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Home / Latest / Summary of weekly COVID report from Mass DPH, LPS remote schooling update, work to be done on Route 128,+ more – January 29, 2020

Summary of weekly COVID report from Mass DPH, LPS remote schooling update, work to be done on Route 128,+ more – January 29, 2020

LYNN NEWS ROUND-UP
JANUARY 29, 2021

See our COVID-19 related posts by clicking here.


The City of Lynn will enter Phase 3 Step 1 of the Massachusetts Reopening Plan on Monday, February 1st. Click here for more information.


Today a vaccination site was announced to open at Lynn Tech this Monday for residents of Lynn & Nahant. Read more by clicking here.


A significant storm may impact the area Monday into Tuesday. We will post any information we receive from the City of Lynn, but also encourage everyone to follow the National Weather Service – Boston’s Facebook page for updates.

Please click here to read about snow removal, snow emergency procedures, parking lot lists, resources, & more for the City of Lynn.


Weekly COVID-19 numbers from Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health

Map courtesy of WCVB, click for full-resolution image

Every week the MA Dept. of Public Health releases numbers for how COVID-19 has impacted the state, and we try to highlight some of these numbers so the community is informed about how COVID is impacting Lynn & the state. Their numbers factor in the past week as well as the week before, giving 2 weeks worth of data.

The City of Lynn is still a high-risk community, although there are signs of hope. Lynn used to set records for new 24-hour cases frequently, but that hasn’t been broken since January 5th (210) & the number of new cases hasn’t been above 140 since Jan. 16th (averaging in the 90s). The average daily incidence rate per 100,000 for Lynn over 14 days this week was 92.4. The last 3 weeks it was at 127.2, 128.2, & 99.6. The positivity rate this week was 10.70%, the lowest it has been in some time. The last 3 weeks this rate was 12.87%, 14.46%, & 14.63%.

These are all positive trends for Lynn, which hasn’t seen consistently positive numbers like this since early Fall. You can view these trends for Lynn yourself on the City of Lynn’s COVID-19 dashboard by clicking here.

The United States currently has 25.8 million cases, up from 24.7 million last week. There are currently 102 million cases reported worldwide, up from 96.2 million last week. Daily records had been broken for new cases & deaths within 24 hours earlier this month, proving right predictions that the holiday season would lead to higher numbers. However new case numbers are dropping, and deaths have remained fairly consistent, the past couple of weeks. The death toll in the US now sits at approx. 4330K with over 3,868 dying yesterday alone. The last time that the 24-hour deaths record was set in the U.S. was on Jan. 12th with just over 4,406 dead.

In Massachusetts there are currently 192 communities in the red category & 80 in the yellow category. Last week there were 222 communities in the red & 55 in the yellow. Two weeks ago there were 229 communities in the red & 53 in the yellow.

Last week’s map courtesy of WCVB, click for full-resolution image

In late fall Mass DPH began to use a different system for categorizing communities, based off their populations. Communities with populations less than 10,000 residents, between 10,000 & 50,000 residents, & more than 50,000 residents have had new metrics applied to them. Their results fall into 4 color categories; grey, green, yellow, & red. Positivity rates & average daily cases will continue to be determined by two-week rolling average. Officials say the new categories help to make the community-specific data more nuanced, and better account for increases in cases in smaller communities. They will also incorporate examples where cases at colleges, nursing homes, or jails may push an entire community into the red category. The new metrics are as follows:

  • For communities with fewer than 10,000 residents:
    • Grey = 10 or fewer cases
    • Green = 15 or fewer cases
    • Yellow = 25 or fewer cases
    • Red = More than 25 cases.
  • For communities with between 10,000 and 50,000 residents:
    • Grey = 10 or fewer cases
    • Green = Less than 10 average cases per 100,000 residents & more than 10 cases
    • Yellow = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of 5% or more
    • Red = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 5% or more
  • For communities with more than 50,000 residents:
    • Grey = 15 cases or less
    • Green = 10 average cases per 100,000 residents and more than 15 cases
    • Yellow = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of 4% or more
    • Red = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 4% or more

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Below are the statistics for Lynn & the state.

City/Town Total Case Count Case Count (Last 14 Days) Average Daily Incidence Rate per 100,000 (Last 14 days) Relative Change in Case Counts Total Tests Total Tests (Last 14 days) Total Positive Tests (Last 14 days) Percent Positivity (Last 14 days) Change in Percent Positivity
Lynn 13,964 1,304 92.4 Lower 158,149 14,827 1,587 10.70% Lower
STATEWIDE 484,639 57,942 59.4 Lower 13,192,478 1,222,945 67,544 5.51% Lower

If you would like to find out full statistics for the entire state, including maps & town-by-town data, you can find the full weekly report from MA Dept. of Public Health by clicking here (link downloads a PDF).

Previous Weekly Public Health Reports can be found  by clicking here.
All information above was sourced through official government sources.


