Confirmed COVID-19 Cases

• It has been reported to Acton Public Health that at this time there are 165 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Acton with 47 individuals in isolation, 97 recovered and 21 fatalities (many of these at congregate care facilities).  Here is a chart showing the cumulative number of cases in Acton over the last 10 weeks.
• The Town of Acton will continue to announce positive cases, active cases, recovered cases and fatalities. Daily case reports and cumulative data on Massachusetts COVID-19 cases and testing, and weekly data on confirmed cases by city/town can be found online here.

Residential Rental Assistance Program 

The Board of Selectmen approved a rental relief program to be administered through our Regional Housing Services Office to help households impacted by COVID-19.  The program will provide temporary rental assistance in the form of a grant for the purpose of supporting eligible households to maintain housing. Funding is limited to a period between June 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020.  Follow actonma.gov for more details which will be available soon.

Local Business Relief Programs

The Board of Selectmen approved two additional measures to help support local businesses:

1. Acton Small Business Relief Program. This program will provide grants to small businesses impacted by COVID-19 based on certain eligibility requirements.  Follow actonma.gov for more details which will be available soon.
2. Temporary Outdoor Dining and Retail Program.  This program is a temporary change in how regulations are enforced related to outside dining and outside retail.  The purpose of these changes is to give businesses mechanisms to increase dining and retail opportunities as they operate under restricted occupancy rules as part of the Commonwealth’s reopening phases. More details will be provided shortly.

Limited Reopening of NARA Park

Effective 5/27/2020 NARA Park will reopen with following restrictions 

• One-way direction on walking paths  
• Athletic fields for use by the same household and only non‐contact sports allowed 
• Face coverings or masks are required in compliance with COVID‐19 Order 31: Order Requiring face coverings in public places where social distancing is not possible 
• Visitors should always practice social distancing by remaining 6 feet away from others and adhering to all site specific rules, regulations, and posted signage regarding permitted uses.
• On walking trails, walker and hikers, should move aside and leave room for others to pass, and runners should alert other users when approaching and wait for others to step aside before passing.
• Please stay home if you are sick

Amended Board of Health Orders

The Board of Health voted last night to amend several existing orders to align with the current multi-phase reopening plan announced by Governor Baker earlier this week.  Use the following link to view  the amended orders. https://www.acton-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6384/2020-5-21-Amendments-to-Existing-Board-of-Health-Orders-Related-to-COVID-19 

Annual Town Meeting Scheduled for June 29, 2020

The Board of Selectmen voted to set the postponed Annual Town Meeting to a new date of June 29, 2020.  The meeting will be held in the ABRHS Gymnasium.  More details about the meeting will be provided in future updates.

Governor Baker’s Reopening Plan

• Governor Baker announced full details of the reopening plan: Reopening Massachusetts: Baker-Polito Administration Initiates Transition to First Phase of Four-Phase Approach.  Additional information about the plan may be found at the links below:
  • Reopening Massachusetts Report
  • Four-Phase Approach

Safer at Home Advisory

The Mass Department of Public Health also updated the Stay at Home Advisory, replacing it with a new, “Safer at Home” Advisory. The new Safer at Home Advisory instructs everyone to stay home unless they are headed to a newly opened facility or activity. It also advises those over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions to stay home with the exception of trips required for health care, groceries, or that are otherwise absolutely necessary. All residents must continue to wear a face covering in public when social distancing is not possible, and individuals are advised to wash their hands frequently and be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms. Restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people remain in effect.

Information about Testing Facilities

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides comprehensive information about COVID-19 testing including an updated list of testing locations.  More information is available here.  An interactive map showing testing locations is also available at the following link:  https://memamaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=eba3f0395451430b9f631cb095febf13

Information Related to Congregate Care Facilities

Acton recently recorded a significant jump in the most recent reporting of COVID-19 cases due to extensive testing at the Life Care Center of Acton. As of May 13th there were 59 cases of residents in isolation and 17 staff members overall that tested positive and were placed in isolation in their respective towns. The facility continues to work with the epidemiologist assigned to the building to move recovered residents out of this unit. Testing is only being conducted as residents begin to show symptoms of COVID-19 now. Director York has been in regular communication with management at Life Care Center of Acton, their epidemiologist assigned to their building and the State Department of Health. The Town of Acton is confident that the facility is doing everything it can to manage this dangerous and often unpredictable pandemic.

