The $2,079,767 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the cost of contracting for medical and nursing staff to support the state-run medical facilities between April 2020 and July 2021.
The hospital also purchased supplies such as lab coats, masks, gloves, and propane for the testing tent, and contracted to provide security and cleaning services.
The announcement this week, ahead of the 45-day notice required by state law, allows additional time for impacted organizations to prepare for the end of the public health emergency.
Public Health Nurse Patricia Tremblay said that there is an expectation to hear a verdict in April and the city will continue to follow guidance from the Center for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Appointments are required and there are slots available most weekdays 10-4 and some Saturdays 9 to noon at the Tri Town Health office located in the Airoldi Building located at 45 Railroad Street in Lee.
Effective on Monday, Feb. 6, COVID vaccination will be available only two days per week in Pittsfield and one day per week in North Adams for adults, and a Pediatric vaccine clinic will be held on a Friday once each month in Pittsfield.
The city's Biobot sewage data showed a 1.1 million copies per liter virus concentration over the weekend, compared to the 1 million copies per liter concentration on Thanksgiving day.
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and several partner agencies joined to form BFF in response to a need for a clearinghouse focused on the investment of COVID-19 recovery dollars into the region, to improve the well-being of community members
Rhoads and Vice Chair Board Amy Oberlin said they distributed some tests at Ramblefest over the weekend. Several event-goers, they said, were interested.
On Monday, the positivity rate was 9.8 percent and there were 41.6 daily cases per 100,000 people, compared to an 8 percent positivity rate and an average daily case rate of 28.6 one month ago.
The latest vaccine to combat COVID-19 is designed to provide protection from the BA.4 and BA.5 variants that currently make up the vast majority of novel coronavirus cases in the United States.
The city's health director had good news on Wednesday, telling the Board of Health that COVID-19 cases have been plateauing for the last month after a small increase in July.
While face coverings, social distancing, remote learning and "hybrid" schedules largely are a thing of the past, the education deficits created by the pandemic have been front of mind for school officials for more than two years.