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Treasury, IRS unveil online application to help with Economic Impact Payments

Treasury, IRS unveil online application to help with Economic Impact Payments; Get My Payment allows people to provide direct deposit information and gives payment date

WASHINGTON – Working with the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service today unveiled the new Get My Payment with features to let taxpayers check on their Economic Impact Payment date and update direct deposit information.

With an initial round of more than 80 million Economic Impact Payments starting to hit bank accounts over the weekend and throughout this week, this new tool will help address key common questions. Get My Payment will show the projected date when a deposit has been scheduled, similar to the “Where’s My Refund tool” many taxpayers are already familiar with.

Get My Payment also allows people a chance to provide their bank information. People who did not use direct deposit on their last tax return will be able to input information to receive the payment by direct deposit into their bank account, expediting receipt.

Read more: Treasury, IRS unveil online application to help with Economic Impact Payments

Free Grocery Delivery Service Launches for Barnstable County Seniors and Residents at Higher Risk

(Barnstable, MA., April 29, 2020) – The Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), in service to the Barnstable County Incident Command COVID-19 response, is providing a free service delivering prepaid groceries to seniors and people at higher risk for infection. The new program is called Critical Delivery Service.

The initiative consists of over 40 MRC volunteers who will pick up pre-ordered, prepaid groceries from food stores offering curbside pickup options, and deliver to residents in all 15 towns of Barnstable County.

Director of the Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps Diana Gaumond said, “Through inquires sent to Barnstable County’s general COVID-19 email address, we found that there are many seniors who are isolating at home who need help accessing groceries. The Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps is happy to help. In fact, within minutes of announcing this initiative internally, MRC Volunteer Carol Billingsley stepped up to fill the role of Delivery Coordinator, and 40 volunteers offered to deliver food to residents in need.”

Gaumond emphasized that volunteers:

• will not be doing personal shopping. (There should be little to no time spent in grocery stores.)
• will not be handling money or credit cards
• will wear a mask at points of pickup and delivery
• will practice good hand hygiene and social distancing.
• Instructions for Ordering Food Using the MRC’s Critical Delivery Service

Call 508-556-7161 Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and speak with an MRC Volunteer. You will provide your name, address, and phone number, and discuss options of stores where you can order.

1. A Delivery Volunteer will be assigned to you.
2. You will order from the store as instructed, prepaying for the groceries.
3. You will confirm the curbside pickup time with your assigned Delivery Volunteer.
4. Your Delivery Volunteer will pick up and deliver groceries using safe practices of social distancing, wearing a mask, and not going inside the home.

*The Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer can usually provide same day pickup and delivery if the order is phoned in by noon.

See a list of participating grocery stores with pre-ordering and curbside pickup options at https://bit.ly/CCMRC_FOOD.

Slowing the spread of COVID-19 is essential for “flattening the curve” of infections, which will curb the outbreak, prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed with patients seeking treatment, and ultimately reduce the number of deaths. For current information on the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), please visit the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment’s website: barnstablecountyhealth.org. If you have questions or concerns, please email COVID-19@barnstablecounty.org.

ABOUT THE CAPE COD MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS: The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. The MRC network comprises approximately 175,000 volunteers in roughly 850 community-based units located throughout the United States and its territories. MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds. MRC units engage these volunteers to strengthen public health, improve emergency response capabilities, and build community resiliency. They prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, and floods, as well as other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks. The Cape Cod MRC currently maintains a database of over 300 volunteers from across Cape Cod. 

Brewster’s Former Wingate Facility to be Opened for COVID-19 Patients

The coronavirus pandemic is expected to peak in Massachusetts in the next week and, based on the most recent projections, there may not be enough hospital beds in Barnstable County for the number of estimated cases. At the direction of state officials, three facilities are being prepared on Cape Cod to expand capacity.

The former Wingate at Brewster nursing home located on Route 124 is one of the facilities being prepared. The facility originally closed in January 2019 and is expected to commence operations again the week of April 13, 2020, serving up to approximately 80 COVID-19 patients who do not need intensive care but are not well enough to be discharged. Town officials have worked with Cape Cod Health Care to ensure that using this facility for these purposes will not impact local services.

Two other similar facilities are being established by Cape Cod Health Care. Another skilled nursing facility is being prepared to open in Falmouth as well as a field hospital at Joint Base Cape Cod.

Staying home and practicing social distancing will reduce the need for beds like these at surge facilities.

