Update #24 (5:30 p.m. 4/17/20) National Guard Deployed to Two Brookline Facilities to Conduct Testing on Residents, Trash and Recycling Pickup Impacted by Patriots Day Holiday

BROOKLINE — The Town of Brookline seeks to continuously update its residents on local preparedness efforts and impacts from the ongoing nationwide novel coronavirus situation.

There are currently 177 positive cases of coronavirus that have been identified among Brookline residents, and four of those people have died after becoming ill.

National Guard Deployed to Senior Living Facilities

Members of the Massachusetts National Guard have deployed to Goddard House and CareOne at Brookline to conduct widespread COVID-19 testing over the course of the last two weeks. The Brookline Department of Public Health has remained in close contact with staff from both facilities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The testing will be conducted as part of the state’s Mobile Testing Program for nursing homes, assisted living facilities and rest homes. As a result of the program, residents and staff at such facilities are able to be tested for COVID-19 onsite, preventing those individuals from being exposed to even greater risk of the virus by having to leave the facility. 

Testing results will be provided to the facility approximately two days after the test. For more information about the program, click here.

“We’ve been in regular communication with Brookline’s assisted living communities to ensure they are doing everything they can to protect their residents, and that they are being supported in every way possible throughout this crisis,” Director of Health and Human Services Dr. Swannie Jett said. “This program is a critical initiative from our state-level colleagues meant to protect vulnerable populations from this dangerous disease.” 

COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization and has led Governor Charlie Baker to declare a State of Emergency in Massachusetts and led to a formal request, which was granted by the federal government, for a Major Disaster Declaration in the Commonwealth. 

Family members of assisted living residents can call the state’s Nursing Home Family Resource Line at 617-660-5399 for information and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. The line is staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. 

Refuse and Recycling Pickup Interrupted Due to Patriots Day

Refuse and recycling collection will be interrupted on Monday, April 20, due to the Patriots Day holiday. Residents shall place refuse out for collection one day later than their usual collection day. This includes residents whose collection day is Friday, putting their refuse out for Saturday pick up.

All non-emergency town services will be closed for the holiday. 

For regular updates on COVID-19 and the Town of Brookline’s response efforts, visit BrooklineCOVID19.com.

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