Dear Fenway Health Community,
We are writing to notify you about important changes to Fenway Health’s business operations we are enacting in an effort to reduce community spread of the COVID-19 virus. As you know, this situation is constantly evolving, and we are working diligently to take precautionary measures, while adapting to new information and guidance that emerge at the local, state, and national levels.
We are finalizing a plan to reduce the number of face-to-face encounters with patients and clients. In particular, we are making specific determinations about which services will continue to be available at Fenway locations, which services may be performed remotely (e.g., by telephone or via other technology), and which non-urgent services may be postponed or cancelled in the short-term. We will keep you informed about these decisions.
In the meantime, please note the following important changes, all effective today, Tuesday, March 17, 2020:
- All Boomerangs store locations will be closed to the public, for both shopping and donation of items, until further notice.
- We will temporarily discontinue certain public health services that require on-site interaction with clients, including: sexual health prevention, community-based case management (including the Lynn office), housing services, legal services, and the homeless youth drop-in center, Youth On Fire. These programs will be suspended until at least Friday, April 3, at which time we will determine whether it is appropriate to reinstate them.
- Syringe and NARCAN distribution will remain in operation through our teams at Amory Street in Jamaica Plain, Green Street in Cambridge, and the mobile outreach van. For these services, clients will be admitted to the facility one person at a time to eliminate congestion. Clients may be provided with up to one month of supplies in order to minimize the need for return visits.
- The Fenway Institute is working to decrease participant visits by suspending new study enrollments for the time being, using video interviewing and internet-based assessments whenever possible, and conducting face-to-face visits only to assess the safety of experimental vaccines and medications, and/or to dispense study products.
- All Fenway Health staff, clients, and patients will participate in a brief screening protocol immediately upon entry to our facilities every day, at all locations. The screening is designed to reduce the risk of anyone entering the buildings who may have been exposed to the virus.
Fenway Health is uniquely qualified to provide expertise and leadership during a public health emergency of this nature. It is a responsibility and opportunity we take very seriously. We will continue to keep the entire Fenway Health community informed about developments as they unfold.
Thank you and please take good care.