LYNN NEWS ROUND-UP
NOVEMBER 6, 2020
See our other COVID-19 related posts by clicking here.
Weekly COVID-19 numbers from Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health, new metrics for measuring
Every week on the MA Department 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. Their numbers factor in the past week as well as the week before, giving 2 weeks worth of data.
There are currently 91 communities in the yellow category (with 4-8 cases per 100K), & 16 communities in the red (with more than 8 cases per 100K). Last week there were 77 in the yellow and 121 in the red.
This huge decrease in numbers of communities in the red is due to new classifications that Mass DPH started using this week. Communities with populations less than 10,000, 10,000-50,000, & more than 50,000 will have 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
The City of Lynn has seen a full month of growing numbers. However, Lynn has seen concerning increases in just one week. The average daily incidence rate per 100,000 over 14 days this week was 34.4, the previous 2 weeks were 25.7 & 17.3. The positivity rate this week was 6.53%, the previous 2 weeks were 5.70% & 4.26%.
The outlook for the nation is not much better. We currently have 9.76 million cases, with 100,000 new cases being reported the last couple days. We only reached 9 million cases last week. The death toll nationwide is at 236K, with 1,108 in the last 24 hours alone.
Below are the statistics for Lynn & the state, neither of which carry good news.
| 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 | 5,755 | 486 | 34.4 | Higher | 64,430 | 8,954 | 585 | 6.53% | Higher |
| STATEWIDE | 158,937 | 14,944 | 15.3 | Higher | 6,374,952 | 961,864 | 17,727 | 1.84% | Higher |
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.
Veterans Day Ceremony & Marine Corps Birthday Celebration to air on LCTV November 10-15th
The City of Lynn Dept. of Veterans Services & Lynn English Marine Corps Jr ROTC teamed up to put on a ceremony for Veteran’s Day at Manning Field in late October. The event doubled as a celebration for the 245th birthday of the Marine Corps., which is celebrated annually at Lynn English High School.
At the ceremony at Manning Field social distancing were observed to protect everyone’s health, with help from the Lynn Dept. of Public Health. Master SGT. Gerald Gonsalo spoke, along with others. The Lynn English High School’s Marine Crops Jr. ROTC performed & Dan Clark, U.S. marine and retired state trooper, sang as well. Videos were also submitted from Mayor McGee & others that will play during the ceremony.
This video will play on our Government Channel (Comcast: 22 & Verizon: 37) daily starting Tuesday, November 10th until Sunday, November 15th at 9am, 4pm, & 9pm. You can watch on TV or anytime online on our website’s video on demand section.
Governor’s new statewide
orders now in effect
The Baker-Polito Administration announced a series of targeted measures to disrupt the increasing trend of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Governor Charlie Baker announced these changes at a time where public health data has indicated that cases are rising, with cases up by 278% and hospitalizations up by 145% since Labor Day. These measures are meant to disrupt rising trends now, so the Commonwealth can keep the economy and schools open for residents and to prevent the need to roll back to Phase I or Phase II of the reopening plan.
All orders and advisories are in effect as of Friday, Nov. 6th at 12:01 AM.
New Orders & Advisories:
Stay At Home Advisory
The Administration issued a revised Stay At Home Advisory to ensure residents avoid unnecessary activities that can lead to increased COVID-19 transmission. The revised Stay At Home Advisory instructs residents to stay home between 10 PM and 5 AM. The Advisory allows for activities such as going to work, running critical errands to get groceries and address health needs, and taking a walk.
Click here to read the revised Stay At Home Advisory: www.mass.gov/stayhome.
Early Closure of Businesses and Activities
Governor Baker issued a new executive order that requires the early closure of certain businesses and activities each night at 9:30 PM. The 9:30 PM closure requirement is aligned with the Stay At Home Advisory and together the two new initiatives are designed to further limit activities that could lead to COVID-19 transmission.
Effective November 6, the following businesses and activities must close to the public each day between the hours of 9:30 PM and 5:00 AM.
