Tune in at 3pm every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday on our Government Channel or Facebook page for an update from city officials. Past updates can be found by clicking here. At 2pm & 8pm we are also airing Gov. Baker’s press conferences.

See other COVID-19 related posts by clicking here.
See our running list of announcements for Lynn by visiting bit.ly/LynnCOVID19.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Yesterday Mayor Tom McGee’s office announced that the Curfew Order in Lynn has been rescinded.

Read the announcement in English or Spanish on the City’s website.

Peaceful protest planned for tomorrow in Lynn

Lynn residents have organized a peaceful protest for tomorrow (Friday, June 5th) in Lynn. Details from her Facebook post are below:

LYNN PROTEST FOR GEORGE FLOYD !!! . We have to stick together as a city and a community !!!!
Everybody come out and have Lynn stand up !!!

This Friday at 5PM let’s start in Lynn commons !!!

Let’s protest peacefully and speak up!
WE HEAR YOU! WE SEE YOU!

Lynn Community Health Center launches COVID-19 testing campaign

Before Lynn can safely “reopen” our community, we need a better idea of how widespread the COVID-19 virus is in the City.  Currently, Lynn’s 7-day average positive test rate is about three times the state average.  This result indicates that we are only testing the sickest among us and not casting a wide enough net to get a firm handle on community spread.

Lynn Community Health Center is launching a campaign to significantly increase testing in Lynn.  Anyone who lives or works in Lynn and who meets the latest DPH guidelines for testing can make an appointment to be tested at the health center’s outdoor testing site.  The test is free and takes only a few minutes.

“At the beginning of this crisis, there were limited test kits available, so the Mass DPH recommended testing only for those who were very ill” says Dr. Geoff Pechinsky, Chief Medical Officer.  “We acknowledge that our message has changed because the guidelines have changed.  We now have an ample supply of tests and have the capacity to test up to 500 people every day.  Anyone who is eligible according to the revised DPH guidelines should make an appointment to get tested.”

Anyone who falls into the following categories is eligible for a COVID-19 test at no cost.

• If you have ANY symptom of COVID-19: cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle pain/aches,loss of smell or taste.  Even those with mild symptoms should be tested.
• If you have been EXPOSED to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• If your employer requires you to be tested in order to work.

Testing at Lynn Community Health Center is open to all who live or work in Lynn; you do not need to be a health center patient to receive a test.  An appointment can be made by calling the health center at 781-581-3900.  Testing is available 7 days a week.

As part of this campaign the health center has started reaching out to Lynn businesses that rely on customer facing work—such as barbershops, salons, and food preparation—with the offer to test employees before bringing them back from furlough.  “Many people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic and unaware of their infection,” says Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, CEO.  “Testing seemingly healthy people will identify these asymptomatic individuals who can then isolate to help slow the spread of the virus.”

After a COVID-19 diagnosis

There is one group of people for whom testing is NOT encouraged—those who have recovered from COVID-19.

“The CDC strongly recommends that we use a symptom-based approach to determine when someone should be cleared to return to work, school, and community activities,” said Dr. Pechinsky.  “A person can test positive for a long time after they become non-contagious—in some cases many weeks.  CDC research has shown that the risk of contagion approaches zero after two conditions have been met:

• At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); AND
• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared

It should be noted that 10 days is the minimum period of isolation based on these guidelines.  It is expected that many people will take longer to recover.

“We implore everyone who has even mild symptoms or who has been exposed to COVID-19 to contact the health center as soon as possible to make an appointment for a test,” said Dr. Mahaniah.  “The health of our community depends on being able to track the virus and respond quickly to hotspots.”

Video statement from Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tutwiler

The email address referenced in this video clip is LPSlistens@lynnschools.org

Statement from MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak

The killing of George Floyd, the most recent in a long line of injustice against African Americans, has caused great pain in our community and, most acutely, among our friends and colleagues of color. I want to offer my support for the people who are marching for justice in our communities. The civil unrest that has followed some of these events is unfortunate, but should not obscure the important message that is being sent.

In general, during marches and gatherings involving large numbers of people, there are assessments conducted to determine a proper response by the MBTA – service levels, staffing needs, and public safety. It is this assessment that informs decision makers of the potential for a service disruption, station closures, or need for alternative service.

On Sunday night, in coordination with local officials and local law enforcement entities, the decision was made to close multiple stations when, in the opinion of the Transit Police Incident Commander, outside activity posed a danger to the safe operation of the station and transit activity. The TPD Incident Commander is the designated representative on scene to make decisions regarding public safety. As many likely saw on television, social media, or in person, it was a very unsettled scene and a fluid situation.

——

This is only part of the full statement from the MBTA.
To read the full statement please visit the MBTA website 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 1,581 with 15 new cases today. 1,807 Lynn residents have recovered and 91 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 3,479. Please visit the new City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily at http://arcg.is/aiiWu.