3/18/2020 Press Conference on COVID-19 Updates

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On March 18th, Governor Baker held a press conference covering unemployment benefits, tax relief for small businesses, the closing of daycare and child centers, mental health, personal protective equipment, and new public health orders.

Here is the summary.

Unemployment Benefits

  • Today, the Governor signed legislation to provide unemployment assistance to workers impacted by COVID-19. This legislation will waive the one week waiting period for unemployment benefits, allowing new claims to be paid more quickly.

Tax Relief for Small Businesses

  • The new due date for small businesses with business tax due in March, April, and May is now June 20, 2020. The state will waive all penalties and interest during this time.

Closing of Daycare and Child Centers

  • Daycare centers and child centers will be closing on March 23rd. The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has issued emergency procedures for there to be designated centers that will be open to provide child care services for families of emergency personnel and medical staff that are on the front line of defense. Vulnerable children will also receive priority access and emergency child care centers/programs will be allowed to operate during this time.

Mental Health

  • Please call CALL2TALK via 2-1-1 as a resource for yourself or anyone who is struggling with mental health at this time. Please hit “4” for English and then press “25” to be connected.

Personal Protective Equipment

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as well as the need for swabs, is continuing to be a national number one issue. The Governor said the state needs to get a good supply of ventilators and if there is a shortage, the Federal government will have to step up.

New Public Health Orders

  • Nurses are in high demand at this time. DPH will now allow pharmacists to administer medication for opiate use disorder. DPH has also made it so that physician’s assistants who have worked on elective surgeries prior, be used elsewhere in the hospital under a different supervising physician. The last public health order DPH has signed is to require Local Board of Health to disclose only the addresses, and no other identifying information, of those diagnosed with COVID-19 to the personnel in charge of emergency calls in the jurisdiction

Important Reminders

Please remember that effective today, bars and restaurants that offer food and drink shall not offer on-premise consumption. These establishments may continue to offer take-out and delivery options to their customers. This order will be in effect for the next three weeks. Please note that this does not include grocery stores, retail outlets, or pharmacies.

Please also remember that as you go outside for fresh air, it is pertinent that we all keep following the six feet social distancing rule and continue good hand-washing practices.