Coronavirus 2019 (COVID19)

COVID-19 Community Case Count

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health updates their COVID-19 case numbers weekly on Wednesdays, please find updated numbers from the State by Town by clicking the link below:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting#covid-19-cases-by-city/town-

Please note: It is likely that the COVID case count number above under-represents the true number of cases in Concord. Concord and most other towns in Massachusetts are experiencing widespread community transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The lack of availability of COVID-19 tests means many people who are symptomatic are not being tested or reported as positive cases. Everyone should assume that the virus is widespread and that anyone you meet could be infectious. Please stay at home as requested by Governor Baker and maintain social distancing of 6-10 feet when you must be out in public to complete necessary errands.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health webpage https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-cases-quarantine-and-monitoring provides a daily update of COVID cases in Massachusetts including information for Middlesex County.

Guidance for Reopening Businesses

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Department of Public Health and Department of Labor Standards are issuing industry and business-specific COVID Safety and Reopening Standards.

These guidance documents can be found at:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-when-can-my-business-reopen#businesses-

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs-eea-covid-19-guidance-documents

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/covid-19-workplace-safety-measures-for-reopening

For general information on the reopening of Massachusetts, visit the Mass.gov or Phased Opening Page.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health COVID-19 Dashboard

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting

The Dashboard is a comprehensive and detailed COVID-19 data report, which includes trend data in a variety of areas (e.g. information on cases rates, testing, geography of confirmed cases etc.), death related data and specific data on COVID-19 hospital census information, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, rest homes (with known clusters), and PPE distribution is updated daily by 4PM. City and town case data are published weekly each Wednesday.

Is there a list of places where I can get tested for COVID-19 if I think I have symptoms?

If you think you may have symptoms, first call your health care provider. If your clinician thinks you should be tested but they are unable to offer a test at their own health care facility, they will provide a referral and you can be tested at test site near you. A physician’s Order is required for testing at all sites. An appointment is necessary at all sites; call ahead to make your appointment before you go.

Link to list of current Massachusetts Covid-19 Testing sites.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/ma-covid-19-testing-sites/download

SUMMARY OF BOARD OF HEALTH ORDER REQUIRING USE OF FACE COVERINGS
Please see the BOH Order in its entirety here.

Employees of all businesses shall wear a face covering over their mouth and nose when interacting with the public and whenever they are within six feet of a co-worker or a customer. Acceptable face coverings include cloth masks, non-medical grade surgical masks and other types of face coverings (“Acceptable Face Coverings”).
Employees at all licensed food service establishments must wear Acceptable Face Coverings over their mouth and nose when preparing or handling food.
Members of the public entering any business, work site, or government building must wear Acceptable Face Coverings over their nose and mouth.
Members of the public entering a restaurant for the purpose of picking up food for take-out must wear Acceptable Face Coverings over their nose and mouth.
Personnel who deliver food or other goods to the customer if there is person-to-person exchange must wear Acceptable Face Coverings over their nose and mouth.
All businesses open to the public must post signs at their entrances advising customers that they are required to wear Acceptable Face Coverings prior to entering.
Roads, sidewalks, bicycle paths, and trails: Walkers, joggers, cyclists, inline skaters, and others must wear Acceptable Face Coverings when approaching or overtaking other persons who are not in the same household. When no person outside the same household is nearby, the face covering may be worn or held in a position from which it can be quickly pulled up over the nose and mouth when needed. When approaching or overtaking a person outside of their household, both parties or household groups must both (i) wear Acceptable Face Coverings and (ii) move off the path to the side to establish at least six feet of separation.
Residents, visitors, and members of the general public entering or exiting a residential or commercial building complex of greater than two (2) units must wear Acceptable Face Coverings over their nose and mouth while in common areas and must exercise social distancing in these spaces. Residential and commercial building complexes shall post signage informing all residents, staff, and visitors that Acceptable Face Coverings must be worn at all times in common areas of the building, and reminding all residents, staff, and visitors that a distance of six feet between individuals must be observed, except when those individuals are members of the same household or are engaged in caring for a child.
Essential retail establishments as defined by Governor Baker’s COVID-19 Executive Orders, must limit the number of customers and staff inside the establishment at any given time so that social distancing of six feet may be maintained. All retail establishments must establish maximum occupancy loads in accordance with the “Guidance for Grocery Stores” issued by the Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health on April 7, 2020, as it may be updated from time to time. See this order at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/order-grocery-stores-40-percent/download.

