July 8: The nation passed the 3 million mark for confirmed COVID-19 cases but Massachusetts' numbers continue to decline. There are 30 deaths and only 162 new cases reported. However, the number of hospitals using surge capacity has risen from 1 on July 5 to five. Overall, the three-day average of patients hospitalized has dropped to 82 percent.
July 7: The state reported 15 new deaths. The six measures dictating the reopening have not changed since June 5; the positive test rate, hospitalizations, and testing capacity have a positive trend status and deaths, health-care system readiness and contract tracing are "in progress."
July 6: DPH separated out probable cases/deaths from the data. No was reason given but it dropped the death count by 215 and the positive cases by more than 5,000. There were 15 new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 for a total of 7,983 (200 less than Sunday.) Phase 3 of the reopening began today.
July 5: The state reported 11 new deaths.
July 4: The state reported 23 new deaths on Saturday.
July 2 & 3: Berkshire County recorded its first death on July 3 since June 19, bringing the total number to 45. The number of confirmed cases continues to slowly tick, surpassing 600. The number of deaths statewide is 8,149 with 68 new deaths recorded over the past two days.
July 1: 28 new deaths were reported.
June 30: For the first time since March 20, zero new deaths have been reported by the state. The total number of confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths has also been reduced to 8,054 from 8,095 from cleaning up data to eliminate duplicate reports.
June 29: The state reported 35 deaths and 101 new cases.
June 28: The number of deaths reported is again low, at 19; Berkshire County has not had a death related to COVID-19 since June 19. The count for the county remains at 44.
June 27: The number of deaths reported for Saturday is 28.
Please assume that your local governmental offices, libraries and COAs are closed or operating under limited conditions. Use your town's official website for business or call to find out what precautions have been put in place. Always call ahead to ensure your destination is open.
• The Pittsfield RMV is appointment only for only critical services that cannot be done online or over the phone. Check the website for licenses and certificates that have been extended.
• All restaurants and bars are closed to on-premise consumption; please consider ordering takeout from them or buying gift cards to help them through this difficult period.
• All schools are closed at least through May 4. All gatherings of more than 10 are prohibited; expect that all meetings, performances, clubs, fundraisers, worship services and other such activities are canceled.
• All state programs are canceled and non-essential executive branch employees have been ordered to stay home. Museums and other cultural institutions are closed as are movie theaters and YMCAs.
• Banks are currently open for driveup, online banking, ATMs or the drive-up.
• Groceries, pharmacies, department and convenience stores are still open. PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT BUY MORE THAN YOU NEED. Rules in effect include maintaining a 6-foot distance, shopping hours for vulnerable populations, and access to disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer.
• Child-care centers open only for essential personnel. Visitation at nursing homes and medical facilities are limited to prevent virus spread.
• Other services and organizations are mainly open for phone consultation and limited person-to-person contact.
What you can do
Take a walk or a bicycle ride. Spring clean. Call friends or Facetime. Get your garden ready. Check on folks who may need help. Watch a movie. Order from your favorite restaurants. Take a deep breath. Wash your hands.
Adams Reopening Parks Thursday With Several Restrictions The past few weeks have seen on-site retail sales return and patio seating reopen, followed by a socially distanced form of inside dining for restaurants.
Wednesday night the board, with guidance...
Limited Indoor Dining, Nail Salons Can Resume on Monday Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday morning said the second step in Phase 2 of Reopening Massachusetts would commence on June 22, allowing for some inside dining, close contact person services, fitting...
Berkshire Health Systems Initiates COVID-19 Antibody Testing The testing is available through a blood test and only with a physician order. Interested residents can ask their primary care physician to submit an order to the BHS Laboratory for a test to be...
Massachusetts to Begin Phase 2 Reopenings on Monday Gov. Charlie Baker gave the all-clear on Saturday to begin Phase 2 of reopening the Massachusetts economy on Monday as COVID-19 numbers continue to decline.
Tyer: City Preparing for Phase 2 Openings Tyer said the city is doing its part to prepare businesses that will be allowed to open in this next phase with limitations and specifications. She said hotels, retail stores, various schools, some...
iBerkshiresTV: How Adams, North Adams Enter Phase 1 Host Tammy Daniels speaks with North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard and Adams Town Administrator Jay Green about the city and town's preparations for reopening.
iBerkshiresTV: Talking COVID-19 With Cheshire Officials iBerkshiresTV host Jeff Snoonian speaks with Cheshire Town Administrator Edmund St. John IV and Health Inspector Christopher "CJ" Garner about how the town is coping with novel coronavirus...
Baker: Socialization Sacrificed for COVID-19 Safety It's an example of how the state will have to navigate this new normal — giving up the physical and social elements of teamwork but keeping remote contact.
