Corona Virus Update
Department of Public Health Stay at Home Advisory
- The emergency order requiring all non-essential businesses to close their physical workplaces and facilities to all workers, customers and the public went into effect 3/24/2020 at noon.
- At the Governor’s direction, the Department of Public Health issued a stay at home advisory which outlined self-isolation and social distancing protocols.
- DPH strongly advises residents who are 70 years and older, and those with underlying health conditions, to stay-at-home except for essential trips for food, medicine, and focused time for exercise and fresh air.
- It also advises all residents to stay home as much as they can and avoid unnecessary activities for the next two weeks.
- The advisory urges residents to continue practicing social distancing and safe hygiene practices throughout their daily activities.
Department of Transitional Assistance
- DTA launched a new online application portal, https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/, to assist residents in applying for Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC)
Key Public Health Messages for All Residents
- Avoid unnecessary travel and other unnecessary activities.
- Protect yourself by following public health advice about keeping your hands clean and covering coughs and sneezes.
- Stay home if you are sick. If you need to consult a health care provider, call ahead first or use telehealth services.
- Protect others who are most at risk of COVID-19 by keeping your distance from people (at least 6 feet away from others), especially those who are older, and people living with chronic health conditions.
- If you are outside, avoid crowds.
- Don’t shake hands or hug.
- Stay connected to friends and loved ones by phone or through other technology.
- Get information from trusted sources. Visit https://www.mass.gov/covid19 for the latest news, case counts, and lab testing results.
- Take care of your emotional health and help others do the same. If you need emotional support during these stressful times:
- Call 2-1-1 and choose the “CALL2TALK” option.
- Samaritans is continuing operations 24/7, as always. During this unprecedented time, it can feel overwhelming to receive constant messages about COVID-19. Call or text their 24/7 helpline any time at 877-870-4673.
- The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including disease outbreaks like COVID-19. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories.
