Video: Update for Friday, March 27

Transcript:

Per guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, new cases of COVID-19 will no longer be reported town by town. Rest assured however that the identities and contact info of each COVID-19 resident here in Melrose has been shared with our Health Department, and they continue to perform contact tracing to limit exposure and slow the spread. I think this development is important in highlighting the fact that the safest thing we can do as a community is assume that folks have been exposed. That way we will continue to be as mindful as necessary of the importance of social distancing.

I have been so impressed with the outreach and support so many of you have offered to your fellow residents and hope you will continue to focus on social distancing and not speculate on the identities of potential patients.

I am pleased to report that the federal legislation I discussed yesterday has now passed the U.S. House of Representatives. I am continuing to be grateful to Representative Katherine Clark for her support of our community and urge the president to sign this legislation immediately as our Main Street businesses and families need that support now.

And folks, it’s unfortunate that I have to talk about this, but with a crisis like this comes the unfortunate incidence of scammers trying to take advantage of your good will and generosity. The Melrose Police Department have reported that there are testing scams that we have seen arise in our community, and I expect we will also see on the internet or by phone or even in the mail solicitations for donations or opportunities for cures or things of the like that simply aren’t legitimate. The same rules apply no matter what the scam is: If you get a phone call, it’s OK to hang up. If you are solicited for a donation try to call back or check in with authorities to make sure that charity has a legitimate purpose. We recognize again you have a terrific impulse to want to help out, but I have to urge you to be as cautious as possible in responding to these solicitations.

Again, as always Melrose, please wash your hands, practice social distancing, and only go out when necessary. We will get through this together. Thank you.