Editor’s note: This is the town of Hopkinton’s COVID-19 update for May 18.
COVID-19 Updates and Precautions
May 18 update
Previous updates and additional information and resources can be found here:
coronavirus-hopkintonma.hub.arcgis.com/
As of May 13, Hopkinton’s Health Department is reporting 1,061 total confirmed COVID-19 cases; 4 of those cases are active, with 1,040 recoveries and 17 deaths. You can see historical tracking and updates on Hopkinton’s Community Impact Dashboard, which is updated frequently.
Massachusetts Reopening Plan — NEW UPDATE
On Monday, May 17, Massachusetts announced that COVID restrictions will be lifted on May 29, and the commonwealth will adopt CDC face covering guidance.
Effective May 29, all industries will be permitted to open. With the exception of remaining face covering requirements for public and private transportation systems and facilities housing vulnerable populations, all industry restrictions will be lifted, and capacity will increase to 100% for all industries. The gathering limit will be rescinded.
All industries will be encouraged to follow CDC guidance for cleaning and hygiene protocols.
On May 18, 2020, the Baker-Polito Administration published the reopening phases, which called for ending restrictions when vaccines became widely available. Today, there are over 975 locations for Massachusetts residents to access vaccines without delay.
More information on the news announcement from Monday, May 17, can be found here:
mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-to-lift-covid-restrictions-may-29-state-to-meet-vaccination-g oal-by-beginning-of-june
Effective Monday, May 10: The commonwealth reopened certain outdoor Phase 4 industries.
● Amusement parks, theme parks and outdoor water parks will be permitted to operate at a 50% capacity after submitting safety plans to the Department of Public Health.
● Road races and other large, outdoor organized amateur or professional group athletic events will be permitted to take place with staggered starts and other appropriate safety measures after submitting safety plans to a local board of health or the DPH.
More information on Massachusetts Reopening here: mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts
Children Aged 12+ Now Eligible For Vaccine — REMINDER
Children aged 12 and older are now eligible to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The MetroWest-Westborough Regional Vaccination Site at the DoubleTree Hotel has Pfizer appointments available for the following dates:
● Monday, May 17, from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
● Wednesday, May 19, from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
● Thursday, May 20, from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
● Friday, May 21, from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Appointments are required and open to anyone 12 years of age and older. In order to register a minor, a parent/guardian must complete the online Consent Form. To register for an appointment at the Regional Clinic at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough visit: home.color.com/vaccine/register/northborough.
Please note that only one parent/guardian is allowed in the vaccination room to allow for social distancing.
Recent Approval for Individuals 12-15 years of age: Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended an expanded indication of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to individuals 12-15 years of age. This recommendation is in line with the FDA’s action on Monday, May 10, to amend the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for this vaccine to include this younger age group..Effective immediately, providers in Massachusetts may begin to administer the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to individuals age 12 and older.
Mass Vaccination Sites Open for Walk-Ups
As of Monday, May 10, six of the commonwealth’s mass vaccination sites are open for walk-up vaccination. These sites include the Hynes Convention Center, the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury, the DoubleTree in Danvers, the former Circuit City in Dartmouth, the Eastfield Mall in Springfield and the Natick Mall.
Residents may still go to VaxFinder to find a location near them and plan their vaccination. Residents will be able to use each site’s VaxFinder listing to either book appointments or view more details about walk-up appointments. VaxFinder also lists important information like each site’s accessibility options, MBTA Trip Planner and more. Over 500 locations have open availability on VaxFinder.
Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine
As of Monday, April 19, all individuals aged 16+ are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Massachusetts.
There are different ways to find a vaccine appointment:
● Preregister at VaccineSignUp.mass.gov to be notified when it’s your turn to schedule an appointment at a mass vaccination or regional collaborative location.
● Use VaxFinder.mass.gov to search for appointments at pharmacies, health care providers and other community locations.
Dial-A-Ride Now Available for Hopkinton Senior Residents
The MWRTA now offers Dial-A-Ride to residents of Hopkinton aged 65 years and older, or under 65 years of age with a disability. This service is Monday through Friday. Some qualification restrictions may apply. For more information, please call the MWRTA call center at 508-820- 4650. If you are interested in this program, please call Outreach at the Hopkinton Senior Center to fill out an application 508-497-9730.
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Hopkinton Town Hall reopened to the public as of Aug. 10. Appointments are required due to the state’s COVID-19 limits on building occupancy: Click here for more information. All town departments are open for business and many transactions can be completed online. We are available via phone and email to assist during regular business hours. A full Town Directory can be found here. A box at the front door of Town Hall may be used to drop off correspondence, applications, etc., and they may also be mailed or emailed.
Please remember to practice social distancing, wear a face covering, wash your hands often, and be safe.
Hopkinton also posts frequently on social media. Our Twitter is the best place to keep up with all happenings Hopkinton. You don’t need an account to see our twitter feed: https://twitter.com/HopkintonMA
Complete list of Emergency Orders and Guidance from Mass.gov
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-state-of-emergency
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