City of Revere Response to COVID-19: April 8, 2020 Update

Emergency Response Team Focuses on People First

Taking Care of One Another, Sharing Data & Implementing Protections for All

April 8, 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 virus. As of April 8, 2020, the Revere Board of Health has been notified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health of 307 positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Revere. 

Open Source Data
As part of an effort to ensure data transparency, residents interested in more detailed COVID-19 case data within the city of Revere can now view regular updates on Revere.org – including total confirmed cases, daily percentage increases, total recoveries and related deaths. Revere.org now also includes a page detailing current offerings and hours of all banks in the City.

Taking Care of One Another
Since its formation on March 18, the City of Revere’s outreach team has been focused on supporting vulnerable populations throughout Revere, including seniors, youth, low-income, homeless, mobility-challenged and undocumented residents. In just its first three weeks of operation, the outreach team has:

• Launched the Revere Community Response Network, a coalition of city staff, community organizations, and resident volunteers to provide food and supply assistance, financial impact and housing support, wellness and neighbor checks, and access to mental health and trauma resources. 
• Recruited more than 200 volunteers to help staff food pantries and scale up operations out of the senior center.  
• Responded to more than 350 calls from seniors and delivered nearly 300 bags of food to seniors’ homes. 
• Placed more than 10,000 phone calls to seniors and Spanish speaking residents. 
• Distributed Chromebooks to seniors and others with no access to technology in their homes.

Protecting Residents
A revised order from the Board of Health has been issued today to all businesses. The order states all employees at essential services businesses must have basic personal protective equipment. Counter businesses, such as bakeries and coffee shops, must either convert to an outdoor pick up or drive through model only, or install additional protections (such as plexiglass at counters) and satisfy additional requirements to be approved by Inspectional Services. 

The City is also advising all residents to use simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help prevent people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders.  

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, with extended hours. Residents with questions or concerns are encouraged to reach the City by dialing 311 (or 781-286-8311) or emailing [email protected]. 
• 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 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Children will receive meals for multiple days at each pick up.
• 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. 
• The City of Revere’s volunteer database is open for individuals seeking to lend a helping hand over the next several weeks.