LYNN NEWS ROUND-UP
AUGUST 14, 2020
See our other COVID-19 related posts by clicking here.
In case you missed it: Earlier this week we launched the new radio scanner section on our website. Now you can listen to the scanners for the Lynn Police, Lynn Fire, & MA State Police on our website whenever you wish! Click here to see the scanners.
COVID-19 updates from Mayor McGee
At 3PM today Mayor Thomas McGee gave an update to the citizens of Lynn in regards to the uptick in COVID-19 cases, which were translated into Spanish & Khmer.
The Mayor and his administration believe that social gatherings such as BBQs & parties are the cause for the recent increase in positive cases in Lynn. The theory is that “people have become fatigued a bit and let their guards down a bit.”
Mayor McGee encourages everyone to wear masks, listen to health experts, stay home if sick, and get tested. McGee said “If we continue to see increases in the positive cases in Lynn, I will take local action, as I did before, and restrict or shutdown parks/playgrounds, permitted events, businesses or other entities and locations believed to be contributing to the COVID-19 spread in our community.”
This comes as Lynn was designated a higher risk community for COVID-19 by the state earlier this week. The high risk communities in MA as of Friday, August 14th are Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Granby, Holyoke, Huntington, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Saugus, & Salem. As a result, these communities will be receiving additional state resources to curb the spread of COVID-19. Click for full weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report from the state.
Testing is available for MA residents regardless of their insurance, immigration status or if they have any symptoms at the Lynn Community Health Center in the Element Care parking lot at 9 Buffum Street 7 days a week. Please call the Lynn Community Health Center at (781) 581-3900 to make an appointment. Limited walk-ins are also welcome. Click here for up-to-date testing info. from the City of Lynn, we will continue to post weekly information every Monday on our website.
Watch the full statement from Mayor McGee below on our website.
Lynn Public Schools: Family Letter #4
Dear Lynn Public Schools Families,
On August 11, 2020, state authorities released a metric delineating the factors involved in determining whether or not it is safe for in-person activities to happen in a community. Each Wednesday going forward, the Department of Public Health releases its Weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report that contains critical metrics for each city/town. Beginning August 12, 2020 and each week thereafter, there will be a color-coded indication posted for each municipality calculated on a rolling two-week basis.
Red will designate communities with more than 8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. Communities in this category should provide instruction remotely.
Yellow will designate communities that have more than 4 and up to 8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. Communities in this category should provide instruction remotely or in hybrid fashion.
Green will designate communities that have 4 or fewer COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. Communities in this category should provide instruction in hybrid fashion or full in-person.
At present, the City of Lynn is one among a small number of communities in the red category. Given the seriousness of the current context and our commitment to safety, I plan to propose that ALL students begin the 2020-21 school year in remote learning. This proposal calls for an assessment of whether or not it is safe to return for in-person learning on November 20, 2020.
In the meantime, we would like to keep two-way communication happening through the virtual town halls – there are two forthcoming.
On Monday, August 17th at 6 p.m., we will convene to provide you an overview of Schoology, our new learning management system. Please click here for the link to the Schoology Overview Virtual Town Hall.
On Monday, August 24th at 6 p.m. we will convene to discuss matters related to special education (link forthcoming). Those who cannot attend live can watch the videos at any point thereafter by visiting the communications tab on the Reopening Safely page.
Yours in partnership,
Patrick Tutwiler, PhD
Superintendent of Lynn Public Schools
Download the above letter in English or Spanish.
Visit the LPS Reopening section of their website.
“Art to Amplify Black Voices” event being held next Friday
From the Facebook event page: Lynn is beautified by its Black residents. Therefore, we want a space for Lynn’s Black community to feel safe and supported. The first portion of the event will consist of Black speakers/poets/musical talent to share their voices.
Afterwards, a chalk art initiative will be conducted to commemorate Black lives lost due to police brutality and prompt demands for the city of Lynn. The event will also have space for Black creators and Black business owners to either sell/market their products/services.
Click here to go to the Facebook event page
Gusty winds, high surf expected Saturday
From the National Weather Service – Boston: An unseasonably cool & blustery Saturday brings the risk for high surf & possibly gale-force winds over the outer waters.
If you’re a recreational boater/swimmer, be sure to monitor the latest marine forecast and observe rip current safety: https://weather.gov/box/surfzone.
Warmer conditions with more sunshine over interior MA/CT.
Lynn Zone 1A Pilot: Fares at Lynn Commuter Rail Station Lowered to Zone 1A Extended through December 31
This extension of Zone 1A fares accepted at Lynn Station promotes additional travel options and social distancing efforts.
The MBTA has announced that Zone 1A fares will be accepted at Lynn and Riverworks Commuter Rail Stations on a pilot basis through December 31. The extension of this pilot provides additional travel options for North Shore customers, eases crowding on nearby bus routes, and allows the MBTA to collect ridership data related to the effects of temporary fare changes on relieving crowding.
“We’re pleased to extend this reduced fare through the end of the year so that riders commuting between Lynn and Downtown Boston can continue to travel for the same price as a subway fare,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “This temporary zone change pilot aims to manage passenger volume and promote physical distancing on buses, and we continue to encourage our North Shore riders to consider this Commuter Rail option.”
Zone 1A fares were temporarily accepted at Lynn from May 22 to May 31 and again offered beginning July 1 in an effort to provide additional travel options for customers and so that MBTA staff could begin to gather ridership data related to temporary fare changes. The MBTA will continue to collect data throughout the extension of the temporary zone change pilot.
Customers heading inbound from Lynn or Riverworks to North Station and outbound from North Station to Lynn or Riverworks can purchase a Zone 1A ticket on mTicket, at a fare vending machine, onboard, or at a ticket window at North Station. Zone 1A monthly passes printed on CharlieTickets or CharlieCards or on mTicket will also be accepted. A one-way Zone 1A commuter rail fare is $2.40, which is the same as a CharlieCard subway fare. Bus Routes that stop at Lynn Station include Routes 426, 429, 435, 436, 441, 442, and 455.
Riders are reminded that face coverings are required while onboard MBTA service and within stations. Customers can visit mbta.com/RideSafer for more information.
For more information, please visit mbta.com or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.
Food Share Table expanded
From the Lynn Church of the Nazarene: We’re thrilled to announce that in partnership with Mutual Aid Lynn, we have expanded our Food Share Table to be a resource for individuals and agencies helping with food needs in the City of Lynn.
The Food Share Table offers a choice of emergency food bags for families in need, each bag has enough canned/dry goods for a few days.
Do you need food? Are you a local agency working with families who need food? Would you like to donate to support families in need?
Connect with us at foodshare@lynnchurch.com, 781-593-5742, or by clicking here.
From Mayor McGee’s office: The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of today, the number of active, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases is 634 with 20 new cases today. 3,551 Lynn residents have recovered and 111 have died. The total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Lynn since March 21, 2020, including those who have died and recovered, is 4,296. Please visit the new City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.
STOP THE SPREAD Initiative
Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/
We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 through the City website (www.lynnma.gov), social media, and the Smart 911 emergency notification system (sign up at www.smart911.com).
If you have a news story that you would like to share, please contact us via email or call 781-780-9460.
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