Non–essential businesses close, Baystate cases increase

March 24, 2020 | Payton North and Danielle Eaton
payton@thereminder.com, daniellee@thereminder.com

Mayor Domenic Sarno hosted a press conference immediately after Governor Charlie Baker’s conference on March 23, where Sarno and other city officials provided an update on measures the city is taking.
Photo Credit: City of Springfield

BOSTON/SPRINGFIELD – At a March 23 press conference Governor Charlie Baker ordered that by 12 p.m. on March 24, all non–essential businesses in the Commonwealth must close until April 7. Baker also noted that he and state health officials are issuing a “stay at home” advisory for Massachusetts residents.

At the conference, Baker was joined by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health Dr. Monica Bahrel and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders.

At the start of the conference, Baker discussed essential businesses, which include all grocery stores and businesses that support them, including but not limited to shippers, farms, producers, packaging plants, gas stations, pharmacies and all medical facilities. In addition, he mentioned manufacturers of medical products, pharmaceuticals that are “developing the things we need,” and more. These essential businesses will remain open during this time. A full list of essential services in accordance with Baker’s emergency order can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-essential-services/download

Baker stated they are not prohibiting travel, as it is essential for transportation systems to continue. He explained that medical personnel must still be able to get to work, and trucks must continue to drive to the grocery stores they are supplying goods to.

With that said, Baker added, “Just because the T is open doesn’t mean we think it’s a good idea to take the train downtown to meet up with friends.”

He continued to state that they are “limiting transportation to essential services,” and that “everyone is advised to stay home and limit all unnecessary activity.” Furthermore, Baker said that restaurants may continue to offer food for takeout and delivery as long as they are following all social distancing rules.

“We’re asking everyone to use common sense,” he said.

As of March 24 at 12 p.m., all non–essential businesses are asked to work remotely when possible. This is in place until April 7, however there is the chance that this could be extended for a longer period of time.

 “These are obviously profoundly difficult times,” Baker said, noting he has had numerous conversations with people who are struggling with being out of work. Baker then stated he “sensed a loss of purpose,” and that “as we all know, purpose is what drives us...here’s the truth, we all have a role, we all have a purpose as we battle this disease,” he said, explaining that we must protect one another.

As questions from the media opened up, Baker explained that “at the end of the day” enforcement to business closure will be done primarily at the local level. He reiterated that if a business isn’t deemed essential on the state’s list, the business cannot remain open.

“We want to make clear to people that they will not lose access to food and medicine,” Baker added, noting that package stores will remain open, as will medical marijuana dispensaries. However, recreational dispensaries will not be open. Baker said that recreational shops will be closed, as a lot of out–of–state traffic comes into recreational shops, and because of this increased traffic to recreational stores, they will be shut down as a safety precaution.

When it comes to construction, Baker explained that it is “currently viewed as essential,” but there is guidance that needs to be issued by the state with that they call “safe practices,” in that workers need to have access to sinks, warm water, sanitizing capacity and that the workers are operating on the terms of social distancing.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders answered a question that asked if there was any shortage of pharmaceuticals. Sudders indicated that no, she has weekly calls with hospitals, and there has been no identified shortage of pharmaceuticals at this time.

Later, Sudders explained that hospitals are in need of as many masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) and swabs as possible – she noted that their initial goal is to have “about 3 million.” She explained that there is a three or four prong approach to retaining more PPE’s, one being continuing to chase PPE’s through the federal stockpile, second to chase gear through the U.S.–based manufacturers. Baker interjected. Stating that he has confirmed a mask order for “millions” however they “need to see them actually get delivered.”

When questioned about the April 7 date and what will happen on that date, Baker said that they are “constantly reconsidering virtually everything [they] do,” and that the state put an end date to give the public a sense of how long things may go, however at the end of each end date, the state always notes that there is the potential for it to be extended.

Mayor Sarno’s Press Conference

Following Baker’s press conference, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and other officials provided an update as to measures the city is taking to slow the spread of the virus.

Sarno began the conference by pleading with people to stay home and do everything in their power to slow the spread. “We have to continue to work hard to starve and kill this virus.

“The quicker we can cut this curve down, the quicker we can get back to an assemblance of our regular lifestyles,” Sarno said. He continued, and stated that he knew it was difficult not to be around family and be in their place of worship, but “we’re all doing this for the common good of each and every one of us.”

Sarno then went on to announce a one-week extension on the closure of City Hall and facilities until April 7. City Hall and facilities were originally scheduled to be reopened on March 30. In addition to the extension, essential services and operations within the city would continue as normal including trash and recycling pickup, police and fire services, building inspections, code enforcement, dispatch operators, snow operations and medical personnel.

The mayor added that in addition to regular Springfield fire and police employees, members of the National Guard would be assisting the departments. “Police has 60 National Guardsmen and women. Fire has about 30 National Guards-people,” Sarno said.