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For phasing details and the most up-to-date status of where MA is in our vaccination timeline please visit mass.gov/covidvaccinephases


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Lynn Public Schools to remain mostly remote until April 9th, some exceptions

Click to go to the LPS Reopening website

Dear LPS Families,

The current school year continues to present many challenges, but thanks to your patience, flexibility, and sacrifice, we have been able to overcome obstacles. This has been a very hard school year for everyone, families and teachers. I personally deeply appreciate all that family and family partners have done to support their student’s learning at home. I ask for your patience and cooperation as we begin the third quarter of the school year (February 8 – April 9). Last night, the Lynn School Committee approved a proposal to continue with remote learning for most students beginning February 8th until April 9th.
The proposal for learning during the third quarter includes a plan to provide in-person learning for specific groups of students:
  • high-needs special education students (programs listed below) and pre-kindergarten, beginning tentatively March 1, 2021
  • kindergarten beginning tentatively March 15, 2021
The specifics for in-person programming will be communicated directly to the families of students in these programs.
The decision for the vast majority of students to remain in remote learning was incredibly difficult. Our community remains dangerously high-risk for the transmission of COVID-19; therefore, at this time, we will remain in the remote learning setting for the majority of students. A shift to an in-person, hybrid schedule for all students at this time presents serious safety concerns for students and staff. In order to ensure a healthy and safe learning environment, decisions are made in partnership with the city’s Health Director and the Lynn Public Schools Nursing Department. This is part of our unwavering philosophy and commitment to the health and well-being of all. The proposal for learning beginning February 8th is in keeping with that commitment.
The groups of students who are invited to begin receiving in person instruction on March 1st are those whose needs we struggle to meet the most in the remote learning format. The selection of these groups is not intended to suggest that these are the only students for whom remote learning is difficult. The students invited for in-person learning are those whose learning and growth needs simply cannot be met in remote learning.
It is my sincere hope that the situation in the coming months will be safe enough to invite more students back for in-person learning or activities.
The conditions of a global pandemic are far from ideal. It will get better. I am excited to expand in-person services for students during the third quarter. I am so proud and admire the effort and resilience our students have shown in the remote setting over the past year. Please reach out to your student’s school and they will answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have. As always, I will continue to keep the lines of communication open. Please join me for a Virtual Town Hall for all families on February 23, 2021 at 6pm. Information for the Town Hall will be available on Monday, February 22, 2021.
Yours in partnership,
Patrick Tutwiler, PhD


Programs Scheduled for In-Person Learning in the 3rd Quarter (February 8 – April 9)

  • Families with students in these programs will be contacted about specifics

Effective tentatively March 1st

  • Intellectually Impaired (II)
  • Developmentally Delayed (DD)
  • Life Skills
  • Pre-Kindergarten Integrated

Effective tentatively March 15th

  • Kindergarten
The above press release is courtesy of the Lynn Public Schools.
Click the links to download the English & Spanish language PDFs of this letter.

Video of Gov. Baker’s 2021 State of The Commonwealth speech

Governor Charlie Baker delivered his 2021 State of the Commonwealth address from his office at the Massachusetts State House on Tuesday.
Read the full address by clicking here.

The above video is courtesy of the Governor’s YouTube channel. 


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Work to be done on Route 128 as part of MassDOT Exit Renumbering Project

Click to go to project website

Please be advised that MassDOT is in the process of converting all exit numbers on freeways to a milepost-based numbering system, per Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements. Work takes place on each corridor in the east to west or north to south direction. Work typically is completed during the overnight hours and the contractors are required to complete the full interchange before moving along to the next exit.

The following corridor will begin conversion in approximately a week:

  • Corridor: Route 128
  • Approximate start date: Feb. 3
  • Approximate construction duration: 2 weeks
  • Location: Gloucester to Peabody
  • Hours of operation: 8:00 PM – 5:00 AM

For more information on the project please visit the project’s website. If needed, a GIS shapefile with the specific numbering information is available on Massachusetts’ GeoDOT site.

The above info. was sent to us by the MA Dept. of Transportation.

Outdoor dining/retail interest forms now available for Lynn businesses

The City of Lynn has funding through MassDOT to purchase equipment and design outdoor space for your business. To sign up please click here.
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February episode of GLSS TV out soon!

From Greater Lynn Senior Services: This month on GLSS TV, we note Black History Month with a look at the Community Minority-Multicultural Center on Union Street. The organization has been in operation for 50 years!  CEO Kathy Burns offers a mid-winter greeting, and our Kelly’s Corner segment addresses an increasingly familiar term — “Covid Fatigue.” We’ll find out why staying hydrated in winter is critically important, and Chef Joey sings the praises of roasted and really  tasty Brussels Sprouts!
You can watch the latest episode of GLSS TV on our Public Access Channel (Comcast: 3 / Verizon: 38) Monday at 10:30 AM, Wednesday at 9:00 PM, & Friday at 5:30 PM.  You can also watch old episodes anytime on our website by clicking here to go to our Video on Demand section.

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From  Mayor McGee’s office: 
The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of today, the number of active, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases is 1,634 with 64 new cases today. 12,574 Lynn residents have recovered and 178 have died. The total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Lynn since March 21, 2020, including those who have died and recovered, is 14,386. Please visit the City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT NEW COVID VACCINE SITE TO OPEN AT LYNN TECH FOR LYNN & NAHANT RESIDENTS

Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/covid19/resources.shtml#p7GPc1_2 for the most up to date COVID-19 testing information, as well as more detailed information on the State and City of Lynn’s Reopening Guidelines.

We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 through the City website (www.lynnma.gov), social media, and the Smart 911 emergency notification system (sign up at www.smart911.com).

If you have a news story that you would like to share, please contact us via email or call 781-780-9460.

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