LYNN NEWS ROUND-UP
FEBRUARY 5, 2021
See our COVID-19 related posts by clicking here.
The City of Lynn is currently in Phase 3 Step 1 of the MA Reopening Plan. Click here for more information.
A vaccination site has opened at Lynn Tech for residents
of Lynn & Nahant. Read more by clicking here.
Weekly COVID-19 numbers from Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health
Every week the MA Dept. of Public Health releases numbers for how COVID-19 has impacted the state, and we try to highlight some of these numbers so the community is informed about how COVID is impacting Lynn & the state. Their numbers factor in the past week as well as the week before, giving 2 weeks worth of data.
With about 1.7K active cases the City of Lynn is still a high-risk community. We haven’t been under that many active cases since early December, and the current levels are only slightly better than the city’s peak active cases of approx. 2.2K in both mid-May 2020 & mid-January 2021. However, there are signs of hope. Lynn used to set records for new 24-hour cases frequently, but that hasn’t been broken since January 5th (210) & the number of new cases hasn’t been above 100 since Jan. 21st. The frequency of deaths in Lynn have decreased, with only 21 deaths in January.
The average daily incidence rate per 100,000 for Lynn this week was 71.2. The last 4 weeks it was at 92.4, 127.2, 128.2, & 99.6. The positivity rate this week was 9.12%. The last 4 weeks this rate was 10.70%, 12.87%, 14.46%, & 14.63%. These are all positive trends for Lynn, which hasn’t seen consistently positive numbers like this since early Fall. You can view these trends for Lynn yourself on the City of Lynn’s COVID-19 dashboard by clicking here. You can click the icon in the top-right corner of each section to see them enlarged.
The state of Massachusetts has also seen some positive trends overall. The average daily incidence rate per 100,000 for MA this week was 48.9, down from 59.4 last week. The positivity rate this week was 4.32%, down from 5.51% last week. Additionally, the seven-day average for deaths, hospitalizations, & new cases are also all down.
The United States currently has 26.7 million cases, up from 25.8 million last week. There are currently 105 million cases reported worldwide, up from 102 million last week. Daily records had been broken frequently for new cases & deaths within 24 hours in early January, proving right predictions that the holiday season would lead to higher numbers. However new case numbers are dropping, and deaths have remained fairly consistent, the past couple of weeks.
The death toll in the US now sits at approx. 456K, up from 433K last week. The last time that the 24-hour deaths record was set in the U.S. was on Jan. 12th with just over 4,406 dead. However, the record was broken yesterday with approx. 5,116 dying. This surge in deaths looks worse than it actually is, due to a backlog of data from Indiana adding 1,500 deaths to the nation’s total. This is known thanks to reporting by the Wall Street Journal. The 7-day average for deaths does sit at 3,232 so it is still recommended to follow all of the proper precautions in regards to this deadly virus.
In Massachusetts there are currently 153 communities in the red category & 108 in the yellow category. The last 3 weeks there were 192, 222, & 229 communities in the red. The last 3 weeks there were 80, 55, & 53 communities in the yellow.
In late fall Mass DPH began to use a different system for categorizing communities, based off their populations. Communities with populations less than 10,000 residents, between 10,000 & 50,000 residents, & more than 50,000 residents have had new metrics applied to them. Their results fall into 4 color categories; grey, green, yellow, & red. Positivity rates & average daily cases will continue to be determined by two-week rolling average. Officials say the new categories help to make the community-specific data more nuanced, and better account for increases in cases in smaller communities. They will also incorporate examples where cases at colleges, nursing homes, or jails may push an entire community into the red category. The new metrics are as follows:
- For communities with fewer than 10,000 residents:
- Grey = 10 or fewer cases
- Green = 15 or fewer cases
- Yellow = 25 or fewer cases
- Red = More than 25 cases.
- For communities with between 10,000 and 50,000 residents:
- Grey = 10 or fewer cases
- Green = Less than 10 average cases per 100,000 residents & more than 10 cases
- Yellow = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of 5% or more
- Red = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 5% or more
- For communities with more than 50,000 residents:
- Grey = 15 cases or less
- Green = 10 average cases per 100,000 residents and more than 15 cases
- Yellow = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of 4% or more
- Red = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 4% or more
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Below are the statistics for Lynn & the state.
| City/Town | Total Case Count | Case Count (Last 14 Days) | Average Daily Incidence Rate per 100,000 (Last 14 days) | Relative Change in Case Counts | Total Tests | Total Tests (Last 14 days) | Total Positive Tests (Last 14 days) | Percent Positivity (Last 14 days) | Change in Percent Positivity |
| Lynn | 14,369 | 1,005 | 71.2 | Lower | 164,575 | 13,545 | 1,235 | 9.12% | Lower |
| STATEWIDE | 504,564 | 47,659 | 48.9 | Lower | 13,874,158 | 1,299,378 | 56,149 | 4.32% | Lower |
If you would like to find out full statistics for the entire state, including maps & town-by-town data, you can find the full weekly report from MA Dept. of Public Health by clicking here (link downloads a PDF).
Previous Weekly Public Health Reports can be found by clicking here.
All information above was sourced through official government sources.
Phase 2 started Monday with group 1: Anyone age 75+ can now get a COVID-19 vaccine. Find a location near you at mass.gov/covidvaccine
For phasing details and the most up-to-date status of where MA is in our vaccination timeline please visit mass.gov/covidvaccinephases
Governor Baker Announces Updates on Capacity Restrictions
New Lynn Tech vaccination site provides 1,500 doses in first 4 days
This week, the City of Lynn Department of Public Health and the Lynn Community Health Center successfully opened a COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at the Lynn Tech Field House located at 80 Neptune Street in Lynn. People who live or work in Lynn and Nahant, or are patients of Lynn Community Health Center, and are eligible based on the State’s Vaccination Plan, can access free vaccines at this location by appointment only.
