THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020 Page 3 Revere confirms first case of COVID-19 Number of cases expected to increase; mayor secures $1M for Revere’s response efforts T he City of Revere’s Emergency Response Team continues to take proactive steps to slow community transmission of COVID-19 and prepare for further spread of the disease. As of March 18, 2020, there is one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Revere. The City of Revere expects this number to rise as testing becomes more widely available. At Monday night’s City Council meeting, Mayor Brian Arrigo secured approval for a $1 million appropriation from the City’s stabilization account, to be used as needed for response efforts. As part of the BakerPolito Administration’s distribution of emergency funds for local boards of health, Revere, Winthrop and Chelsea have received $100,000 to support emergency resources regionally. On March 18 the Emergency Response Team published a mutual aid informational packet for residents, which includes a wide range of resources related to issues like access to food, health care, transportation, housing rights and more. The online document will be updated daily at 4 p.m. and is being shared with local nonprofi ts, community partners and faithbased groups, and via social media. It is available to the public at Revere.org. This week City of Revere employees have been visiting all establishments aff ected by Governor Charlie Baker’s Executive Order prohibiting on-site consumption. Businesses are being provided with a resource sheet outlining city contacts, small business loan programs and employee assistance resources. “Now more than ever, it’s so important that our residents stay at home to the best of their ability. Lives are at stake and we all must do our part to slow community transmission of the virus,” said Mayor Arrigo. “We know our residents and business owners are feeling so much uncertainty about what the next several weeks will bring, and our team is working tirelessly to provide them with as many resources as possible, as quickly as possible, to help alleviate hardships.” City services updates • There are no disruptions to basic city services provided by Revere Police, Fire, EMS, Department of Public Works and Revere 311. • All City of Revere buildings are closed to the public until further notice, and services to residents remain available at Revere.org. • Programming normally provided by the Library, Rec Department and Senior Center will be made available to the public online and via RevereTV this week. • Revere Public Schools began grab-and-go meal services to all students and families at all eight school sites on Monday. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to any child that needs it Monday through Friday, with breakfast from 10-11 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Virtual learning plans for all grade levels are available at RevereK12. org. Devices will be provided to any student who does not have one at home. • Revere 311 remains fully staff ed, and residents with questions or concerns are encouraged to reach the City of Revere by dialing 311 (or 781-2868311) or emailing Revere311@ revere.org. • The City of Revere’s volunteer database opened on Friday for individuals seeking to lend a helping hand over the next several weeks. Volunteers who register with the City will be contacted if/when assignments are identifi ed. • The Mayor is being briefed daily by members of his Emergency Response Team to coordinate eff orts across City of Revere departments. City offi cials are also joining daily briefi ngs with state and federal offi cials. All updates for Revere residents are being shared regularly at Revere.org and via social media. Health & Well-being of vulnerable populations The City of Revere remains focused on proactively supporting populations at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness, including older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions. Actions taken include the following: • The establishment of a network to connect with senior citizens throughout Revere to allow for ongoing phone wellness check-ins • The securing of a partnership with Rite-Aid to off er delivery of prescription medications, and ongoing outreach to CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens to establish partnership commitments • Outreach to all public and private facilities housing seniors in Revere to establish information-sharing protocols • Outreach to residents traditionally served by the Senior Center to determine ongoing needs for daily meal delivery • Ongoing coordination with service provider Mystic Valley Elder Services to begin planning for extension of services off ered to seniors Actions for all Revere residents to take The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised that the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus, and has provided a number of basic steps all citizens can take to protect themselves, including washing your hands often, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. Revere emergency preparedness City of Revere public safety and health teams are participating in regular briefi ngs with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Authority (MEMA) and are prepared to dispatch emergency volunteers within the city as needed. THE RIGHT HOME FOR YOUR HOME LOAN. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net MASS BAY MORTGAGES Apply at massbaycu.org or at our South Boston branch. Great, Competitive Rates Easy! We Keep Your Loan Servicing massbaycu.org (617) 269-2700 South Boston – Everett – Quincy – Seaport NMLS ID #615913 Federally insured by NCUA EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY Purchase or Refinance Super-Easy Application
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