Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
It has been reported to Acton Public Health that at this time there are 171 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Acton with 30 individuals in isolation, 120 recovered and 21 fatalities (many of these at congregate care facilities). Here is a chart showing the cumulative number of cases in Acton.
Annual Town Meeting Scheduled for June 29, 2020 6PM
The Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, June 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. The primary meeting location will be the upper gymnasium (also referred to as the Field House). An outdoor meeting location for registered voters to participate in Town Meeting will also be available. The state and local safety guidelines will be in effect including restricted occupancy, masks and social distancing. There will be contactless check-in and a minimum six feet separation between attendees. Article presentations will be limited, and clickers for voting will not be used. Town officials plan to have article presentations pre-recorded and posted online ahead of the meeting. The Warrant will be posted no later than Monday, June 15 on the town website, and will printed and mailed to residents.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program will provide temporary rental assistance in the form of a grant and will be administered through a collaboration with the Regional Housing Services Office (RHSO). The application window for the program will open on Monday, June 1. Please contact lducharme@actonma.gov for more information.
COVID-19 Small Business Grant
The Town of Acton has established the COVID-19 Small Business Grant to assist existing small businesses that have had significant business disruption due to the COVID-19 closures. This competitive grant program will provide up to $4,000 in funds to assist small businesses in Acton cover wages, rent, loss of inventory, and other fixed costs not already paid for by other federal COVID-19 financial assistance or relief programs. Application will be available starting Monday, June 1 at the COVID-19 Information center http://www.actonma.gov/covid19. The initial deadline for complete application is Monday, June 15th . Applications received after that day may be considered if funding is available. Contact businessgrant@actonma.gov for more information and to receive an application directly to your email.
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
- Governor Baker Phase 2 Step 1 started June 8, 2020. These openings include:
- Retail, with occupancy limits;
- Childcare facilities and day camps, with detailed guidance;
- Hotels and other lodgings, no events, functions or meetings;
- Restaurants, outdoor table service only;
- Warehouses and distribution centers;
- Personal services without close physical contact, such as home cleaning, photography, window washing, career coaching and education tutoring;
- Post-secondary, higher education, vocational-tech and occupation schools for the purpose of completing graduation requirements;
- Youth and adult amateur sports, with detailed guidance;
- Outdoor recreation facilities
- Professional sports practices, no games or public admissions;
- Non-athletic youth instructional classes in arts, education or life skills and in groups of less than 10;
- Driving and flight schools
- Outdoor historical spaces, no functions, gatherings or guided tours;
- Funeral homes, with occupancy limits
- These openings are all contingent on compliance with State guidance and detailed safety plans. The Health Division is working with these establishments to ensure that safety protocols have been met prior to each establishment, organization or business opening. At a minimum, some of these include, but are not limited to, hygiene standards, social distancing, staff training, cleaning/disinfection protocols. Please be patient as following these requirements may delay some from scheduling their openings. See Governor Baker Order here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/june-6-2020-phase-ii-reopening/download
Outside Dining
Several Acton Restaurants received approval for outside dining and modifications to licensing from the Board of Selectmen after expedited review from the Land Use Department. These restaurants include: Atlantic Sea Grill, Filho’s, Rapscallion, Red Raven, Legend’s Café, New London Pizza, and True West. Also El Huipil and Holy Grail received conditional approval pending final Land Use Department Review. It is expected that additional restaurants will be considered for approval within in the next weeks.
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. Acton Nursing Director Heather York reports that there have been 63 cases of residents and 21 staff members overall that have tested positive. Twenty residents have recovered from the virus, as of Friday, March 29. 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 are seven staff members and 10 residents with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. 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.
A Note from the Acton Water District (AWD)
Outdoor Watering Restrictions Ban: Ban on Lawn Irrigation in effect
" Due to the ongoing dry weather, and two of our sources currently being unavailable due to delays in maintenance activities caused by COVID-19 interruptions, AWD is implementing a ban on lawn irrigation effective immediately. This includes above ground sprinklers and automated inground irrigation systems. The remaining components of our seasonal outdoor water use restrictions remain in effect, including the limits on using water outdoors based on your address. As a reminder, this includes other outdoor water uses including but not limited to power washing, watering gardens, car washing, and construction related activities. AWD thanks you for your cooperation and any water conservation efforts that you observe. Updates in the status of our outdoor water use restrictions will be communicated on our website ww.actonwater.com and via Twitter @ActonWater."
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
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
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
The Acton Town Services Hotline is available to connect residents with a live worker to receive information and answers to their questions about the latest government news, COVID-19, and Town services in general. Hotline workers also help answer questions related to the topics such as elections, town meetings, financial relief programs for residents and business owners, and Town reopening plans. The Acton Town Services hotline number is 978-929-6619 and is open on Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon.
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 and Facilities
All town buildings and playgrounds 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. 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 will continue operating with the adjusted schedule for the initial reopening. The facility is currently open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first hour (7-8 a.m.) is designated for Seniors (65+). The Transfer Station will also begin to accept payments (checks only) at the office for bulky items by early June. Staff are continuing to look at how to re-introduce some recycling streams such as polystyrene in later phases.
The purchase of Transfer Station and Recycling Facility vehicle stickers are now available online.
For more information on the Transfer Station and Recycling Center, please call 978-929-7742.
View archives of previously posted COVID19 updates: