COVID-19 RESOURCES
General Guidance & Tips
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Continue to practice good hygiene and wash your hands often.
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Limit how often you touch public surfaces, like gas pumps, public door handles, and credit card pin pads.
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Avoid public places with high pedestrian traffic.
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Keep your social circles small, or limited to just those you live with.
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If you feel sick, call your primary care physician for guidance. Do not go to the ER if it is not an emergency.
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Stay home if you or anyone you live with is sick.
The CDC recommends cloth face masks be worn in public settings alongside the implementation of social distancing measures. Here's how to make your own mask.
Frontline Workers
The Massachusetts office of the Attorney General has launched a new resource page for those serving on the frontlines. The site gathers information on access to free and discounted meals, priority testing, links to allow for the donation of personal protective equipment, and much more. If interested in accessing these resources, or if you believe you can help, please click the link below.
Unemployment
As with many government services, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has had to change some of the ways in which it conducts business in order to maintain recommended COVID-19 safety standards. For additional information on how to access these benefits during this crisis, click the link below.
Food Assistance
For many in Essex County, consistent, reliable access to food is a constant challenge. Below you will find links to multiple community programs that are working to fight food insecurity in our backyard.
Our Neighbors Table provides flexible, personalized grocery orders that can be placed through the Get Food link on their website. Orders are restricted to curbside pickup only during the current crisis.
Pettengill House is a nonprofit social service agency with a focus on community and family empowerment in north Essex County. Their food pantry is located at 13 Lafayette Rd, Salisbury, MA 01952 is open Tuesdays 9:00am-2:00pm and 4:00pm-6:00pm.
Newbury Food Pantry offers food assistance for both delivery and pickup. Their service locations are currently limited to Newbury, Byfield, Plum Island, Newburyport, Rowley, and West Newbury due to the volume of need at this time.
COVID-19 UPDATES AND RESOURCES
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Friends and Neighbors,
I would like to express my deep gratitude and admiration for our community leaders who continue to remind us that we can make it through this together. In this challenging time, it is critical that we stay connected and ensure resources reach those who need support. This page will provide up-to-date information from each community within the First Essex District throughout this time of crisis. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, or additional information you wish to share with us. Stay safe and well.
- Amber
LATEST NEWS
Effective August 1, 2020, all visitors and returning residents entering Massachusetts must complete the Massachusetts Travel Form and quarantine for 14 days
Massachusetts has launched a strategic testing program across communities hardest hit by Coronavirus. Free testing is availble in Agawam, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Springfield, Taunton, and Worcester. Testing at these sites is not restricted to residents of the city or town
As of July 6, 2020 we are currently in Phase III, step 1 of Governor Baker's plan to safely reopen the state.