SVMC Earns Top Marks in Special Infection-Prevention Survey "SVMC is always focused on safety and infection prevention," said Dr. Trey Dobson, SVMC's chief medical officer. “That has given us a good head start in making our facilities safe for patients...
Governor Envisions Four-Phase Reopening to 'New Normal' The four phases of "start, cautious, vigilant and new normal" are expected to begin on May 18 as the governor's reopening advisory board releases its recommendations and guidelines for safety...
Pittsfield Board of Health Approves Emergency Order The Board of Health has ratified the emergency order issued Friday requiring all food establishments to follow social distancing and facial covering protocols.
Vermont Begins Relaxing Stay-Home Rules "Play Smart and Play Safe" allows more outdoors socializing but with the caveat that people continue to maintain a 6-foot distance and gather in groups no greater than 10.
Towns Shift Election, Town Meetings This Spring For elections, town officials are encouraging voters to apply to receive mail-in ballots in order to protect the health of voters and ballot workers on election day.
State Officials Caution May 18 Not 'Magical' Reopening Date State officials on Monday stressed that May 18 is not a "magical date" for reopening the commonwealth.
Rather, the restart of economic activity will be a phased effort based on recommendations...
Face Coverings Mandated on BRTA Buses Riders are also encouraged to practice social distancing while riding on the bus and maintain space when seating.
SVMC: COVID-19 Update May 1 Even as physical distancing measures remain an important part of outlasting the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff and leaders at SVMC want their patients to know that SVMC and its practices are open,...
Mayor Tyer Urges Continued Cautions, Updates on Mask Policy During her weekly address Friday on Pittsfield Community Television, she commended Pittsfielders for staying home and being mindful of restrictions and practices aimed at snuffing out COVID-19.
Polito, Baker Discuss How 'Reopening' Board Will Function At Wednesday's press availability, Gov. Charlie Baker was asked whether he was concerned that the 17-person panel chaired by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito might not have a wide enough cross section of the...
Baker Extends Non-Essential Business Closure Order through May 18 Gov. Charlie Baker Tuesday announced that he is extending the order to close non-essential businesses in the commonwealth through at least May 18 and creating an advisory panel to develop a plans for...
Nurses Association Calls on Governor to Mandate N95 Masks Local members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association expected to disperse more than 500 protective masks on Saturday afternoon to colleagues at Berkshire Medical Center.
Governor Expects Details on 'Reopening' State Later This Week The state's pandemic "lockdown" is set to be lifted in one week but state officials aren't clear on how — or if — that will happen.
Gov. Charlie Baker at Monday's daily COVID-19 update declined at...
SVMC: COVID-19 Update April 23 SVMC's President and CEO Tom Dee and Chief Medical Officer Trey Dobson answered COVID-19 questions from the community at Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce/CAT-TV Lunch & Learn earlier today.
People in Western Massachusetts, and the Berkshires in particular, frequently complain the region is being ignored by a state government headquartered at the other end of the commonwealth. click for more
Gov. Charlie Baker Wednesday said he does not think it “makes sense” for a one-size-fits-all approach to reopening the nation’s public schools but stopped short of directly criticizing a presidential tweet pressuring states to open the schoolhouse doors in the middle of a global pandemic. click for more
Fitness centers, movie theaters, museums and other enclosed venues will be able to reopen on Monday with restrictions and the number of people allowed in an indoor gathering is now raised to 25. click for more
Students will be allowed to choose to take the year off with no penalty, and the college has lowered the number of courses required in the 2020-21 fall and spring semesters with no impact on a student's progress toward graduation. click for more
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Thursday released its first round of reopening guidance for the commonwealth's primary and secondary schools.
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Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday morning said the second step in Phase 2 of Reopening Massachusetts would commence on June 22, allowing for some inside dining, close contact person services, fitting rooms by appointment and increasing the occupancy percentage of offices.
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The governor's office made the announcement on Monday that 50 pop-up sites would be offering the free confidential tests on Wednesday and Thursday, July 17 and 18.
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Towns and cities trying to aid businesses in reopening will have access to some $5 million in grants through the state Department of Transportation. click for more
The testing is available through a blood test and only with a physician order. Interested residents can ask their primary care physician to submit an order to the BHS Laboratory for a test to be drawn at a BHS blood draw station. The result will then be provided to the physician, who will relay the... click for more
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued guidelines Friday on required sanitation supplies and safety for reopening schools this fall.
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Gov. Charlie Baker gave the all-clear on Saturday to begin Phase 2 of reopening the Massachusetts economy on Monday as COVID-19 numbers continue to decline.
click for more
Tyer said the city is doing its part to prepare businesses that will be allowed to open in this next phase with limitations and specifications. She said hotels, retail stores, various schools, some personnel services, funeral homes, child care, and restaurants among others will be able to open to... click for more
Commissioner of Early Education and Care Samantha Aigner-Treworgy and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders joined Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday at his daily press availability.
