NEWS

MHAC’s COVID-19 Updates and Resources: 5/29-6/4

Jun 3, 2020

In addition to an evolving COVID-19 resource page, MHAC is continuing to collect and share updates on COVID-19 from state government, federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control, and other key stakeholders.

These updates are to help and inform a wide range of individuals and partners, including communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly.

Please see the latest updates below:

  • Governor Baker Issues Executive Order in Advance of Phase II with Considerations for Older Adults

Governor Charlie Baker issued an Executive Order that provides a detailed list of businesses and activities that fall into Phases II, III, and IV of the Commonwealth’s Re-Opening Plan. The Order also permits all Phase II enterprises, including retail, to begin preparations to safely resume operation in advance of the start of the second phase.

As part of Phase II, “grocery stores and retail stores with pharmacy services must provide at least one hour of dedicated time for adults 60 years of age and older, while all stores are encouraged to offer exclusive hours or other accommodations for high-risk populations.”

  • Health Equity Principles for State and Local Leaders in Responding to, Reopening and Recovering from COVID-19

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has announced a set of health equity principles that state and local leaders should consider when designing and implementing their responses and recovery from COVID-19.

These principles are not a detailed public health guide for responding to the pandemic or reopening the economy, but rather a compass that continually points leaders toward an equitable and lasting recovery.

  • Online Grocery Shopping Now Available for SNAP Recipients in Massachusetts

The Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can purchase groceries online with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards through Amazon and Walmart.

Like using SNAP benefits to purchase food in a store, benefits can be used to buy SNAP-eligible foods online, including fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy and eggs, plant seeds and more. Then purchases can be delivered through Amazon and some Walmart locations. Several Walmart locations also offer curbside pickup. Visit www.mass.gov/SNAPonline for more information about this new purchasing option, including frequently asked questions and flyers.

  • LeadingAge Massachusetts Adds Reopening Guidance to their COVID-19 Resources

Considerations for CCRC/Life Plan Communities and Affordable Housing Providers have been added to the COVID-19 Resource page for LeadingAge Massachusetts as the state continues with its phased plan of reopening.