In the first four days of the clinic, over 1,500 doses of the COVID vaccine will have been administered to eligible residents of Lynn and Nahant. The majority of the recipients were seniors over the age of 75 who are eligible in Phase 2 Step 1 of the State’s Vaccination Plan.
The Lynn Department of Public Health is also collaborating with the Lynn Housing Authority has already begun to establish on-site vaccinations for all of the low-income, affordable senior housing buildings within the City of Lynn. This will eventually allow us to reach over 3,000 seniors within our community.
Appointments at the Lynn Tech Fieldhouse site can be scheduled online athttps://www.lchcnet.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling. Due to high demand and constrained vaccine supply, COVID-19 vaccination appointments are limited at this time. Appointments will be added on a rolling basis based on supply from the Federal Government. The City and LCHC are currently working to establish a call-in center where residents can also make appointments by phone for the Lynn Tech site.
The above information was sent to us by Mayor McGee’s office.
Info for Salvation Army food pantry
AG HEALEY OPENS GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD FOR SEVENTH ANNUAL SUMMER JOB PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Deadline for Applications is March 5; Applicants are Required to Detail their Ability to Safely and Successfully Run a Program Amid the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic
Attorney General Maura Healey today opened the seventh annual application period for her office’s summer jobs grant program for young people across the state. The deadline for applications is March 5 and applicants must detail their plans to run their programs successfully and safely, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Program will use funds secured by the AG’s Office in child labor-related settlements to provide funding to organizations to hire young people for jobs that focus on health and wellness. The program enables young people to have a direct impact in their communities by working in jobs that promote good nutrition, physical fitness, and healthy living.
“Our summer job program provides hundreds of young workers across Massachusetts with an opportunity to learn new skills, challenge themselves, and make a real difference in their communities,” AG Healey said. “We’re pleased to be continuing this program for a seventh year, and we know that our grantees will ensure that our young people stay safe and healthy while working.”
Last year, the AG’s Office awarded nearly $300,000 in grant funding to 73 organizations across the state. The grantees adapted to the pandemic in a number of ways, including providing personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing, and transitioning to virtual workspaces. The AG’s Community Engagement and Fair Labor Divisions held webinars on workers’ rights for all young people employed through the grant program.
Examples of jobs that have received funding in the past include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborating on a public health project focused on food security.
- Assisting as a coach, team leader, or mentor with a sports or physical fitness program designed for young people.
- Fostering a green environment by building and maintaining a community garden or urban farm.
- Educating and mentoring young people about healthy relationships.
Since launching the program in 2015, the office has awarded nearly $1.85 million to organizations to fund more than 1,000 jobs for young people across the state
The AG’s Office will issue grants to municipalities, other government offices, quasi-public entities, and non-profits within the state. Nonprofit applicants must be in full compliance with statutory requirements for annual filings with the AG’s Non-Profit Organizations and Public Charities Division. Grantees must pay employed youth a minimum wage of $13.50 per hour. The office will prioritize applicants who are seeking to hire low-income youth workers with the grant funding.
Grant awards will fund youth employment from July 5, 2021 through Sept. 3, 2021. Interested applicants can visit the AG’s website for more information and for application instructions. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2021.
The above press release was sent to us by Senator Crighton’s office.
Ipswich Community Access Media holding “2020 in 60seconds” film festival
FROM ICAM: We are hosting a 60 second film festival. Please share the information below to your community members and anyone else you feel may be interested. ICAM invites you to make a film about 2020 in 60seconds!
Open to all, no filmmaking experience necessary. Comedy, horror, monologue, experimental, documentary; any genre or style welcome! Films will be judged on their content and creativity.
Submit your Film:
Email icamfilmfestival@gmail.com a link to your film on or before midnight EST February 23, 2021.
A WeTransfer link is preferred but Dropbox, Vimeo or Google Drive link is also accepted. If you send a Google Drive link, please make sure link sharing is on. Do not send a youtube link. We will email you back within a week of the due date to let you know if you have been accepted!
Submission Requirements:
- 60s or less
- Original Work
- No swearing or nudity due to FCC guidelines.
Live premiere will be on the ICAM Ipswich Youtube page on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 7pm.
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 1,555 with 51 new cases today. 13,062 Lynn residents have recovered and 182 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 14,799. Please visit the City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.
Massachusetts Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line
Available by calling 2-1-1
Residents ages 75 and over who are eligible to receive the COVID Vaccine through Phase 2 Step 1 of the State Vaccination Plan and are not able to access the Internet can call 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment through the Massachusetts Vaccine Scheduling Resources Line. The Hours of Operation will be Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm. Callers will be available in English and Spanish and will have translators available to support residents in approximately 100 additional languages.
Individuals ages 75 and older will be able to speak to a representative live on the phone to assist them with an appointment through the state’s online system, which includes the Lynn Tech Fieldhouse Site. Representatives will have the same access to appointments as on the public website; it will not give individuals access to additional appointments. If no appointments are available, callers will have the option to be placed on a call back list for mass vaccination sites. The caller will receive a call back when an appointment becomes available, and the list will be called on first-come, first-served basis.
Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment at Lynn Tech: https://www.lchcnet.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling
Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/covid19/resources.shtml#p7GPc1_2 for the most up to date COVID-19 testing information, as well as more detailed information on the State and City of Lynn’s Reopening Guidelines. 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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