For Immediate Release
3/23/2020
Good afternoon Fitchburg Residents,
It is hard to believe it is Spring, and we are receiving snowfall this afternoon into the evening. Please stay warm and safe.
As a reminder there is a Winter Parking Ban in effect from 7:00 P.M. this evening, until 12:00 P.M., Tuesday, March 24. Please understand, that although this parking ban does make it difficult and inconvenient during this time, the reason is strictly for public safety. Not only does this assist our plow operators to safety travel our roads, it helps open up, make clear, and provide enough room for emergency vehicles and their ability to pass oncoming traffic. I thank you for your cooperation.
As you are all aware, yesterday, my office announced that the city became aware of a confirmed COVID-19 case who is a City employee. The individual is under isolation regulations as determined by the Mass. Department of Public Health, and is working with our local Board of Health. We wish them a very speedy recovery, and thank them for working with the proper health care officials. With an abundance of caution we will be closing 166 Boulder Drive Suite 108 and 102 to all City employees. The building is being professionally cleaned, and essential employees will have access to their offices on March 28, 2020. As a friendly reminder, all City buildings will remain closed to the general public. Please continue to use online services, email, and phone to reach City Departments.
Today, Governor Baker issued an additional Executive Order that requires all non-essential businesses to close their physical locations, starting at noon on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 until April 7, 2020. Additionally, all gatherings are now limited to ten or fewer people. For a more detailed list of essential services, the Governor’s office has posted them at www.mass.gov, or you can find the link on the City website - www.fitchburgma.gov.
Furthermore, starting today, all early education centers and family childcare providers are ordered to be closed by the Governor, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The Department of Early Education and Care also issued emergency procedures to set forth a process for opening Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs during the COVID-19 outbreak to provide priority access for families of emergency personnel, medical staff, and others critical to confronting COVID-19. A comprehensive list is posted on the Commonwealth’s website. City staff and myself are aggressively working to have a Fitchburg establishment to be licensed as an emergency child-care program.
Many people have been asking how they can help - The best way to help ourselves, public safety personnel, and our health care providers is to stay home and practice good personal hygiene. The goal of the Governor’s executive order today is to slow the spread of the virus by eliminating person to person contact. This concerted effort now, will help us get back to work and back to school. As the Governor said today - we all have a role to play in this fight. We must meet this challenge with determination, patience, and a selfless sense of community. Let us think about those essential people who are still bringing us everyday services we take for granted, and protect them by eliminating as much person to person contact as possible.
Fitchburg is a resilient City, and one that has great pride in ourselves. Let us be proud that we are playing our part and eliminating as much person to person contact as possible.
Thank you,
Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale