THIS DECLARATION WILL GIVE OUR MINISTRY SHOW MORE FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO THIS EVOLVING OUTBREAK.

IN ADDITION TO THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, OUR ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING FORWA WITH ENHANCED GUIDANCE FROM EMPLOYERS AND LARGE ORGANIZATIONS.

RESPONDING TO THIS EVOLVING THREAT REQUIRES EVERYONE TO BE VIGILANT AND FOR EVERYONE TO BE PART OF THIS EFFORT.

ADDITION TO PRACTICING GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE, WE ALL MUST CONSIDER HOW OUR ACTIONS AND CHOICES AS EMPLOYRS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, WORKERS, AND RESIDENTS CAN HELP MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF

THIS DISEASE.

ARE HERE TO ALLY NEW PROTOCOLS FOR EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.

THE COMMONWEALTH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYEES, AS -- EMPLOYERS, SO WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO PLAY IN MITIGATING THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.

WE URGE ALL EMPLOYERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO FOLLOW SUIT WHERE IT IS APPROPRIATE.

BEFORE I GET INTO THE DETAILS ON THE ENHANCED MITIGATION EFFORT, I WANT TO STATE WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE THESE STEPS NOW.

AT THIS TIME, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INFECTED IS VERY MUCH WITHIN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM’ CAPACITY.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN ISOLATION RIGHT NOW HAS MINIMAL IMPACT ON COMMERCE.

THE PURPOSE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE MEASURES NOW IS TO ACT BEFORE THE VIRUS SPREAD -- TH HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS NATURE OF THIS DISEASE MEANS THAT IF EVERYONE PLAYS THEIR PART AND

SLOWING THE SPREAD, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO BECOME INFECTED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION DOES NOT SPIKE ALL AT ONCE, WHICH WOULD OVERWHELM OUR SYSTEMS.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT ASKING PEOPLE TO CHANGE HABITS, CANCEL EVENTS, CANCEL TRAVEL IS INCONVENIENT.

WE ALSO UNDERSTAND IT COMES WITH A FINANCIAL IMPACT.

BUT WAITING ACT, AND ALLOWING INFECTIONS T SPIKE, WOULD NOT ONLY SEVERELY HAMPER OUR HOSPITALS’ ABILITY TO CARE FOR PATIENTS, BUT WOULD HAVE -- IMPACT AS WELL.

THE GUIDELINES WE ARE RELEASING PROHIBITS TRAVE, AND ENCOURAGES TELEWORKING.

STARTING TOMORROW, THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE WILL BE IN EFFECT.

ALL WORK-RELAT TRAVEL, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, IS TO BE DISCONTINUED.

WE ALSO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES AVOID ANY PERSONAL INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, AND OTHER DISCRETIONARY GATHERINGS HOSTED BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES INVOLVING EXTERNA PARTIES ARE TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY OR CANCELED.

REGULAR INTERNAL BUSINESS SHALL CONTINUE, INCLUDING NOT -- INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MEETINGS.

ADDITIONALLY, EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT ATTEND EXTERNAL, WORK-RELATED CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, OR EVENTS.

FINALLY, SYMPTOMS SHOULD NOT COME INTO WORK.

INFORMATION TO DATE REGARDING COVID-19 INDICATES THAT THE HIGHEST RISK POPULATION INCLUDES OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

EMPLOYEES IN THIS RISK GROUP ARE ENCOURAGED TO TALK WITH THEIR SUPERVISORS TO REVIEW POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE WORK ASSIGNMENTS.

EACH OF THE ABOVE MEASURES WILL BE REVISITED IN 30 DAYS OR SOONER AS CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATE.

WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT T START TAKING MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTION NOW TO MITIGATE SPREAD ACED ON THE INFORMATION WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THE EFFORTS TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS WILL BE DISRUPTIVE.

WE EXPECT THE DISRUPTION TO CONTINUE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND UNDERSTAND IT WILL CAUSE INCONVENIENCE FOR MANY.

OUR GOAL NEEDS TO BE TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE EFFORTS TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE NOW.

WE ARE SEEING AN UPTICK IN PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE CASES IN PART AS A RESULT OF INCREASED TESTING.

MORE CASES WILL BE REPORTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS MORE TESTING IS DONE.

THIS IS A SERIOUS DISEASE PARTICULARLY FOR OLDER RESIDENTS AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE RESPIRATORY DISEASE, LUNG DISEASE AND HEART DISEASE.

