03.24.2020 COVID-19 DAILY UPDATE
Daily Situation Report-COVID-19-2020- Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Be Advised: New Information will be at the top of each section with current date. Some info will be removed and can be found in previous reports on the Town Website. | ||
Emergency Management:
3/24/2020- No New Business from Emergency Management
3/23/2020- Donate Blood-We ask all resident of the Town of Hadley to remember to donate blood if you can through the American Red Cross. According to FEMA Administrator-Pete Gaynor “Donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give. We need your support to make sure healthy individuals in your community know that we need them to still donate blood as volunteer blood donors are the only source of blood for those in need. Just as social distancing guidance recommends that it’s okay for people to leave home for necessities like groceries, or a doctor’s visit, or the pharmacy-donating blood is a necessity.” Mary Nathan-Disaster Program Manager states; “In the four western counties, the blood collection site is located at 150 Brookdale Drive, Springfield. Mobile collection is no longer feasible in our area, but blood collected at our donor center travels throughout the region meeting the demand of our neighbors.”
3/23/2020-Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order requiring all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential Services” to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public as of Tuesday, March 24th at noon until Tuesday, April 7th at noon. These businesses are encouraged to continue operations remotely. The Baker-Polito Administration issued a list of designated businesses and other organizations that provide essential services and workforces related to COVID-19 that shall continue to operate brick and mortar facilities during this two-week time period. This list is based on federal guidance and amended to reflect the needs of Massachusetts’ unique economy. While these businesses are designated as essential, they are urged to follow social distancing protocols for workers in accordance with guidance from the Department of Public Health. Businesses and organizations not on the list of essential services are encouraged to continue operations through remote means that do not require workers, customers, or the public to enter or appear at the brick-and-mortar premises closed by the order. Restaurants, bars, and other establishments that sell food and beverage products to the public are encouraged to continue to offer food for take-out and by delivery if they follow the social distancing protocols set forth in Department of Public Health guidance continue operations. On-premises consumption of food or drink is prohibited. Please go to the following link to view the Essential Services list. https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-essential-services
Governor Baker urged residents to “NOT believe rumors about a shelter in place order being put in effect as this is not the case. essential stores will remain open in his live press conference today. The Governor still asks that you follow CDC and State and Local Public Health Guidance for social distancing and good hygiene, etc. See Public Health/Local Board of Health below
Massachusetts 2-1-1 -Massachusetts residents are urged to use 2-1-1 for information, resources, and referrals regarding COVID-19. Operators are staffing this hotline 24/7 and translators are available in multiple languages. Residents with questions can dial from any land line or cell phone or use the live chat option on the Mass2-1-1website.
Federal Actions Announced: Department of State -Change in Passport Service Center Operations: Due to public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, effective March 20, 2020, we are only able to offer service for customers with a qualified life-or-death emergency and who need a passport for immediate international travel within 72 hours. Life-or-death emergencies are serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family (e.g. parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, etc.) that require you to travel outside the United States within 72 hours (3 days). You must provide:·A passport application with supporting documents·Proof of the life-or-death emergency such as a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary, or a signed letter from a hospital or medical professional. Documents should be translated or in English.·Proof of international travel (e.g. reservation, ticket, itinerary).Massachusetts Emergency Management released the following recovery information
Hadley Emergency Management continues to monitor the current situation and will be meeting daily via conference call with the Unified Command Team which includes Public Safety, Board of Health, Schools and Town Administration. The meeting will be to review current reports and status on the COVID 19 Virus and to continue with preparedness and response planning in the event it requires implementation. The Emergency Management Director continues to update the Town’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).
Please go to https://www.mass.gov for information pertaining to the COVID 19 outbreak. | ||
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Town Administration
NEW today from Town Administration
3/24/2020 - Be advised that the Hadley Fire Department is working with Hadley Council on Aging to put a food pick-up and delivery program in place for our local Seniors in place of the Wednesday shopping trips. The program will start on April 1, 2020 for residents 60 years and older.
3/23/2020 Virtual Town Halls on Unemployment Benefits: - Beginning this week, in order to better meet the needs of residents whose employment has been affected by the COVID-19, the Department of Unemployment Assistance will be hosting daily town hall meetings to help constituents achieve a successful unemployment claim. DUA will also take questions from claimants across the Commonwealth.
From the Council on Aging Director: FOOD DELIVERY RESOURCES The following is a list of food delivery resources for Hadley Residents. Please note many are overloaded and wait times may be longer than usual. Link: https://www.hadleyma.org/council-aging/pages/food-delivery-resources
The Goodwin Memorial Library Announced this afternoon that they will be closed until further notice and are unable to continue with providing books for pick-up or delivery to the public. Please go to https://www.hadleyma.org/library for updated info.
There are many closures town wide, here is a short list with links to find more information: Schools will be closed until April 7th: https://www.hadleyschools.org Council on Aging / Senior Center, no programing however staff is on hand to provide remote services as well as van ride services: https://www.hadleyma.org/council-aging | ||
Hadley Public Schools 3/24/2020 No New Business from School Superintendent.
3/23/2020- I invite you to listen to my video message from the Superintendent for the week of March 23, 2020. Please check the district website frequently for updates https://www.hadleyschools.org/
3/23/2020-Also please see our updated meal plan at the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CmJX6szw_gHHlsPblngd3Ey4SuXiMnz7/view
Superintendent McKenzie of the Hadley Public Schools requests that you go to the Hadley Public Schools website for information pertaining to the school district. Please go to https://www.hadleyschools.org/ | ||