March 20, 2020 Newsletter

Community Update #2 on COVID-19

On Wednesday, March 18th, Mayor Walsh announced a city-wide effort to distribute important information related to the coronavirus.  Information will be delivered to residents and it will be in multiple languages. If you are  healthy  and would like to volunteer to help deliver information to neighbors, you may sign up at   bit.ly/helplitdrop .

The City of Boston has launched a new, free texting service to provide daily updates and information about the coronavirus.  Stay in the know and text BOSCOVID to 99411 to opt-in.

On Tuesday, March 16th,  Mayor Walsh addressed the residents of Boston about what our City has done to be prepared for Coronavirus; how we’ll continue to work together to keep the people of Boston healthy and safe; and what this crisis demands of each and every one of us, individually and together, as we move forward.  See the Mayor's full address  here .

Also earlier this week, the City of Boson Office of Economic Development (OED) held a conference call for the business community in Boston. If you missed the call or were unable to join because of the cap, you can watch a recording of the meeting on their facebook page. OED has added the resources they discussed on the call to their website here .

WRMS is hosting a virtual lunch today , Mar ch 20th, at 12pm for an informal conversation to share amongst each other thoughts, ideas, and resources to move forward in a positive way as a community and Main Street district. All are welcome. Here is link to join at Noon: meet.google.com/gbc-enfp-yoo.

Upcoming monthly meetings for the WRMS Marketing Committee and WRMS Design Committee will be held as virtual meetings on Google Meet until further notice. If you're interested in joining a committee, you can learn more here .

Next month's Women's Business Network meeting will also be held virtually and take place on Thursday, April 2nd at 8am.

And finally, a shoutout to all those on the front lines right now: healthcare workers, emergency services responders, grocery store checkout staff and stockers, government workers, food service providers, supply chain workers, and all of the other unsung heroes out there right now. For those unable to shelter in place, we appreciate all that you do.

For Residents

Residents are asked not to call 9-1-1 for COVID-19 testing unless you are experiencing a medical emergency. All COVID-19 questions should be directed to Mayor’s Health Line at 617-534-5050 or 311. The City and BPHC will continue to provide updated information on  bphc.org  and  boston.gov/coronavirus .

Get Health Insurance NOW . The  Massachusetts Health Connector  is offering a special open enrollment period right now due to the coronavirus. The Connector sells plans to individuals who don’t get coverage through an employer and will accept new enrollments through April 25.

WRMS is maintaining an updated list of store hours and service adjustments for essential service businesses in the area. This list will be developed and updated soon.

For Businesses and Employers

We are continuing to track updates and resources for the businesses in West Roxbury affected by the pandemic. Please reach out if we can be of assistance or if you have not been receiving emails sent to our business distribution list. We're also posting regular updates on our facebook page and on our website at wrms.org/coronavirus .

Additional resources for businesses and employers:

What to Know About Unemployment Benefits

We came across this helpful article from Patch that outlines what MA residents need to know about the steps for filing for unemployment if they have been affected by furloughs and layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Boston Public Schools

The City of Boston, in partnership with Project Bread, YMCA of Greater Boston, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, and other community organizations, will provide free meals to all youth and teens at various locations and times across the City. Learn more about meal distribution locations here

 

Meal Distribution sites in West Roxbury include the following:

 

 

As part of our efforts to continue serving our students, Boston Public Schools are providing Chromebooks to students who do not have consistent access to a computer at home. Parents will receive an appointment time to pick up their student's device to avoid creating crowds.

Additional resources related to COVID-19



HELP FLATTEN THE CURVE

To protect Bostonians and their families from the spread of the virus, residents are reminded to practice caution: wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol; avoid shaking hands; cover your coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you think you might be sick, please call your doctor or 311 to be connected to the Mayor's Health Line. Residents are also reminded to practice social distancing: keep your distance from others (6 feet apart); avoid crowded places.

Thank you to our annual sponsors:

West Roxbury Main Streets is proud member of the  Main Street America  Network and an accredited Main Street Program