Agenda Text
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That the Administration provide a written report within 14 days outlining a plan for all residents to receive at-home tests and increase the number of appointments for PCR tests.
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Official Text
WHEREAS: COVID-19 infection rates continue to spike in Somerville and the Greater Boston region; and
WHEREAS: The City of Somerville received more than $77 million in Local Relief Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for the purpose of combating the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS: Residents in Somerville face a multitude of barriers to accessing testing including but not limited to language access, childcare, scheduling barriers, transportation, financial burdens, and difficulty access testing locations; and
WHEREAS: The availability of free and private purchase COVID-19 testing has struggled to keep up with demand; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED: That this Council calls on the Administration to provide a written report within 14 days on its plan for all residents to receive at-home tests and increase the number of appointments for PCR tests, prioritizing equitable delivery of at-home tests and increased PCR test availability based on those disproportionately impacted by the effects of COVID-19 as outlined in the city’s COVID-19 dashboard; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED: This Council calls on the Administration in their written report, to explicitly outline how tests will be delivered to groups including municipal and school workers, public school students, individuals at higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19, residents in congregate living configurations (nursing homes, crowded housing conditions, etc.), and residents with disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19 (low-income residents, residents of color, immigrant residents) AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED: That this Council asks the Administration to find new sites to open additional testing locations near East Somerville and transit nodes to reduce long wait times.