Here is the COVID-19 update for Thursday, March 4, followed by other City news and events. Please also check somervillema.gov/covid19 for information and resources that are updated frequently.

VACCINE UPDATES:
Please note that vaccine information is changing quickly. The information below is the latest as of March 4.

• Teachers can start registering for vaccines on March 11: Gov. Baker announced Wednesday that k-12 teachers, childcare workers, and k-12 school staff will be eligible to register for COVID-19 vaccines on March 11. Anyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine can register for an appointment by visiting mass.gov/vaccine or calling 211.

• Transportation to vaccine sites: Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is offering free transportation to COVID-19 vaccination sites to Somerville residents age 60 and up as well as adults of any age with disabilities. Appointments must be scheduled in advance. To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact SCES at 617-628-2601 or info@eldercare.org.

• Vaccine updates and info from health experts: You can find video updates from GovTV about progress in the vaccine rollout, as well as recordings of vaccine informational sessions with medical professionals by clicking the “Videos and Podcasts” tab on somervillema.gov/vaccine. There are recordings available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Nepali. Or watch the videos on basic cable or GovTV on YouTube.

• Find out about upcoming vaccine info sessions: We’ve been holding virtual vaccine information sessions and Q&As in multiple languages throughout the vaccine rollout. To find out when a session is coming up, click the “Events” tab on somervillema.gov/vaccine.

• New option for vaccine update phone calls: If you or someone you know would prefer to get occasional vaccine updates via a phone call, you can sign up by visiting somervillema.gov/vaccine or calling 311. If you prefer email updates, don’t worry, you won’t be missing any information if you don’t sign up for calls. All information sent out via calls will also be included in these email updates.

GENERAL COVID UPDATES

• Somerville Covid-19 Case Counts: As of March 2, a total of 5,060 Somerville residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since March 2020, and sadly there have been 74 deaths. See the latest Somerville case data at somervillema.gov/covid19dashboard.

• CDC urges caution amid reopenings: Earlier this week, the director of the CDC urged states not to relax COVID-19 restrictions. Although infection rates across the country seem to have plateaued for now, there is concern that further reopening could reverse the progress made, especially as new variants of the disease take hold in the U.S.

• More businesses now eligible for City relief funds: The City recently expanded eligibility criteria for its current round of business relief funds. Businesses that can demonstrate close ties to gyms, theaters, event spaces, or other sectors facing government-directed closures and whose revenues have decreased by at least 50% in the past year are now eligible. To learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply for funds, visit somervillema.gov/bizrelief. Applications for these funds are being reviewed on a rolling basis.

• Somerville remains in Phase 3, Step 1: Somerville did not join the Commonwealth in the move to reopening Phase 3, Step 2 on March 1. Somerville will remain in the limited Phase 3, Step 1 stage of reopening that went into effect on February 1 until at least March 15.

• The vaccines bring hope, but the State COVID-19 data also make clear, we must remain vigilant: In Massachusetts, despite decreasing steadily for about a month in every metric, the State remains at COVID-19 case and impact levels significantly higher than the summer and early fall. For example, the 7-day average of COVID-19 cases on Feb. 24, 2021, was 7 times higher (1,157) than the lowest observed value (156 cases on July 4, 2020). Please keep masking and social distancing, everyone, so we can continue to bring these numbers down.
• Free COVID-19 testing: CHA Somerville Hospital offers free testing at Assembly Row. To make an appointment, call 617-665-2928 (Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.). The mobile COVID-19 testing unit offers testing for all in our neighborhoods. To make a mobile appointment, call 617-682-0583. Mobile testing schedules, as they become available, and more testing information can be found at somervillema.gov/covidtesting. The State’s Stop the Spread testing sites are also an option, including in the nearby communities of Chelsea and Everett. For more information, visit the State’s website.