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The number of deaths is also expected to rise with changes in the reporting of confirmed and probable cases of the novel coronavirus, according to the Department of Public Health.
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She reiterated that the beginning of the next phase will be guided by public health data and said the governor announced this week that the state was past the "surge."
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Host Tammy Daniels speaks with North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard and Adams Town Administrator Jay Green about the city and town's preparations for reopening.
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Memorial Day and the Fourth of July will be observed a great deal differently this year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, especially the absence of parades. click for more
iBerkshiresTV host Jeff Snoonian speaks with Cheshire Town Administrator Edmund St. John IV and Health Inspector Christopher "CJ" Garner about how the town is coping with novel coronavirus pandemic.
click for more
It's an example of how the state will have to navigate this new normal — giving up the physical and social elements of teamwork but keeping remote contact.
click for more
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield is taking precautions in line with the state's reopening plan it begins to resume worship within its churches. click for more
"SVMC is always focused on safety and infection prevention," said Dr. Trey Dobson, SVMC's chief medical officer. “That has given us a good head start in making our facilities safe for patients returning to seek care." click for more
The officials responsible for the Reopening Massachusetts plan were united in one message on Monday: Massachusetts residents are responsible for the actual reopening. click for more
The "Reopening Massachusetts" plan lays out a four-phase road map to restart of the state's economy as it begins to recover from the global pandemic. click for more
Massachusetts has set the ambitious goal of processing testing for COVID-19 to 75,000 tests a day by the end of the year, at least seven times the number currently being done. click for more
There are signs the Bay State may be turning the corner on the novel coronavirus that has so far caused more than 5,000 deaths in Massachusetts. click for more
The four phases of "start, cautious, vigilant and new normal" are expected to begin on May 18 as the governor's reopening advisory board releases its recommendations and guidelines for safety standards for employees and patrons.
click for more
Tyer, during her weekly COVID-19 update on Pittsfield Community Television, said although there have been no new cases in three days, residents need to remain vigilant.
click for more
The Board of Health has ratified the emergency order issued Friday requiring all food establishments to follow social distancing and facial covering protocols.
click for more
iBerkshiresTV host Jeff Snoonian speaks with Allen Harris of Berkshire Money Management about the mask distribution BMM is sponsoring on Thursday.
click for more
"Play Smart and Play Safe" allows more outdoors socializing but with the caveat that people continue to maintain a 6-foot distance and gather in groups no greater than 10. click for more
Under an executive order announced Friday that goes into effect on May 6, face coverings are mandatory throughout the commonwealth for anyone over the age of 2 who is unable to maintain a distance of 6 feet from others. click for more
For elections, town officials are encouraging voters to apply to receive mail-in ballots in order to protect the health of voters and ballot workers on election day. click for more
State officials on Monday stressed that May 18 is not a "magical date" for reopening the commonwealth.
Rather, the restart of economic activity will be a phased effort based on recommendations from an advisory board announced last week and public health experts.
click for more
Even as physical distancing measures remain an important part of outlasting the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff and leaders at SVMC want their patients to know that SVMC and its practices are open, safe, and ready. click for more
During her weekly address Friday on Pittsfield Community Television, she commended Pittsfielders for staying home and being mindful of restrictions and practices aimed at snuffing out COVID-19. click for more
Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday signed an executive order making the wearing of face masks mandatory in locations where people cannot socially distance at least 6 feet. click for more
Sudders used the occasion of Friday's start to National Mental Health Month to talk about the resources available to Massachusetts residents and the importance of maintaining one's mental health during the pandemic.
click for more
At Wednesday's press availability, Gov. Charlie Baker was asked whether he was concerned that the 17-person panel chaired by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito might not have a wide enough cross section of the commonwealth's economy.
click for more
1Berkshire President and CEO Jonathan Butler talks about how the organization pivoted to provide resources to local businesses during the pandemic. click for more
Gov. Charlie Baker Tuesday announced that he is extending the order to close non-essential businesses in the commonwealth through at least May 18 and creating an advisory panel to develop a plans for a phased reopening of the commonwealth’s economy. click for more
Local members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association expected to disperse more than 500 protective masks on Saturday afternoon to colleagues at Berkshire Medical Center.
click for more
The state's pandemic "lockdown" is set to be lifted in one week but state officials aren't clear on how — or if — that will happen.
Gov. Charlie Baker at Monday's daily COVID-19 update declined at this point to say if the stay-home advisory would be extended. click for more
SVMC's President and CEO Tom Dee and Chief Medical Officer Trey Dobson answered COVID-19 questions from the community at Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce/CAT-TV Lunch & Learn earlier today. click for more
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