I hope all this gear/equipment being brought into MA (according to governor updates and news reports) are making their way West of 495; There are actual communities that exist past that route. All of the Commonwealth is not located East of 495.

GARDNER — COVID-19 numbers are creeping up, but the area is maintaining a lower rate than the state’s average for those testing positive for the novel coronavirus, according to Heywood Healthcare, which also indicates that it is starting to run low on scrubs and gowns.

By Tuesday morning, April 7, Heywood Healthcare reported a total of 120 positive cases of the virus so far. Five of those tested had indeterminate results, meaning they could not be determined as positive or negative. The rate of positive local cases in the health system is 16.5 percent, compared to the state’s 18.1 percent. At Heywood Hospital, there are six patients in-house who have tested positive for COVID-19. There are 10 patients under investigation.

Statewide as of Tuesday morning, there were about 76,000 tests collected, of which about 14,000 were positive. There have been about 260 deaths in Massachusetts.

President and CEO of Heywood Healthcare Win Brown said during his morning update Tuesday that anyone now entering the health system’s facilities must be wearing a mask. He added that scarves and bandanas are acceptable. If someone checks in without a mask, one will be provided.

Brown asked all staff wearing scrubs to leave them behind so they can be washed, and requested that any staff members who have brought scrubs home to please bring them back. Isolation gowns are also running short.

“Given the pandemic, we are on an allocation for the number of scrubs that we get and the number of surgical gowns on a daily basis. So if you have anything sitting at home, it really needs to come back in because we are starting to run short on our shifts,” he said.

from The Gardner News:

HUBBARDSTON — “We’re going ahead full steam,” Town Clerk Laurie Reed said of the democratic processes in town.

Everything is still on track for the town’s annual meeting, planned for June 2, and election, still set for June 9.

Reed noted everything could change as warranted due to the ongoing coronavirus health crisis, though the latest the town can delay at this point is the end of June, unless state rules change again.

Papers for those seeking election to town office were available starting Tuesday, April 7, and are due back by 5 p.m. on April 21, Reed said, but she added there is some flexibility in the procedures.

She said she can meet with people outside of Town Hall, for instance.

But email is usually the best way to communicate; calling Town Hall, they can also leave a message.

Reed said come time for the election, the town will use the best ways it can to protect people and make sure they are practicing social distancing.

Potential candidates will still need to gather 20 signatures, and Reed recommends a few extra in case someone signs who is not actually registered to vote And she will be handing out 25 signature sheets to candidates so each person signing can use a fresh sheet of paper to avoid any concerns about COVID-19.

She said businesses are still open in town, and are places a candidate could gather signatures, keeping in mind people may want some distance.

If someone is interested in signing a nomination paper, they can arrange to meet them. It may require a little more work than normal but can still be done.

Reed said she can work with candidates to guide them through the process.

For voters, there are some options. Voting hours are not yet determined, Reed said. But many voters can skip the in-person process and request an absentee ballot. There are no criteria needed, unlike the typical absentee request process. Voters can then have the ballot mailed to them and send it back through the mail. All “no-contact” voting.

For those who go to the polls in person, there may be adjustments, such as possibly allowing people to bring their own pens. The new voting machine will be a little more forgiving in that regard.

But for more information, residents can contact Reed at tclerk@hubbardstonma.us or leave a phone message at 978-928-1400, ext. 202.

Positions on the ballot are: Board of Selectmen, three years; Board of Assessors, three years; Planning Board, a five-year and one-year seat; Board of Health, two three-year seats; Quabbin Regional School Committee, three years; Finance Committee, two three-year seats; Cemetery Commission, three years; Trustees of Public Library, two three-year seats; Park Commissioner, two three-year seats and a one-year seat.