Barnstable County Announces Task Force to Guide Strategies on Reopening Cape Cod

(Barnstable, MA., April 30, 2020) –In anticipation of a decline in COVID-19 cases and as the summer season approaches, Barnstable County is forming a Reopening Task Force to develop recommendations and guidelines for reopening non-essential businesses and organizations on Cape Cod. This group, which will include County administration, County public health officials, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, local business leaders and Boards of Health, will bring diverse and necessary perspectives to the table.

Barnstable County Administrator Jack Yunits, Jr. said, “We look forward to developing recommendations for our local businesses and organizations so we can safely put Cape Codders back to work and help create the safest environment for all Barnstable County residents and our summer visitors.”

The Reopening Task Force is following the lead of the Commonwealth and has set a goal to work over the next several weeks to develop a report by May 20. The report will outline comprehensive recommendations for Cape Cod to reopen its economy in a safe, organized and effective manner, and will be substantially aligned with guidance from the Commonwealth.

YMCA Offers Free Childcare for Health Care and Essential Workers

YMCA Cape Cod is offering free childcare for health care personnel and workers deemed “essential” under Governor Baker’s order.

• Site: Stony Brook School, 384 Underpass Road, Brewster
• Hours: Drop-in services available from 6am to 11pm
• Days: 7 days/week
• Ages: 13 weeks to 12 years
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and snacks offered every day

Strict precautionary guidelines are being followed. Parents must stay in their vehicle at drop-off. Children and staff have their temperature checked on arrival. Childcare staff have been trained in CDC protective measures. CDC cleaning protocols are followed. 

Parents are asked to visit the YMCA Cape Cod website to complete forms:  https://ymcacapecod.org/wp-content/uploads/YMCA-Cape-Cod-EEC-Emergency-Child-Care-Child-Info-Forms-.pdf

No reservations are needed for a specific day. Parents should bring completed forms to first drop-off. For more information, visit https://ymcacapecod.org

Expanded Testing of Brewster Long-Term Care Facility Identifies COVID-19 Positive Cases

Brewster, Massachusetts– In early April, Massachusetts introduced a new statewide COVID-19 testing program for residents and staff of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care facilities. This program provides safe, onsite sampling and timely test results. On April 10, Pleasant Bay Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 383 South Orleans Road, Brewster, voluntarily participated in this testing program after several of their Nursing Center residents experienced COVID-19 symptoms. By April 20, following three rounds of testing, 60 of Pleasant Bay Nursing Center’s 92 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Only 5 of their residents remain untested. 

Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, the licensing and enforcement agencies responsible for long-term care facilities, are actively involved in overseeing the response at Pleasant Bay. In addition, Cape Cod Healthcare and the Visiting Nurses Association are ensuring appropriate staffing and personal protective equipment are available to prevent further spread within their facilities and the community at large.

Brewster Town Administration and Health Department officials are working closely with the Visiting Nurses Association and state and county agencies to ensure that the residents and staff at Pleasant Bay have access to appropriate care and that precautions are taken to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Although state agencies license the facility and have authority over its management, Brewster town officials will continue to be engaged in monitoring the response to the cases identified at Pleasant Bay.

The Town of Brewster reported its first 2 cases of COVID-19 on March 21, 2020. Since additional testing for COVID-19 became available through the efforts of Cape Cod Healthcare and the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee, the number of positive cases in Brewster has gradually increased over the past month, consistent with the trend on Cape Cod. As of April 18, Brewster officials reported 32 positive cases. Including the 60 cases recently identified at the Pleasant Bay Nursing Center, Brewster now has 76 total cases.  The town will continue to provide regular updates to its positive case totals.

Nursing homes across the U.S. are highly vulnerable to the coronavirus. On April 15, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced new funding and initiatives to support long-term care facilities in the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services launched a Nursing Home Family Resource hotline which can be reached by calling (617) 660-5399, 9AM to 5PM, 7 days a week. Concerned citizens are encouraged to call with questions and to be connected to available resources.

Do You Need Help Caring for Your Pets During the Pandemic?

The Massachusetts Humane Society provides assistance to people who have lost their job, or are low income or disabled. The Society will assist most types of animals including dogs, cats, small animals, birds, exotics, horses and other barnyard animals, and wildlife. The Society can provide food, medicine, cat litter, hay, bedding, flea and tick prevention, and other pet supplies. Items can be shipped to you or can be picked up in Braintree. The Society is committed to seeing that people can continue to care for their pets and not be forced to surrender them. For assistance, call (781) 335-1300 or email masshumane@aol.com. Leave a message with your name, phone, type of pets and supplies you are requesting.