Town of Concord COVID-19 Updates

Any new updates from the Town will be posted below. For updates from past weeks, please click here or view the page "COVID-19 Past Updates" on the left hand column.

COVID-19 UPDATE AS OF MAY 11TH

Text from this evenings’ robocall from Town Manager Stephen Crane:
Good Evening. This is Town Manager Stephen Crane calling once again to give you an update on the Town’s response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Governor Baker has issued new orders including the extension of the closure of nonessential businesses until May 18 as well as a new requirement that face coverings that cover your nose and mouth must be worn in public when social distancing cannot be maintained, when inside certain businesses, and while using public transit. The Concord Board of Health also adopted an order on face coverings that incorporates the Governor’s order and further clarifies its application in town. Both orders are posted on the Town’s website.

The Governor also made several changes to non-essential businesses allowing for some remote purchases and has announced a four phase plan to reopen the state’s economy. The Town will closely monitor the development of the plan and incorporate it into local efforts to reopen including Town offices. Information on the Governor’s plan is also on the Town’s website.

Town Moderator Carmin Reiss has also announced that the Annual Town Meeting continued to June 22 will be further continued, at least until late July, and ideally until late September. The Moderator’s decisions on Town Meeting are made in consultation with the Select Board and Town public health and safety officials, and based upon local public health conditions, restrictions ordered by the Governor, the Town’s ability to ensure everyone’s safety, and the Town’s ability to continue operations while delaying town meeting appropriations.

The Town Election remains scheduled for June 11. Any voter wishing to vote by mail needs to send to the Town Clerk by mail, email, or in the drop box outside the Town House, a signed and dated request for an early ballot, including their name, address and where the ballot should be sent. We strongly encourage voting by mail for the health of both voters and election workers.

Finally, I want to thank Concord residents for your continued patience in this difficult and uncertain time. The pandemic has already impacted all of us and will continue to do so for months to come. It’s more important than ever to fight the spread of the virus, treat each other with kindness and respect, and support local businesses whenever possible. Stay safe and be well.

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The above Four-Phase Approach to Reopening Massachusetts was announced May 11th, the details provided about the phased reopening can be found on mass.gov.

UPDATE AS OF MAY 5TH

On Monday, May 4th, Governor Baker made changes to non-essential business restrictions. The changes can be seen in the Essential Services FAQ, the text of which is available on the Massachusetts State Government website.

UPDATE AS OF MAY 4TH

Answering the Phone to Help the MA COVID Team Trace & Slow the Spread of COVID-19

If someone tests positive for COVID-19, staff from the state’s new Community Tracing Collaborative will reach out by phone to that person, and their close contacts, to slow the spread of the virus. Contact Tracers will make sure residents are getting the medical attention and support they need during isolation and quarantine.

The caller ID will show the call is coming from “MA COVID Team”. If you receive a call with this ID, please answer the call. Information shared during the call is strictly confidential and is treated as private medical information. Learn More about the Community Tracing Collaborative: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/learn-about-the-community-tracing-collaborative

UPDATE AS OF MAY 1ST

Earlier today, Governor Maker issued an order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by requiring face masks to be worn in public. This order goes into effect Wednesday May 6th and will remain in effect until further notice. For information on the order, please read the official language which can be found here.

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In response to the good weather which is being forecasted for this weekend the Concord Police Department has issued some precautions which will be taken in order to assist with keeping our community safe during the time of COVID-19 social distancing necessity. Please view the memo from Police Chief Joseph F. O’Connor to Town Manager Stephen Crane below or by clicking the link here.

CONCORD POLICE DEPARTMENT

As a result of the Governor Baker’s issuance of the State of Emergency declaration on March 10, 2020; and the local declaration by the Select Board on March 19, 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation, the Police Department has continued to ensure the safety of the community while collaborating with key stakeholders to assist with public health issues.

