Somerville Cancels Events Through End Of Year

SOMERVILLE, MA – Somerville has extended the suspension of all city-sponsored or permitted events through the end of the year, Mayor Joseph Curtatone announced Friday. Closed or restricted businesses and activities will remain suspended according to existing or forthcoming city-issued reopening schedules.

Earlier this month, the city announced initial steps toward reopening with a phased return for construction work that requires the approval of detailed safety plans before sites are allowed to begin work. Seasonal street sweeping started on Monday; residents are asked to voluntarily move their cars, as no tickets will be issued for parking in a street sweeping zone in the initial weeks.

Somerville plans to replace events with virtual and safe alternatives wherever possible. Should conditions improve, smaller events may be reconsidered. School-sponsored activities, athletics, and Parks and Recreation Programming remain under review, and guidance will be shared at a later time.

"We need to move forward with a process that fits our community," Mayor Curtatone said in a statement. "Safety and a sustainable recovery will be the guiding stars of our local reopening efforts. We will evaluate every element of the Governor’s plan and determine what works best here and then implement a timeline that aligns with local and regional data concerning the spread of this disease."

Reopening Effort Includes New Mobile Testing Unit

This week, the city's community COVID-19 Action Plan will expand its testing component. In collaboration with the Cambridge Health Alliance and Cataldo Ambulance, Somerville will launch a mobile testing unit to increase the program's reach into every area and demographic of the city, allowing the most vulnerable residents to be tested more easily.

Full details about the schedule and hours of the mobile testing unit will be released closer to the official launch. The program currently offers free onsite testing at Somerville Hospital for all residents.

Initial results of Somerville's community-wide testing program show new cases in every section of the city and across all age groups, with the highest numbers coming from those in their 20s and 30s, officials said.

"We have made a commitment to building a system in which everyone can be tested," Somerville Health and Human Services Director Doug Kress said in a statement. "This is a vital step toward making that happen, and we encourage everyone, regardless of whether they are symptomatic, to seek out testing."

While Somerville will be conducting its own internal assessment for setting reopening policies, the mayor continues to actively work with neighboring cities and towns to share information and best practices.

"Decisions, including reopening, will be most effective if they are coordinated and regional," Curtatone said. "We’re all reliant upon each other to do this successfully, and none of us want to squander the extraordinary sacrifices people have already made to stem the tide of this outbreak. Coronavirus does not care about where our city lines are drawn and, knowing that, we will continue to move forward in a measured fashion as a region."