City of Revere Response to COVID-19: March 23, 2020 Update
March 23, 2020
Stay at Home Advisory, Cease Operations for Non-Essential Businesses, in Effect Tomorrow at Noon
March 23, 2020 – The City of Revere’s Emergency Response Team continues to take proactive steps to slow community transmission of COVID-19 and prepare for further spread of the disease.
As of today, March 23, 2020, there are 8 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the City of Revere. The City expects this number to rise as testing becomes more widely available. In all 8 cases, contact tracing is being or has been conducted to determine and identify all individuals that have had direct, face-to-face contact with the affected individual. If you have not been contacted by the Revere Board of Health, you are not considered a direct contact of one of these positive cases.
Today Governor Baker directed the Department of Public Health to issue a "Stay At Home" Advisory for all residents, and prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people. This advisory takes effect tomorrow at noon, and will remain in effect through April 7. Stay at Home means avoiding any unnecessary travel and activities for the next two weeks. Residents over the age of 70 or with underlying health conditions should limit interactions with other people as much as possible.
The Governor has also ordered the closure of brick and mortar locations of all businesses that do not provide Essential Services, effective tomorrow at noon and remaining in place through April 7. Grocery stores, pharmacies and medical facilities remain open. A full list of essential businesses can be found at mass.gov/covid19.
“We are appealing to the public to take these measures seriously and help us slow the spread of the coronavirus in our community,” said Mayor Arrigo. “I cannot stress enough how important it is for every single person in our community -- regardless of your age or health condition -- to be considerate of your neighbors and your community, and do your part by staying at home.”
Mayor Arrigo is being briefed daily by members of his Emergency Response Team to coordinate efforts across City departments. The Mayor and City officials are also joining daily briefings with state and federal officials to coordinate containment strategies regionally. All updates for Revere residents are being shared regularly at Revere.org and via social media.
City Services Updates
- Mayor Arrigo declared a State of Emergency in the City of Revere on March 19, 2020.
- There are no disruptions to basic City services provided by Revere Police, Fire, EMS, Department of Public Works and Revere 311.
- Residents should subscribe for email and text message notifications at revere.org/coronavirus.
- Revere 311 remains fully staffed and residents with questions or concerns are encouraged to reach the City by dialing 311 (or 781-286-8311) or emailing Revere311@revere.org.
- All City buildings are closed to the public until further notice, and services to residents remain available at Revere.org.
- All City parks and playgrounds are closed until further notice.
- Revere Public Schools’ grab-and-go meal services are available to all students and families at all eight school sites. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to any child that needs it Monday through Friday, from 10-11 a.m. and 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- A mutual aid informational packet for residents is now available on Revere.org, providing a wide range of resources related to issues like access to food, health care, transportation, housing rights and more. The online document will be updated daily at 4 p.m.
- The City of Revere has published a page that outlines resources for impacted small businesses, employers, non-profits, and/or workers. The page will be updated by City staff on an ongoing basis, as information becomes available.
- The City of Revere’s volunteer database is open for individuals seeking to lend a helping hand over the next several weeks.
Actions for All Revere Residents to Take
The Centers for Disease Control has advised the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus, and has provided a number of basic steps all citizens can take to protect themselves, including: washing your hands often, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
Revere Emergency Preparedness
City of Revere public safety and health teams are participating in regular briefings with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Authority (MEMA) and are prepared to dispatch emergency volunteers within the city as needed.