- Restaurants (in-person dining must cease at 9:30 PM, although takeout and delivery may continue for food and non-alcoholic beverages, but not alcohol)
- Liquor stores and other retail establishments that sell alcohol must cease alcohol sales at 9:30 PM (but may continue to sell other products)
- Adult-use marijuana sales must cease at 9:30 PM (not including medical marijuana)
- Indoor & outdoor events
- Theaters/movie theaters (including drive-in movie theaters), and performance venues (indoor and outdoor)
- Youth and adult amateur sports activities
- Golf facilities
- Recreational boating and boating businesses
- Outdoor recreational experiences
- Casinos and horse tracks/simulcast facilities
- Driving and flight schools
- Zoos, botanical gardens, wildlife reserves, nature centers
- Close contact personal services (such as hair and nail salons)
- Gyms, Fitness Centers and Health Clubs
- Indoor and outdoor pools
- Museums/cultural & historical facilities/guided tours
Click here to read the new executive order (including full list of businesses required to close at 9:30 PM).
Face Covering Order
Governor Baker also signed an updated order related to face-coverings. The revised order requires all persons to wear face-coverings in all public places, even where they are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. The revised order still allows for an exception for residents who cannot wear a face-covering due to a medical or disabling condition, but it allows employers to require employees to provide proof of such a condition. It also allows schools to require that students participating in in-person learning provide proof of such a medical or disabling condition.
Click here to read the revised face-coverings order.
Gatherings Order
Governor Baker also signed an updated order restricting gatherings. The new gatherings order reduces the gathering size limit for gatherings at private residences: indoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 10 people and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 25 people. The limit on gatherings held in public spaces and at event venues (e.g. wedding venues) remains the same. The new order also requires that all gatherings (regardless of size or location) must end and disperse by 9:30 PM.
The new gatherings order also requires that organizers of gatherings report known positive COVID-19 cases to the local health department in that community and requires organizers to cooperate with contact tracing. The gatherings order authorizes continued enforcement by local health and police departments and specifies that fines for violating the gathering order will be $500 for each person above the limit at a particular gathering.
Click here to read the revised gatherings order.
The information above was taken from the MA state website.
2 alarm fire on Seymour Ave. in Lynn
Final update from Lynn Fire Dept. on 11 Seymour Ave 2nd Alarm+ fire: Heavy fire in a three story wood frame residential structure has been knocked down.
Companies are starting to make up. Red Cross had been called for three displaced families.
One firefighter was transported with minor injuries. No civilian injuries.
Fire investigation unit is on scene.
Photos from the scene, taken by LCTV staff. More photos can be found here.
MBTA Advisory: New Voicemail Public Comment Procedures in Place for Virtual FMCB Public Meeting on November 9
Public Wishing to Comment on Proposed Service Changes Encouraged to Do So Online and at Forging Ahead Public Meetings.
The MBTA respectfully requests that any Forging Ahead public comments be delivered during one of the eleven public meetings beginning on November 10, during engagement with MBTA community liaisons, or be offered by using the online form.
The MBTA is encouraging participation in its public engagement process for Forging Ahead, the Authority’s plan to preserve transit access and quality of service available to transit-critical customers. The Forging Ahead public engagement effort, now underway and running through December 4, includes a series of virtual public meetings, a public hearing, a team of Community Liaisons to gather feedback directly from riders, and an online comment form for customers to engage with the T.
At the Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) meeting on Monday, November 9, MBTA staff will present an analysis of the T’s core essential services, proposed service adjustments, and bundles of services that may be restored in response to increasing ridership and additional durable revenue. No fare changes will be proposed. Due to the lengthy agenda planned for Monday, the FMCB is scheduled to start its virtual public meeting at 11 a.m.
Additionally, effective with the November 9 FMCB meeting, there will be new voicemail public comment procedures in place:
- Messages must be limited to ninety seconds per commenter, or up to four minutes for comments submitted on behalf of an organization or elected official and at the discretion of the Board Chair.
- When there are many voicemails on a single item, a representative selection of voice messages will be played aloud during the public comment portion of the Board meeting and captured in the livestream video.
