Mayor Holaday's COVID-19 Update 4/23/20
Mayor Donna D. Holaday
April 23, 2020 COVID-19 UPDATE
Good afternoon everyone and thank you for tuning in once again for the latest COVID-19 update. We are in the middle of a statewide surge in COVID-19, and Massachusetts is now identified nationally as a hot spot. As of yesterday, we have 38 positive cases in Newburyport. One resident has passed away from complications of COVID-19. We offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of this individual.
As a reminder, last week the Newburyport Board of Health ordered the following guidelines surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Gatherings in all public areas including but not limited to parks, public buildings and walkways are hereby restricted. Gatherings include physical and interactive sports that may spread the Covid-19 virus from sweat, droplets and physical contact from an individual. Individual passive recreational activities, such as walking, jogging, and biking are exempt from this provision. All individuals must practice social distancing of 6 feet and not gather in one setting.
- All members of the public entering any essential business as defined by Governor Baker’s Covid-19 Executive Orders, including, but not limited to, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, liquor stores and convenient stores, must wear a facial covering, such as a fabric mask, scarf or bandana, over his or her nose and mouth.
- All employees of all essential businesses open to the public shall wear a facial covering over their mouth and nose during all hours of operation. Delivery personnel shall also wear facial covering over their nose and mouth when delivering food/goods to customers if there is a person to person exchange.
- There is a Moratorium on Eviction Enforcement: No landlord and/or owner shall enforce an eviction upon a resident of Newburyport, residential or commercial, during this public health crisis.
- Social distancing of 6 feet or more should be practiced at all times.
Our playgrounds remained closed. Parks are open for passive recreation only, such as walking, hiking, biking, or jogging. It is imperative that people also maintain social distancing and not congregate when on the boardwalk or the rail trail. Most people in Newburyport are making good decisions, and working thoughtfully to comply, so thank you! Please continue to stay physically away from other people. Wear a face covering when you go shopping and to pick up takeout. This is an ENFORCEABLE order at stores, restaurants, and essential businesses open to the public.
Unfortunately, even with the closure of the Plum Island parking lot, we are still experiencing a massive influx of visitors to the island that are illegally parking, causing traffic issues and climbing over fragile dunes despite signage. We held a remote meeting with the Town Administrator and Police Chief of Newbury and formalized a plan with greater restrictions and stronger enforcement. There will be no parking allowed on any public street on Plum Island, and this will be strictly enforced with ticketing and towing. Please do not drive out to Plum Island if you do not live on Plum Island and try to park on a street, you will be ticketed and towed. This week the Parker River Wildlife parking lot was also closed to the public. I was hoping we would not have to resort to this, but, during this surge, we need to diminish crowd gatherings and ensure all are social distancing in our public spaces, including our beaches and protect the residents on Plum Island.
On Tuesday, the Governor announced the closure of all public and private schools through the end of the school year, and the closure of all non-emergency childcare programs until June 29, 2020. It’s an important step to reduce the effects of Coronavirus and an important public health decision, but it’s still very difficult for our students and families. Our Superintendent and his team at the School Department are working hard moving to a Phase III of remote learning creating “Power Standards’. The high school and middle school presented the status of their remote learning to the School Committee and public this past Tuesday night. Principal Wulf, teachers and students are looking at plans for innovative alternatives to year-end traditions. Additionally, on-going food service and grab-and-go meals continue to be distributed on Thursday from 10-noon at Nock/Molin. My deepest thanks to Pam Kealey and staff for the amazing work they are doing in feeding families. I would also like to express my sincerest thank you to all the teachers and educational staff for all your work during these difficult times and to all our students and their families for adjusting to remote learning in such disruptive times. You have all demonstrated such strength and resiliency; we will get through this.
We continue to monitor changes and delays in our waste programs due to the length of time this virus survives on surfaces. Please continue to abide by the rules and refer to our trash and recycling department website for more information and updates. As of now, our yard waste facility is scheduled to open early next month and we will consider reopening the recycling facility soon after. Please stop illegally dumping on Colby Farm Lane. I know people have been completing yard work as we are confined to our homes, but please wait a few more weeks before you can SAFELY bring your yard waste.
