01.13.22_Mayor Ballantyne Communication to City Council_COVID-19 Efforts — File 212937

CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS KATJANA BALLANTYNE MAYOR CITY HALL ● 93 HIGHLAND AVENUE ● SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS 02143 [phone removed], EXT. 2100 ● TTY: [phone removed]● FAX: (617) 625- 3434● www.somervillema.gov E-MAIL: mayor@somervillema.gov January 13, 2022 To: Honorable City Councilors From: Katjana Ballantyne, Mayor Subject: Updating the City Council on the City’s Efforts to Fight the Latest Surge of COVID-19 Honorable City Councilors: To provide an update on the City’s efforts to protect the health and safety of Somerville residents during the current COVID-19 surge, I am respectfully submitting this memo, which provides an overview of progress to date but does not represent all activities underway. We are focused on expanding access to testing, high-quality masks, and vaccines and boosters with a focus on vulnerable residents and communities most acutely impacted by COVID-19 in Somerville. The City’s efforts include the following: • Prior to school break, the City distributed approximately 9,500 rapid antigen self-test kits to the Somerville Public Schools and Prospect Hill Academy for families and teachers to use before returning to school. • The City also distributed approximately 7,000 rapid antigen tests to Somerville nonprofits, the Somerville Housing Authority, and City departments that serve residents with a variety of barriers to access.

• SPS is currently testing all students and staff, the City is offering weekly testing clinics for symptomatic or exposed residents at the Annex, and the City and SPS are holding regular vaccination clinics at schools and for the public. In addition, the City continues to support and assist residents in accessing the CHA test site in Union Square, which has a capacity of approximately 1,000 vaccinations per day. • Due to additional demand however, the City is actively working to increase access to both rapid antigen and PCR testing, as well as vaccination opportunities as quickly as possible and as the supply chain and lab space allow. We will share more information with the Council and public as resources are confirmed. • Currently, neither the State nor the CDC has set up a mechanism for reporting self-tests not performed in a clinical setting and have in fact discouraged this. SPS however has set up in-school protocols for reporting of self-tests by students and staff and the City and SPS are tracking this data. • SPS has ample supplies of quality 3-layer masks for all students and masking is strictly enforced in all schools. • The City has purchased and received 3,000 KN95 masks, which will be distributed to vulnerable residents with barriers to access as quickly as possible with a focus on equitable access and with multilingual instructions for use. • On Friday, the City will propose a vaccine mandate to the Board of Health for restaurants, bars, fitness centers, and entertainment to encourage vaccination and slow the spread of COVID. • The Economic Development Division is actively working to provide access to additional financial support for our local businesses and to assist them in getting their workers vaccinated. • The Communications team, which encompasses the Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs and 311, is issuing updates and information and taking incoming requests via multiple channels and methods on an ongoing basis in multiple languages.

• SOIA, HHS, OHS, SPS, and Council on Aging staff, case managers, and social workers also continue to assist residents in accessing health and financial supports, basic needs, housing assistance, and vaccine and testing appointments including arranging for transportation for residents who need it. • Our COVID analyst continues to monitor and post local data to the COVID dashboard accessible via www.somervillema.gov/COVID. • Our ARPA, Auditing, and Purchasing teams are working intensively to ensure swift action on identified funding priorities such as expanded testing. • Our new Emergency Director Justin Kates has assumed command of our emergency response and my Chief of Staff Nikki Spencer, who most recently served with the Commonwealth on vaccine equity initiatives, has joined the response leadership team. • The City's new staff epidemiologist, Ellen Church, also recently started and is supporting the response. • Staff across City departments remain mobilized to support pandemic efforts. For example, HR continues to manage our vaccine mandate for staff, refer staff for testing, and offer return to work support and guidance for those who test positive. • The City is continuously strengthening internal emergency response structures and conducting rapid gap assessments in order to quickly deploy more resources where needed. This situation is fluid and rapidly changing, and I am committed to providing the Council and public with timely information on our public health efforts related to COVID-19. Sincerely, Katjana Ballantyne Mayor