit Times)
- COVID-19 Information by and for people with disabilities
- Información de COVID-19 Por y Para Personas con Discapacidades (Spanish language)
Emergency contingency planning, insurance and risk mitigation resources for nonprofits:
(Source: Metrowest Health Foundation)
(Source: USI Insurance)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness and Risk Mitigation: A Resource Guide for Managers and Employees
- Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions About Risk, Supply Chain Issues and Insurance
(Source: Sun Life)
(Source: Relias)
FAQs: What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
Symptoms of this infection include:
- fever
- cough and shortness of breath, and
- in severe cases, pneumonia (fluid in the lungs).
Is there a vaccine? How do I prevent this virus from spreading?
Many of the things you do to help prevent colds and the flu can help protect you against other respiratory viruses:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Stay home if you are sick.
Download a printable fact sheet – this helpful guide can be posted in workplaces and public spaces: Stop the Spread of Germs: Respiratory Diseases like Flu and COVID-19.
There are currently no vaccines available to protect against this novel coronavirus infection. At this time there is no specific treatment for this novel coronavirus. Antiviral medications used to treat other types of viruses are being used but their efficacy is not known at this time.
What do I tell my employees and the people we serve?
CDC-issued guidance for employers to help prevent workplace exposures to illnesses and planning considerations if there are more widespread, community outbreaks of COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19. A downloadable and printable poster for the workplace can be found here.
Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
###