Where We Stand: Covid Economic Response in MA

For many of us, time may feel like it is standing still in some sort of bizarre suspended animation for the past year or more, as we deal with the covid outbreak. 

Thankfully, many organizations including our healthcare sector, manufacturing industry, and government entities have been hard at work helping us deal not only with the day-to-day impacts of the pandemic, but also in the steps it will take to recover from this economically, physically, and socially devastating event. 

The goal of our blog today is to give a quick update on where Massachusetts stands currently in regards to the recovery process, vaccines, and the reopening of our economy. Please use the links to access further resources if you should have more detailed questions and inquiries about statistics or programs mentioned here. 

Vaccination Update 

As of the writing of this article, 10.2 million doses of the vaccines have been given in the Commonwealth with 4.75 million fully vaccinated. This translates into approximately 68.9% of the population vaccinated. 

The most vaccinated counties include those on Cape Cod and in the Greater Boston area. 

The Baker-Polito Administration has been encouraging people who are over 65 and meet the criteria to get the booster shot at one of the many booster sites being opened around the state. 

A future date of vaccinations for 5-12 year olds is imminent and we will keep you updated on when those are officially announced. 

Economic Recovery 

Both the Federal government and the state of Massachusetts have put forth rigorous economic packages geared toward helping our struggling economy recover. 

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) continues to provide nearly $1.9 trillion in economic relief in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, and several tax provisions. The ARPA expands and extends many provisions originally enacted under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

At the state level, the Baker Administration is working with businesses to encourage vaccinations as the most surefire way to truly end this pandemic. This coordination includes Massachusetts Lawmakers Extending the Massachusetts Paid COVID Leave Program until April 2022. 

This program grants, “all employees access to emergency leave for up to five paid days off for COVID-related concerns, including paid leave from work to attend a vaccine appointment. Workers are eligible for emergency paid leave “should they be diagnosed with COVID-19, required to be isolated, or need to care for a family member due to the virus.”

In order to directly boost the economy and get citizens of the Bay State back to work, the Baker Administration also passed the $774 Million Economic Recovery Plan approximately a year ago. 

More recently, over the summer the Administration invested $2.9 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Funding to support economic recovery in communities hit hardest by the pandemic. All of these plans include help for local communities, staffing issues, expanding job opportunities and helping underserved communities gain access to the funds and services being provided in this time of great need. 

For more information on current plans, laws and initiatives please visit Mass.gov for up-to-date information on the coronavirus recovery in our state.