- Comments submitted by voicemail will be compiled and distributed to all Board Members as soon as is practicable after the meeting.
All voicemail comments at FMCB meetings are a public record with all voicemail messages posted online at mbta.com and shared with all Board members. Further instructions and information on public comments regarding FMCB agenda items are available here.
Because the Forging Ahead proposed changes will be the subject of an extensive public engagement process, the MBTA respectfully requests that Forging Ahead public comments be withheld in advance of the FMCB meeting and instead be provided during one of the eleven public meetings beginning on November 10, during engagement with MBTA Community Liaisons, or be offered by using the online form available at mbta.com/ForgingAhead. On Monday, November 9, the MBTA will present service proposals to members of the FMCB. Therefore, public comment on those proposals is most appropriate after Monday’s FMCB meeting presentation, when the details are known. Accordingly, the Forging Ahead presentation will not be posted online in advance of the meeting.
The T wants to hear from transit customers about its Forging Ahead proposals and will be providing multiple opportunities for public engagement following the presentation at Monday’s FMCB meeting. The public is strongly encouraged to participate in any of the eleven virtual public meetings, including an Official Public Hearing, where input may be provided and questions can be asked of MBTA officials. At every Forging Ahead public meeting, either Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, General Manager Steve Poftak, or one or more members of the FMCB will be present to listen to public comments. All public comments on Forging Ahead received during public meetings, provided to MBTA Community Liaisons during engagement sessions, or through the online comment form will be shared with members of the FMCB and senior executives, including the Secretary of Transportation and General Manager.
Each public meeting will focus on a specific community region within the MBTA’s service area. Meeting details are available at mbta.com/ForgingAhead. MBTA Community Liaisons are also available by emailing publicengagement@mbta.com to schedule in-person, phone, or online meetings with individuals, local municipalities, or neighborhood organizations to provide information and seek community feedback.
The complete schedule of topics to be discussed at the November 9 FMCB meeting is available here.
For more information, visit mbta.com/forgingahead, mbta.com/FMCB, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.
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MBTA Face Covering Enforcement
Takes Effect November 6
Today the MBTA announced face covering enforcement efforts effective today, November 6, pursuant to the revised Executive Order issued on November 2.
The revised Executive Order applies to any person over the age of five who is in a place open to the public, and expressly requires masks or face coverings worn over the nose and mouth when using public transportation. Mask use by children two years of age and up to the age of five is encouraged but also at the discretion of the child’s parent or guardian.
The revised Executive Order effective November 6 authorizes Transit Police to enforce the Order onboard MBTA vehicles and within the system by issuing a civil fine up to $300 per violation.
The MBTA has issued internal guidance to its employees consistent with the revised Executive Order. Customers observed not wearing a face mask or covering will first be reminded of the Executive Order. If the unmasked customer does not immediately put on a mask or face covering following the reminder, the observation will be reported to the Operations Control Center, who will report and coordinate next steps with Transit Police.
The revised Executive Order includes an exemption for individuals with certain medical conditions, but does not require a person who is so exempt to produce documentation of their condition.
For more information, please visit mbta.com, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA and@MBTA_CR, on Facebook /TheMBTA, or on Instagram @theMBTA.
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 666 with 64 new cases today. 5,218 Lynn residents have recovered and 123 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 6,007. Please visit the City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.
Stop the Spread Initiative Testing have been extended until December 31st
- Fallon Ambulance offers testing at the following locations. Walk up Only:
- Parking lot at Lynn English High School
- Mon – Sat from 11:00am until 5:00pm
- Parking lot at Lynn English High School
o Parking Lot behind Fire Station at 725 Western Ave, off of Federal Street
- Mon – Sat 12:00pm-6:00pm
o Residents who have been tested for COVID-19 through Fallon Ambulance can call 617-765-0176 with any questions related to your COVID-19 test results.
- Call Lynn Community Health Center (781)-581-3900 to make a COVID-19 test appointment at 9 Buffum Street location
Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/covid19/resources.shtml#p7GPc1_2 for more information on how you can get a free COVID-19 test in the City of Lynn until December 31st.
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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