Salem Volunteers Needed: Call Seniors During Coronavirus Outbreak

SALEM, MA — The City of Salem is working to keep seniors connected during the new coronavirus pandemic with volunteer check-in calls. This comes at a time when non-essential businesses are closed throughout Massachusetts and residents are being asked to stay at home.

“I hope all Salem residents who are able to will consider signing up and ‘adopting’ some of our older neighbors to touch base with during these difficult times," Mayor Kim Driscoll said in a statement.

Older residents are at higher risk for contracting and having complications from COVID-19 and cases keep rising statewide. On Friday afternoon, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced a record for new cases: 823 new reported cases for a total of 3,240.

Statewide, 904 of those confirmed cases are people age 60 and older. There are 350 cases in Essex County alone.

By pairing area elders with local volunteers that check-in via phone, the city hopes to keep them socializing "from the comfort and safety of your own home."

“I’m so grateful to the nearly 100 volunteers who have already signed up to help through Salem Together," Driscoll said.

Volunteers can sign up through this website: www.salem.com/offer.