Social distancing is vital for reducing risk of transmission of COVID-19. The Concord community overall has been compliant with the Governor’s order; however, we have seen increased usage of conservation areas, the Bruce Freeman Trail and other locations. Although the areas are thought of as open spaces people sometimes come within close proximity of each other. The risk in these open spaces is low; however, some people experience some anxiety especially when masks are not being worn.

This Sunday, May 3, 2020 the weather is expected to sunny and approximately 70 degrees. It is anticipated that people will feel the need get outside and enjoy the weather. It is expected that an increase of people in the fore mention locations will increase and the Police Department will be putting the following in place to assist with safety

Patrol Officers will focus their patrols on areas where people may congregate and if they observe people not exhibiting social distancing they will speak directly with them. If the group is at a distance, the Officer will impart the following message via their cruiser’s public address system, ”In an effort to keep everyone healthy, the Concord Police Department wants to remind you to spread out and maintain a social distance of six feet or more. If you are unable to maintain that distance, always wear a mask to protect yourself and others”.
Officer will be assigned to the Bruce Freeman Trail and patrol on a mountain bicycle. A sign board will be placed near Main St. and Commonwealth Ave to promote social distancing. The Officer will also monitor pedestrian and bicyclists (signage calls for dismounting ) at the Junction Park
Officer will be assigned to White Pond and patrol the beach/boat launch area, trails and enforce parking regulations in the surrounding neighborhood.
Officer will be assigned to a cruiser with a bicycle rack and will patrol Town’ conservation areas. The Officer will use the mountain bike in areas that appear to have unusual increased volume.
Officers will focus on parks and school properties.
Officers will check the Lowell Rd. boat ramp.
An evaluation is being conducted and under the Chief’s authority additional temporary no parking restricts may be put in place.
Officers will strictly enforce parking regulations and posted temporary with a focus on recurrent problem areas.

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The Finance Committee Public Hearings have been rescheduled for Monday May 4th and Wednesday May 6th. The article information and more can be found in the agendas below.

May 4th Finance Committee Public Hearing Agenda

May 6th Finance Committee Public Hearing Agenda

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Concord Public Works (CPW) is pleased to inform you that throughout this COVID-19 response period, curbside trash and recycling continues to be picked up reliably and on schedule.

As you may recall, because Town offices had been forced to close un-expectedly during the regular subscription renewal period, accommodations were made to allow for on-line procurement of barrel stickers and disposal tags. While many customers have successfully been able to renew their subscriptions online and by mail and obtain updated barrel stickers and disposal tags, we wish to remind those who have not yet been able to do so of the following:

There are two payment steps required to ensure uninterrupted service of municipal curbside trash and recycling. This involves (1) payment of your 6-month subscription fee and (2) purchase of barrel sticker or disposal tags.

Barrel stickers and disposal tags may continue to be purchased locally at Concord Lumber, Crosby’s Market, CVS, West Concord Pharmacy or West Concord 5&10. (Cumberland Farms sells tags only).

You can also now purchase your Barrel Sticker and Disposal Tags online. Those residents who cannot get to one of our vendor locations can purchase a barrel sticker ($46.80) which covers April 1 – Sept. 30 or single use disposal tags ($1.80), by clicking here. Please allow two weeks for these to be received in the mail.

You can also renew your subscription for that same time period online via the same link. You will need to enter your bill number (six digits preceded by “0”s) and enter the year 20211. If you cannot locate your bill you may use the “search option” on the online application.

Another method of renewal subscription can be achieved by sending your check payable to “Town of Concord” for $141.00 along with a note indicating you are paying your curbside subscription – stating your address and mail to “Treasurer’s Office, Town of Concord, 22 Monument Square, Concord, MA 01742”. If you have already sent this to the PO Box listed on the bill, that is okay, it just takes a little longer to be processed.

If you have, any questions feel free to contact us via email at cpw.info@concordma.gov or by leaving us a voicemail message at 978-318-3240. We will respond as soon as possible.

We appreciate your patience and understanding and hope you and your family stay well.

Please visit the program webpage at any time for the most up-to-date information at www.concordma.gov/recycle.

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID19)

COVID-19 Community Case Count

Guidance for Reopening Businesses

Coronavirus self-checker

Websites and Resources