We are all doing are part to keep our households clean and sterilized, but please do not flush disinfectant wipes down the toilet. Flushing wipes, paper towels and similar products down toilets will clog sewers, cause backups in your home as well as your neighbors’, and lead to sanitary sewer overflows, creating an additional public health risk during the coronavirus pandemic. The DPS has already responded to four backups of our sewer system in residential sections of our city causing major clogs in pump stations and sewer pipes. Please throw these products in the trash; there is no such thing as a “flushable”wipe. This is a very serious issue and we greatly appreciate your help here.
All of our local businesses are affected by this pandemic, and many are struggling to survive. I have convened an Economic Recovery and Revitalization Task Force to create strategies and policies to support our local businesses through the pandemic. The Task Force includes representatives from my office, the department of planning and development, the City Council, and the Chamber of Commerce. The Task Force’s first action is to reach out to all businesses through an online survey to better understand their individual situations. That survey will be released shortly. We look forward to the day when our economy fully reopens, and the Task Force will work key sectors, personal services & salons, restaurants, retail, small businesses, non-profits and the arts to develop protocols for re-opening our economy. We are starting the preparation for a carefully planned and safe process for re-opening our city. For now, however, we need to remain focused on getting through this surge. Even in these uncertain economic times, our businesses are stepping up and helping those in need, donating food, meals and supplies. Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our community.
Our food supply for our local pantries is strained and they cannot accept food donations from private homes because of the coronavirus. If you are able a donation to Our Neighbors Table or Pettengill House would be greatly appreciated.
We are preparing for next year’s City budget that begins on July 1st with great financial uncertainty. We have been informed the state budget will be delayed by months. We are waiting for more information and clarity and expect significant cuts in state aid and decreases in local revenue. This will be a vastly different budgeting process than we have ever before experienced. My staff and I will be navigating through it the best possible way to ensure the basic delivery of services and administration of local government continues to be funded as efficiently as possible, working collaboratively with the City Council.
I will also be working closely with Superintendent Gallagher on the school budget for next year. Over the past ten years, we have worked diligently to make steady gains in our schools operating budgets. We may be in a challenging situation as we anticipate the possibility of lost funding. However, we will not compromise the quality of our excellent education system here in Newburyport. Again, we will get through this.
As I have repeatedly stated – remember if you or a family member is sick or not feeling well and may be exhibiting the main symptoms of COVID-19 - fever, coughing and shortness of breath, please call your health care provider for direction. Do NOT go to AJH or Urgent Care or your PCP without first calling; you do not want to potentially infect an office or waste PPEs, the critical protective equipment for our health workers. And, thank you again to all our volunteers who have worked to raise funds, provide supplies and food for Anna Jaques Hospital.
We continue to monitor the crisis daily with guidance from the state. We have an active line of communication with the Executive Office and are in constant contact with the Governor, Lt. Governor, and state agencies. As we take direction and coordinate with the state, we will make the best decisions possible, always keeping in mind our priority: the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens of Newburyport.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many residents find themselves looking for help for the first time. The Newburyport Connected webpage on the city website is a resource for residents to find the help they need, and we have dedicated staff available to guide you. In addition, residents and businesses looking to help others can sign up to be connected to others. We may have to stay apart and be socially distant, but we need to remain connected as a community during these difficult times.
In closing, the announcement of our schools closing is yet another significant event that has dramatically reshaped the lives of so many. Our daily chores, work, rituals and just the “normal” things we were so accustomed to have changed in so many ways. Yet, while schools and businesses remain closed, and we focus on getting through this surge, we must be vigilant- please stay home and if you need to go out for essentials you must wear a mask or face covering. I know we are all missing our loved ones but this is not the time to let our guard down. This pandemic is very real- what happened in Italy, Washington and NYC is staggering and seems unimaginable but this is the full impact of this hidden and deadly virus. Massachusetts is the latest national hot spot, the numbers of cases in Essex County is high but to date we have kept our case numbers low which means we are saving lives. We are not out of this yet and as the weather improves, it is more important than ever that each and every one of us complies with the wearing a mask/face covering and practice social distancing. So please, keep checking in with family, friends, and your neighbors. And, remember to look at all of our resources and updates on the city website – www.cityofnewburyport.com.
Please stay strong Newburyport. Be well and stay healthy. Thank you.