Additionally, at the assisted living facility Benchmark at Robbins Brook there have been staff members and residents with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. As of May 19^th Benchmark will be having the National Guard come in to do additional testing of all residents and staff.  They previously have tested resident and staff 14 days and 30 days ago,

All residents are currently quarantined to their rooms and have had no visitors other than staff and outside private care if they have it. Anyone entering the building is assessed for symptoms as they come in. Staff also has to self-identify if they have symptoms and stay home if they are sick.

Emergency Orders Requiring Face Coverings

The Acton Board of Health Emergency Public Health Order of May 5, 2020 requires that face coverings be worn in public.  View the order here: https://actonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6367/Board-of-Health-Emergency-Public-Health-Order-of-May-5

• As of Wednesday, May 6, Massachusetts requires everyone over the age of 2 to wear a face covering in public when social distancing is not possible. View the full details of this order at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/may-1-2020-masks-and-face-coverings/download
• View a MassDPH message called How to Safely Cover Your Face Outside of Home at the following link: https://youtu.be/HtUJPizQVPI

COVID-19 Emergency Grants for Residents 

• The Acton Boxborough United Way has announced further details on the COVID-19 Emergency funding now available for Acton and Boxborough residents.  Frequently Asked Questions about the A-B United Way COVID-19 Emergency Grants for Residents. How to Donate to the COVID-19 Impact Fund from Acton-Boxborough United Way

Acton Town Services Hotline 978-929-6619

• We have established a central customer service hotline called the Acton Town Services hotline to provide one number to call that can provide answers to various questions related COVID-19 and also connect callers to resources about questions about town services in general.   The Acton Town Services hotline number is 978-929-6619.
  

Update on Voting for June 2nd Elections

• The polls will be open from 7AM to 8PM for the town election and the special state representative election (Precincts 3, 4 and 5) on June 2nd and all six precincts will vote at the RJ Grey Junior High School. Please consider the vote early by mail option.  The link to the vote by mail application is here:  https://www.acton-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6288/2020-Municipal-Early-Ballot-Application.  In addition, the vote by mail application will also appear on the last page of the Town’s Municipal Monthly newsletter which will be mailed to all households later this week.

Tax Bill Deadline Extended

In accordance with the Act to Address Challenges Faced by Municipalities and State Authorities Resulting from COVID-19, signed on Friday, April 3, the Town is exercising the option made available by the legislation to extend the due date of tax payments. The Board of Selectmen voted to extend the tax bill deadline from May 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020. If such tax bills are unpaid after June 1, 2020, all fees and interest shall be waived as long as the amount due is paid by June 30, 2020.  Residents who have questions regarding their bill can email collector@actonma.gov.

Restaurants Temporarily Allowed to Sell Groceries in Acton

• The Board of Selectmen and Board of Health approved an emergency order allowing restaurants to sell groceries during the local state of emergency.  This action is one of several small business relief measures being considered.   Additional details will be posted online tomorrow at http://www.actonma.gov/covid19. 

Town Offices, Facilities and Recreation Spaces

All town buildings, playgrounds, recreation fields, NARA Park, and the skate park remain closed to the public while Massachusetts’s State of Emergency is in effect. The closures are being ordered out of an abundance of caution in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and promote social distancing. Rail trails and conservation trails remain open, but residents are encouraged to practice social distancing and not congregate in groups if they are using the trails.  Town Hall services are still operational and staff is available during normal hours throughout the work week. Please call 978-929-6619 or use www.actonma.gov to contact staff.

Transfer Station Hours

The Acton Transfer Station has adjusted operating hours and is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. This adds Monday as a new day of service for residents. The first hour of operation (7-8 a.m. of each day) is designated for seniors only. For more information on the Transfer Station and Recycling Center, please call 978-929-7742.

Reminder from Acton Memorial Library about Online Offerings

• Digital Resources: We have great content you can access digitally. In most cases you use your Library Card Number and Password to access these resources. If you have lost your library card number or forgotten your password, please click HERE.
• E-Cards: If you do not already have a Minuteman library card, you can apply for a temporary e-card here. This will allow you to check out digital titles.

View archives of previously posted COVID19 updates:

• March/April Archive
• May Archive
  

Acton’s COVID-19 Information Center: http://www.actonma.gov/covid19