Seniors in the city, he added, would also continue to receive essential services. “We are going to be feeding our seniors. We contacted well over 1,000 [people] that go to our senior centers and are going to be helping out with any food or medicine that they may need,” he said. The city is also “coordinating with our homeless population.”

Parks within city limits would remain open, Sarno said, as people are encouraged to engage in passive recreation such as jogging, running, walking and hiking. However, basketball hoops would be “coming down ASAP” in all parks as Sarno said people were not abiding by social distancing rules and recommendations. Patrick Sullivan of the Parks and Recreation Department said the hoops would be taken down starting March 23 with signs posted throughout parks and buildings. All pick-up games have also been canceled and patrols in parks and recreation areas began during the week of March 16. Sullivan said, “Regulations will be strictly enforced.”

President and Chief Executive Officer of Baystate Health, Dr. Mark Keroack, then gave an update on how the hospital was working to slow the spread, treat those who contract the virus and how many cases of the virus had been confirmed locally. As of March 22, Keroack said there had been a total of 39 positive cases of coronavirus at Baystate which had resulted in one death. Of those who had tested positive, 22 were receiving inpatient care and the rest were recovering at home. An additional 271 people who had been tested after showing symptoms had received negative test results, 290 people were still awaiting test results with 40 of them in isolation at the hospital. However, Baystate Public Affairs Manager Shelly Hazlett told Reminder Publishing following the news conference on March 23 a total of 639 people had been tested with 332 receiving negative results. As of the afternoon of March 23, 257 people had pending results and the hospital’s number of confirmed positive cases had risen to 50.

Keroack also emphasized that the virus was not just being contracted by the elderly and immunocompromised, but young people as well. “It is clear now that the virus hits all age groups, although it hits the hardest in the elderly and frail,” he said. Keroack added that Baystate staff still expect the number of positive cases to “surge” and have devoted the entire MassMutual Wing to coronavirus patients.
In the coming days, Baystate hopes to begin conducting coronavirus tests at their Holyoke facility and have drive-through testing accessible in the area. In the meantime, the hospital has adjusted their visitor policy. The hospital is denying all visitors with exceptions being made only for those giving birth and/or going through the end of life. In those circumstances, one visitor is allowed at a time.

Mercy Medical Centers’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Robert Roose, said as of the week of March 19 the hospital had received a total of eight positive cases of coronavirus with two patients at home recovering. In total, more than 250 patients had been tested for the virus, and the hospital was waiting on the results of over 150 tests.

Springfield’s Health and Human Services Commissioner, Helen Caulton Harris then gave an update as to city-specific information related to the coronavirus. Caulton Harris said at the time of the press conference, the city was “following three positive cases.” However, she emphasized she didn’t “want anyone to think that is a finite number.” She said, “that number is changing.”

She echoed Keroack’s statement that the virus also impacts young people and urged them to take every precaution possible to avoid catching and/or passing it on to those who may be more susceptible to death as a result of the coronavirus.

“What we know is that the CDC is telling us that 38 percent of the individuals that have a positive or hospitalized are between the ages of 20 and 54,” she stated. “I say that because I appeal to young individuals to understand that although you may get better, you can carry this virus and impact individuals in your household who may be older and who may be more likely to experience mortality. That means die from the infection.”

She urged young people “not to take this lightly, but to care about and be compassionate and understand that in your hands could potentially lie the life of individuals that you love.”

Both Springfield Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard “BJ” Calvi said they would continue to provide services to the city. Clapprood said police would still be making arrests while Calvi reminded residents to be diligent about fire safety. Clapprood said that five members of the department were awaiting test results, three officers and two recruits. Three officers, she said, were in isolation due to travel. She added that while domestic violence in the city has “spiked up a bit” the department was working on the cases and providing resources to those involved who may need them.

Those selling their homes would not be responsible for the normal smoke detector inspection required for the sale. Calvi said, instead, after 90 days the buyer of the home would be responsible for ensuring the inspection takes place and paying for it. Calvi added that if residents should need to call 911 during this time they must identify if they are having flu-like symptoms or if they’ve been in a mandatory quarantine so emergency workers could take the necessary precautions.

Prior to an update from Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Chris Cignoli, Sarno added that Union Station would remain open and “trains and busses will continue to operate out of Union Station.”

Cignoli emphasized that trash, recycling and bulk pickup would continue as usual. While trash services would go on uninterrupted, the hours for some DPW services would be adjusted. Cignoli also pleaded with residents to “please work with us and not flood 311 with calls” regarding the pickup of their waste. Due to snow expected that day, Cignoli said the department would continue doing the “necessary sanding and salting of our roads” as well.

Additionally, the department postponed the approval of any spring construction permits for  “at least a week.” However, permits for “all emergency work” such as work from the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission and gas companies that have emergencies would be processed.

Sarno said Springfield officials will provide their next update on March 30 at 10:15 a.m.

Share this: