COVID-19 Testing will be available at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Nahant on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 and Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 from 1-3 p.m. Drive through only. Photo ID required, and no appointment is necessary.
Cataldo Ambulance is also offering private in home COVID testing at a cost of $150. Please visit their website at Cataldoambulance.com or call 617-625-0126.
Note: The following is a press release from Gov. Charlie Baker’s office:
BOSTON — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the extension of further restrictions and new hospital guidance to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.
Industry restrictions for capacity limits and reduced gathering limits went into effect on Saturday, Dec. 26, and will now be extended for at least two more weeks to Jan. 24.
Read a summary of the restrictions here.
Read the emergency order here.
INDUSTRY RESTRICTIONS & GATHERING LIMITS
Capacity Limits: Under the current restrictions that are being extended today, most industries in Massachusetts remain subject to a 25% capacity limit:
All other rules and restrictions in each sector-specific guidance will continue to remain in effect.
Gatherings Limit: The current gathering limits in place since Dec. 26 are also being extended. Indoor gatherings will remain limited to 10 people. Outdoor gatherings will remain limited to 25 people outside.The gatherings limit applies to private homes, event venues and public spaces.
NEW HOSPITAL GUIDANCE:
Hospital Tier Escalation: The Department of Public Health’s hospital guidance, issued in early November, establishes a regional tiering system for hospitals to support continued collaboration among hospitals and sustain capacity. Since early December, all regions across the Commonwealth have been in Tier 3 status, which established a framework for greater coordination to balance patient load and ensure capacity.
Today, in response to the continued rise in hospitalizations, all regions across the state will be escalated to Tier 4 status. In Tier 4, the hospitals in each region will meet at least daily, and will continue to collaborate across regions where necessary, to address growing capacity constraints and continue to load balance as needed.
ICU Nurse Staffing Ratios: To support the health care system’s continued response to the surge in cases and hospitalizations, the Commonwealth is allowing the deployment of acute nursing staffing under certain circumstances. Starting today, hospitals with severe capacity constraints may request a temporary exemption from the mandated nurse-to-patient ratios in the ICU. This option will only be available to hospitals with capacity of less than 20% who first attest to DPH that they have suspended all nonessential elective invasive procedures, including those conducted in an outpatient setting under the hospital’s license. Additionally, hospitals must take every reasonable step to expand capacity prior to requesting a temporary exemption. If a hospital’s bed capacity increases, or if the hospital re-starts nonessential elective invasive procedures, the hospital must resume compliance with the ICU staffing requirements.
COVID testing in Nahant is currently suspended starting today Jan. 5, 2021. While the recently passed COVID relief legislation by the Federal Government extended the CARES Act deadline, it did not include additional funding to municipalities for COVID-related costs such as testing. Many communities are experiencing exhaustion of these funds as well and are having to suspend free local testing. However the town is actively seeking ways to get testing back into Nahant.
Free COVID testing is still offered in surrounding communities for Nahant residents in Lynn, Revere, and Saugus to name a few. Please log on to mass.gov for a list of testing locations and hours. We apologize for any inconvenience and will keep you updated with more information. If you have any questions please call Nahant’s COVID hotline at 781-771-2121 or call Town Hall at 781-581-0088.
Note: The following is a press release from Gov. Charlie Baker’s office.
BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $67.4 million in awards to 1,366 additional small businesses in a second round of grants through the COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). Additionally, the new Sector-Specific Small Business Relief Grant Program, also administered by MGCC, is now accepting applications from businesses from sectors most impacted by the COIVD-19. Both grant programs are part of a new $668 million relief package announced last week.
The businesses being notified today of their successful grant application include many that are owned by minorities (50%) and women (48%). Restaurants and bars, beauty and personal services, health care and retail are among the top sectors receiving relief in this second round of awards. The first round of grants announced last week totaled nearly $49 million in support of 1,158 Massachusetts small businesses.
MGCC is continuing to review existing applications and will make awards over the coming weeks to companies that meet demographic and industry preferences. Businesses that have already applied to MGCC’s Small Business Grant Program do not need to reapply to the new program.
New Grant Program Accepting Applications
In addition to providing grants to businesses within the existing pool of applications for the Small Business Grant Program, applications are now being accepted for a new Sector-Specific Small Business Relief Grant Program that targets industries experiencing the most significant economic hardship and a loss of revenue. Industries given preference in this new program include:
This new business relief program will offer grants up to $75,000, but not more than three months’ operating expenses, to be used for payroll and employee benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities and interest on other debt obligations.
The online application portal for the new program opened today, and will close on Friday, January 15. Awards are expected to be announced in February.
Program details, application instructions, eligibility and documentation requirements, and more are available at www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org.
Reminder – The winter parking ban goes into effect December 21 – March 20 between the hours of 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM.
For more information and to submit a winter parking application, please visit the Nahant Police Website.
Stay safe, stay healthy, enjoy the holidays and don’t forget our 2021 Nahant graduates. Scholarship donations can be sent made out to “Nahant Santa Parade” at Coastal Heritage Bank 28 Nahant Road, Nahant, MA. 01908. Please note “Nahant Santa Parade” on your check.
The 2020 Annual Street List Census Form has been mailed to residents. Please make any necessary changes and return them signed and dated. Please note, even if there are no changes at your residence the census form must be signed and returned by the date indicated on the form.
The Anchor Food Pantry has moved from the front of the Swampscott High School to the Senior Center (in the back of the high school). We are now offering our visitors the option to come in and choose grocery items. We are open Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am until 1pm for all Swampscott and Nahant residents. The Anchor Food Panty can be reached for questions through email or their Facebook page.