3/15/2020 Press Conference on COVID-19 Updates

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On March 15th, Governor Baker did a press conference covering new restrictions that affect schools, restaurant businesses, and more. 

Here is the summary.

UPDATE: On March 16th and March 17th, only emergency and executive workers will report to work, and those who are designated by their manager to be critical to the response to COVID-19. 

New information on Insurance, Hospitals, RMV, Unemployment, Municipal Budget, and the Boston Marathon

  •  State Group Insurance Commission and commercial providers will cover telehealth services.

    • This order requires all commercial insurers and the group insurance commission to cover medically necessary telehealth services in the same manner and to pay the same rate as in-person services.

  • Hospitals must postpone all elective surgeries.

  • Visitors to long-term-care facilities and nursing homes are prohibited.

  • Hospitals need to screen visitors and restrict visitation.

  • RMV deadlines for certain credentials will be extended in order to limit the in-person transactions that need to take place.

  • There will be emergency legislation filed in order for new claims to be paid more quickly by waiving the one week waiting period for unemployment benefits that currently exist under state law.

    • They will also file emergency regulations expanding the eligibility around collecting unemployment for people who have been impacted by COVID-19.

  • Last week Governor Baker announced that the Boston Marathon would be postponed until September 14th, 2020. They will file legislation today to make this official.

  • Last week Governor Baker prohibited large gatherings of 250 or more people. They have amended that guidance to now prohibit gatherings of over 25 people.

    • These gatherings include all community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based events, sporting events with spectators, concerts, conventions, fitness centers, private clubs, theaters, or any event that includes 25 or more people in one space.

*All necessary legislation will be filed on March 16th, 2020.

 

Effective Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 to Friday, April 17th, 2020

  • Grocery stores are being restocked. Please be conscious of the amount of food that you are buying and remember that over-stocking is not always the answer as that may be food your neighbor may have to go without. 

 Effective Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 to Tuesday, April 7th, 2020

  • Governor is ordering that any restaurant/bar or establishment that offers food or drink shall not permit on-premise consumption. These establishments may continue to offer food for take-out or delivery. Establishments must also follow the six feet social distancing protocols set forth in the department of public health guidelines.

    •  This order does not apply to grocery stores or pharmacies but they must practice six feet social distancing.

  • A 3-week suspension on all public and private K-12 schools - if your school has not closed already.

    • School personnel will work to develop plans to be able to continue Meal/Nutrition and Special Education programs during school closures, as this is critical to many families.

  • DESI has already received a partial waiver from the US Department of Agriculture providing greater flexibility regarding food service in districts with a higher concentration of low-income students and is now working to obtain additional waivers for the remaining schools and districts. 

  •  Preschool and childcare are still open, but they need to follow the guidelines that are issued by the Department of Early Education and Care and the Department of Public Health which call for temporary closures based on actual or indirect exposure to individuals with COVID-19  

Please be aware that this order does not apply to residential schools for special needs students or other group homes. EEC will prioritize maintenance and expansion of child care capacity serving front line health care workers and first responders across the state.

Updates on Higher Education and COVID-19 Command Center

  • In regards to higher education, the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Public Health strongly recommend that colleges and universities, both public and private, continue to work on establishing strategies to reduce the need for students to be on campus and work to move towards remote learning.

  • Governor Baker has also introduced a COVID-19 Command Center. This will include a team of experts who will focus on expanding testing capacities, and distribution and quickly responding to the needs of our communities. 

 

Final reminders

  • Please continue to practice social distancing and stay home when possible.

  • Please remember that this is an evolving situation and websites can only be updated as fast as information gets out.

  • Please continue to receive your news and facts from legitimate sources.

    • Please visit: mass.gov/covid19 or call 211 for the latest information.

    • Please visit: mass.gov/knowplanprepare for helpful advice on planning for emergencies.

    •  Please visit the CDC website for more information as they post updates regularly.