• Citing lack of funds, the federal Small Business Administration slashes disaster-loan limit
  • Unemployment numbers continue to climb
  • Federal judge issues order allowing Massachusetts gun shops to reopen
  • Answer the call: Contact tracers initiative ramps up
  • MA receives $15.9 million to expand COVID-19 testing
  • Cape Cod task force on reopening forms
  • Friday’s Silver Lining: JetBlue is giving away 100,000 flights to healthcare heroes

 

  1. The overwhelmed Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program has significantly reduced the size of loans it issues from a maximum of $2 million to $150,000. The SBA is so inundated that it is currently only accepting loan applications from agricultural business as it tries to work though it’s backlog of previous applicants.

 

  1. For the seventh straight week, unemployment increased. From April 26 to May 2, more than 3.2 million Americans, including 55,000 Massachusetts residents, filed for first time unemployment benefits. Overall nationally, a total of 33 million people have filed for unemployment, including almost one million people here in Massachusetts, evidence of the broad economic devastation COVID-19 is causing.

 

  1. During a two-hour virtual hearing, United States District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock issued an order allowing Massachusetts gun shops to reopen, ruling Governor Baker’s decision to deem them as nonessential infringed on the Second Amendment rights of those seeking to purchase a firearm. Judge Woodlock sided in favor of a coalition of gun shops, advocacy groups and would-be gun owners who sued Baker last month. When asked about the ruling, Baker said he needed to discuss it with the Attorney General.

 

If your phone rings and you don’t recognize the number but the area code is 833 or 857 or MA COVID TEAM appears across your screen, please answer it. It could very well be a call from the MA COVID Contact Tracing Team with important information. The contact tracing program is a critical step in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

 

  1. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded $15.9 million to 40 health centers across Massachusetts. The funding is part of the Payroll Protection Program and Health Care Enactment Act signed into law on April 24. With this funding, health care centers can purchase personal protective equipotent (PPE), training for staff, outreach, lab services, notification services and more.

 

  1. Leaders across Cape Cod are joining together to form their own regional taskforce on reopening. Comprised of more than two dozen business leaders, local politicians and tribe members, the task force, headed by Sen. Julian Cyr of Truro, will provide one consistent and uniform message to ensure all business residents and visitors are following the same rules.

 

  1. NOMINATE YOUR HEALTHCARE HERO: … and maybe they’ll take you with them if they win one of JetBlue’s 100,000 roundtrip flights for two. JetBlue is honoring healthcare heroes from nurses and doctors to pharmacists, therapists, social workers, administrators. Nominate yours today!