COVID-19 Response Updates for March 19, 2020 1:00 PM
Number of confirmed cases in Acton: 0
Board of Health meets tonight at 7PM (virtually)
Selectmen seeking a court order to delay the Town Election and State Special Election scheduled March 31st
Public building closures extended until further notice
A new daily bag lunch pickup program has been announced by AB Schools in collaboration with the AB Neighbor Brigade see details below
New COVID-19 related resources available for businesses at www.actonma.gov/business
Practice social distancing of 6 feet between yourself and others to help decrease the transmission of COVID-19. This includes limiting social gatherings to no more than 10 people in one location.
Public Health
The Board of Health banned the use of cold bars, hot bars, buffets or self-service type foods at all grocery and convenience stores
The Board of Health wants to remind our residents to wash reusable bags after each use as the virus can live within the bag.
If anyone displays symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough or shortness of breath, they should not come to work or school and they are advised to contact their primary care physician.
Put distance between yourself and other people where COVID-19 has been confirmed in the surrounding communities. This is especially important for anyone over 60 years old and anyone with an underlying disease process that puts them at higher risk of getting COVID-19.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person:
General Government
Acton’s Annual Town Meeting scheduled for April 6th has been postponed and a new date will be determined by the Board of Selectmen.
The Board of Selectmen voted to seek a court order to delay the Town Election and State Special Election currently scheduled for March 31st
The Board of Selectmen voted to declare a local state of emergency in Acton effective March 10, 2020 and the Board of Health will be considering voting on this declaration at its meeting this Thursday.
Human Services and Senior Center Facility, Acton Memorial Library, West Acton Citizens Library, Recreation Offices and Town Hall will be closed to the public until further notice.
Residents are encouraged to utilize the Town of Acton’s website, http://www.actonma.gov, to access Town services.
Board and Committee meetings other than Selectmen and Board of Health are cancelled or postponed until further notice.
Building inspections will continue on a limited basis. More information: https://www.acton-ma.gov/114/Building
Community Resources
A new guide to available food resources is available: https://www.acton-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6259/2020-3-17-Food-Resources-Update-COVID-19-Response
Questions around fuel assistance eligibility & utility shut-off prevention please contact the Community Resources Office at (978) 929-6651 or lducharme@acton-ma.gov.
The Acton-Boxborough Regional School District is providing bagged lunches for citizens in need. Lunches can be picked up in front of the high school from 11:30 - 1:00 on weekdays. The Acton-Boxborough Neighbor Brigade will be helping deliver meals strictly to families that are homebound due to extreme situations such as lack of transportation or self isolating / quarantine due to COVID-19. If you are in need of food provided by the schools to be delivered to your residence please either call the toll free number or send a message to the email address listed below by March 27th. If you communicate in a language other than English, please use email and we will have your information translated.
Phone - (866) 896-3599 The toll free number will be voicemail only so please leave your first and last name, your address, phone number and how many people reside in the home. You do not need to have children in the schools, but if you do, please include your children’s first and last name. Your food will be delivered during the regularly scheduled days when the school is distributing meals from the high school.
Email - abqualifiedlunch@neighborbrigade.org Please email us and include the following details in your message: your first and last name, your address, phone number and how many people reside in the home. Your food will be delivered during the regularly scheduled days when the school is distributing meals from the high school.
There is still a need for additional volunteers to process phone and email messages, and to deliver meals. If you are available, please register to become a Neighbor Brigade here: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/736c9c97-f266-406b-a899-a1d9e72f88d9/1 .
Acton Nursing Services
Appointments within the Acton Nursing Services office will be rescheduled for a later date as information and the COVID-19 situation continues to update. For concerns or questions please call 978-929-6650
Home Health Care visits will continue with current clients as well as new clients who are referred to Acton Nursing Services. Be advised that per guidance for Home Health Agencies all clients will receive a call prior to a home visit to assess their and any household members health status related to COVID-19. If you are a current client of Acton Nursing Services or if anyone within your household has a fever, cough or shortness of breath please call our office number at 978-929-6650 to report these or other concerning symptoms.
Libraries
While the Acton Memorial Library remains temporarily closed to the public, all fines will be waived for items that become due while the building is closed. Please do not return items until the library reopens.
All physical items, including museum passes, will not be available to check out while the facility is closed. Residents are encouraged to explore the digital content available through the library. Visit actonmemoriallibrary.org/eresources for more information on borrowing e-books, audiobooks, video, and more.
If you have any questions about these services contact a library representative on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 978-929-6655 or by emailing reference@actonma.gov
Public Safety
We are actively practicing social distancing at the Public Safety Facility. While the building will remain open for emergencies, we ask that you please call our business line 978-929-7711 for all police matters. For general questions regarding Covid-19 please call the state’s hotline 211.
We are taking more reports over the phone and if we do respond to your home we will try and keep our distance for everyone’s safety
The MedReturn bin has been temporarily removed from the lobby of the PSF
Public Works
There will be no monetary transactions, sticker sales or material that requires handling by staff allowed at the facility.
The swap shop is not open.
We ask residents to practice appropriate social distancing at the facility.
We ask the residents to dispose of their recyclables and trash expeditiously, avoid hanging around the facility and no picking through the material. We are trying to minimize the delays and vehicular backups onto Route 2 on Saturday.
Recreation
Senior Center
Town Manager, John Mangiaratti and COA Director Sharon Mercurio will be live on Acton TV Friday, March 20 at 10 am for Java with John including recent updates.
Senior Center will remain closed to the public, until further notice
COA and Town staff are making wellness calls to seniors
Meals on Wheels operations will continue along with limited meal take out service call 781-221-7085 to reserve a meal.
Seniors in need of assistance with food, grocery shopping … Please call the Senior Center at 978-929-6652
Transportation
All of Acton’s fixed-route services, including the Rail Shuttle and Cross-Acton Transit (CAT), will be suspended until further notice.
Door-to-door services remain in operation, however, riders are encouraged to utilize alternative modes of transportation if possible. To schedule rides, continue using CrossTown Connect dispatch by calling (978) 844-6809 during normal business hours.
Any additional questions can be forwarded to Austin Cyganiewicz by phone (978)-929-6513 or email acyganiewicz@actonma.gov.
The MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis), the agency’s operating partner for Commuter Rail, announced today a Reduced Service Schedule effective Tuesday, March 17. The Commuter Rail Reduced Service Schedule is available at www.MBTA.com/coronavirus
Veterans Services Office
Business Resources
- State and federal loans are becoming available to assist the business community. Please visit www.actonma.gov/business for the most up-to-date information.
More Resources about the COVID-19
Take steps to protect yourself
Clean hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol for 20 seconds.
Avoid touching your eye, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Practice social distancing between yourself and other people of at least 6 feet. Avoid social gatherings of greater than 10 people within a closed space.
Cover your sneezes and coughs with a tissue or using the inside of your elbow, discard tissue and wash your hands.
Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
DPH website: https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19#-overview-
CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Commonwealth of Massachusetts: http://www.Mass.gov
Additional updates will be published regularly on the Town of Acton website and residents are encouraged to sign up to receive notifications directly to their email inbox at the following link: http://actonma.gov/subscribe