7/16/2020 Press Conference on COVID-19 Updates

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On July 16th, Governor Baker gave a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update on Testing, Hospitalizations, and Ways the Administration is Providing Relief for Renters and Homeowners.

Here is the summary.

Testing

  • Yesterday, over 10,000 tests were reported in MA with 142 new positive cases reported. MA has now reached over 1,250,000 tests administered so far. 

    • The seven day average for positive case rates is about 1.7%. This is a 95% decrease from the middle of April. 

  • Please continue to wear face coverings, practice good handwashing/hygiene, disinfect surfaces, and social distance.

Hospitalizations

  • As of yesterday, there are currently just over 580 individuals hospitalized as a result of COVID-19, and 80 of those individuals are in the ICU. 

  • Please do not hesitate to contact your health care provider about any concerns you may have, COVID-19 related, or not. Telehealth is currently a covered benefit in MA that will be extended to cover all residents until at least the end of the calendar year.

Ways the Administration is Providing Relief for Renters and Homeowners

  • On July 1st, the Administration launched the $20 million fund for rental mortgage assistance for low-income households.

    • This funding was a mix of federal funding through the CARES Act and federal reserves.

  • If you are a low-income household that is facing financial hardship related to COVID-19, please reach out to one of the eleven regional RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) to apply for assistance with rent or mortgage. 

    • For contact information, please visit mass.gov/dhcd and click on COVID-19 updates.

  • Additionally, there is $20 million in rental assistance and support that is currently in supplemental that is before the legislature. On top of this, the Administration announced today that they will begin distributing an additional $20 million in federal money that they have received through the CARES Act.

    • The $20 million investment that was announced today will be distributed across 181 communities for food assistance, homelessness prevention, and hard-hit small businesses through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). 

      • This funding is for non-entitlement communities, as defined by HUD (Housing and Urban Development), which are municipalities with less than 50,000 people. 

      • This funding will also help micro-enterprises/very small businesses that have five or fewer employees with up to $10,000 in grants.

      • Certain communities will be able to use this funding to provide job training for in-demand positions, especially in the healthcare field. 

      • This funding will help our communities support households who have lost employment, struggling to access food, homebound seniors, and much more. 

  • In addition to the funding the state received, the state’s 37 federally designated entitlement cities and towns in general communities that exceed 50,000 people, that receive money directly from HUD, also received another $40 million.

    • These communities are using these resources in many of the same ways mentioned above.

  • DHCD (Department of Housing and Community Development) is working with the state’s partners at Mass Housing Partnership to create resources for communities who want to set up their own emergency rental assistance programs.

    • DHCD has received $160 million in CARES Act funding across the state’s various grant programs. They are distributing the funds across municipalities, shelter providers, community action agencies, and other providers.