THE REASON WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS ENHANCED GUIDANCE IS TO MITIGATE THE ADVERSE IMPACTS THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF INFECTIONS COULD HAVE ON OUR HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM, OUR COMMUNITIES AND

THOSE INDIVIDUA WHO ARE MOST PRONE TO THIS PARTICULAR ILLNESS.

AS WE HAVE SAID BEFORE, FOR THE BEST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO CONTRACT THIS DISEASE, IS NOT DEADLY.

THE LATEST RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHILDREN AND YOU PEOPLE ARE AT LOW RISK OF HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.

WE MUST STEP UP THESE MITIGATION EFFORTS TO AVOID IT LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE REQUIRING MEDICAL CARE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

THIS WAY, OUR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS CARE THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING.

AS I SAID BEFORE, EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY TO STAY HEALTHY AND THAT IS WHY I URGE EMPLOYERS AND OTHER LARG ORGANIZATIONS TO FOLLOW OUR EXAMPLE WHERE POSSIBLE, LIMIT OR ELIMINATE

NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL, LIMIT OR ELIMINATE LARGE EVENTS WHERE POSSIBLE, AND EXPLORE TELEWORK WE POSSIBLE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNINTERRUPTED.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS.

REQUIRE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS WILL STILL TAKE PLACE.

IT OUR SECRETARIES, COMMISSIONERS AND DIRECTORS WILL CONSTANTLY EVALUATE HOW TO BALANCE SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS WITH IMPLEMENTING THESE MET -- MITIGATION EFFORTS

TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS AND OTHER GERMS.

IT KNOW EVERYONE WILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WHAT WE JUST OUTLINED OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

WE BELIEVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHER LARGE ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD FOLLOW THEM WHERE APPROPRIATE.

ON SPORTING EVENTS, WE ARE URGING OLDER EVENTS -- ADULTS AND THOSE WITH HEALTH ISSUES TO AVOID AT LARGE EVENTS HURRIED PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH VULNERABLE PEOPLE LIKE ELDERLY

PARENTS SHOULD CONSIDER AVOIDING LARGE CROWDS.

IT WE BELIEVE THE MAYOR AND CONGRESSMAN AND THE ORGANIZERS MADE THE RIGHT CALL TO CANCEL THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND BREAKFAST IN SOUTH BOSTON.

REGARDING THE MARATHON, IT IS STILL OVER ONE MONTH AWAY AND WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE EVENT.

WITH RESPECT TO WRITING PETIT, -- T T, ADULTS AND THOSE WITH HEALTH ISSUES SHOULD AVOID LARGE CROWDS IF POSSIBLE BUT WE UNDERSTAND MANY NEED IT TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

IT IS WORKING TO DISPENSE SYSTEMS.

WITH RESPECT TO EDUCATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION IS PROVIDING LOCAL SCHOO WITH RELIEF FROM ATTENDANCE AND SCHOOL YOUR REQUIREMENTS SO THE SCHOOL YOUR

REQUIREMENTS SO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ON A TEMPORARY CLOSUR DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS.

AT MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE LONGEST THAT ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE REQUIRED TO GO IS SCHEDULED 185TH DAY.

NO SCHOOLS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE IN SESSION AFTER JUNE 30.

FOR ACCOUNTABILITY PURPOSES, THEY WILL CALCULA CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AS OF MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 AND DISREGARD ALL ATTENDANCE DATA FOR THEIR MAKER OF THE SCHOOL YEA READ THEIR

URGI ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT’S TO CANCEL OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL AT THIS TIME WHIC IS IN ADDITION TO OUR REQUEST FOR SCHOOLS TO CANCEL INTERNATIONAL TRIPS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

WHAT ISSUE UPDATED GUIDANCE TO SUPERINTENDENTS ON HOW TO ADDRESS CASES THAT ARRIVE AT A SCHOOL INCLUDING POTENTIAL SCHOOL CLOSURES.

CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT SAW A EARLY OUTBREAKS ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE DISEASE.

IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF EVERYBODY PLAYS THEIR PART.

IT IS ON POSSIBLE IF STEP UP MITIGATIONS HAPPEN NOW.

CORONAVIRUS IS A RAPIDLY EVOLVING DISEASE.

IT WE’RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE OF OUR TALENTED PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND WORLD-CLASS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT THE COMMONWEALTH IN BATTLING THIS

DISEASE AND WE URGE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO DO THEIR PAR