• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Pinnacle, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Eat
  • Wellesley Square
  • School
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Embracing diversity
  • Charities/Community
  • Arts
  • Camp
  • Kids
  • Environment/Sustainability
  • Events
  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Natick Report
  • COVID-19
  • Letters to the Editor
  • 2021 Town Election
  • Bulletin Board
Needham Bank, Wellesley
Boston Sports Institute, Wellesley

Wellesley residents coordinating on coronavirus plan

March 1, 2020 by Bob Brown 2 Comments

While Wellesley’s Health Department on Friday issued an update on its coronaviras (COVID-19) plans, town residents are developing what they hope will be a complementary support program. The town, which has its own emergency preparedness plan and participates in regional programs, is aware of this grassroots effort and communications with the residents is underway.

Biochemist and Town Meeting member Jonathan Koppelman has proposed establishment of the Wellesley Coronavirus Community Support Program and is enlisting a team of volunteers to make it a reality.

“I am trying to organize an effort to create community resiliency in the face of the Covid-2019 coronavirus,” said Koppelman, in reaching out to us.

More: Wellesley coronavirus (COVID-19) updates

“Right now sick patients have no way of getting daily updates of local conditions like which ERs are full, which doctor’s offices can quickly see them, and which hospitals have spare capacity. They cannot get masks, meds, gloves, eye protection, groceries and other necessities delivered to them particularly if there are shortages. There is no 7-day hotline they can call,” Koppelman says. “We want to encourage people in the community if they are sick not to transmit the disease to other people. This is not possible without community action.”

Koppelman faults the media for not being a reliable resource and says America has a poor track record of addressing disasters, like Hurricane Katrina.

A Google Sheet has been set up for volunteers. To get yourself on the volunteer list or learn more about the effort you can send email to [email protected].

Program’s purpose, as communicated by Koppelman:

      1. Communicate the latest situation to all the residents of the town beyond just looking at the latest limited communication from the CDC. This means concise, clear and regular updates that explain what is going on and what the upshot of that is. As new scientific information comes up, we can spread it to help people remain healthy.
      2. Enroll at-risk people in a communications program where additional important information could be disseminated from trusted sources. A helpline with email and social media would also be an excellent idea.
      3. Communicate scientifically based methods to minimize infection such as hand-washing, using hand sanitizers, using gloves, using masks, and using social distancing.
      4. Coordinate with the Massachusetts department of health at the state level. Much of the heavy lifting is going to have to be local. The state has limited resources. There may be mandated or advised quarantines and we could help to make them more effective.
      5. Assist fellow residents in other ways such as if someone is quarantined and needs food. This will help to encourage people to stay home when they should and not spread the virus.
      6. Liaise with local hospitals to figure out where best to get care in times of shortages. For example, Newton Wellesley may be full, but Beth Israel Needham may not. Those who need non virus healthcare could possibly find the best places to go with the lowest chance of contamination.
      7. Help vulnerable people with getting medications, masks, and other similar medical necessities. There are already shortages. We could bulk order for them as well helping them to save money and procure products.
      8. Help people who are a little sick but not sure how to proceed to communicate with providers to consider next steps. That way people donโ€™t deluge the medical system with frivolous cases while making sure serious cases are brought to medical providersโ€™ attention.
      9. Help to facilitate emotional support for those sick at home and for those caring for them.
      10. Fundraise and enable people to donate to this Wellesley Coronavirus Community Support Program. We will also need many volunteers to make phone calls, deliveries, update social media etc.

      Volunteer opportunities

      Section 1 Healthcare lisaon
      Description: Contacting local healthcare providers like Newton-Wellesley Hospital and finding out who their community liaisons are.
      Establishing relationships so that appropriate information can be shared from them.
      Pass general questions from community member to healthcare providers (eg ER availability)
      Section 2 Finances / Board of Health / fundraising
      Description: Work with the Board of Health regarding setting up funding.
      Manage donations and accounts
      Fundraising
      Section 3 Social media
      Description Maintain social media accounts with updates about the coronavirus, local medical care availability, and local news that pertains to it
      Communicate scientifically based methods to minimize infection such as hand-washing, using hand sanitizers, using gloves, using masks, and using social distancing
      Section 4 Coordinating with outside agencies
      Description Coordinate with the Massachusetts Department of Health.
      Assist with mandated or advised quarantines.
      Coordinate with local police department
      Coordinate with local school system
      Section 5 Direct help to residents
      Description Answer phone calls
      Return emails
      Assist people with accessing healthcare
      Deliver groceries
      Help with procuring medication
      Provide emotional support to people who are sick and their families
      Enroll at risk individuals in an email update program
      Section 6 Scientific and medical knowledge base
      Description Use medical expertise to assist with project
      Regularly peruse medical literature
      Provide timely scientific and medical updates
      Work with social media section to disseminate information

      donate box love local

      Subscribe to get Swellesleyโ€™s daily email newsletter

print
Share

Filed Under: Health

Comments

  1. Gina Vild says

    March 2, 2020 at 10:33 am

    I would like to volunteer as a healthcare liaison and communicator. By way of background, I have been employed for the past decade as an Assoc Dean and chief communications officer at Harvard Medical School. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jonathan Koppelman says

      March 2, 2020 at 5:53 pm

      My name is Jonathan Koppelman. I am helping to coordinate the ๐–๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ž๐ฒ ๐‚๐จ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐’๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐š๐ฆ. Please email [email protected] to sign up as a volunteer. We very much appreciate your assistance.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Linden Square, Wellesley
Write Ahead
Ann-Mara Lanza, Wellesley

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to [email protected]
Wellesley Square ad
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Sexton test prep
Feldman Law
Fay School, Southborough
Wellesley Theatre Project
Admit Fit, Wellesley
image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Never miss a post with our free daily Swellesley Report email
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

You can subscribe for free, though we appreciate any contribution that supports our independent journalism.

Click here to read our Natick Report

Natick Report

Events Calendar

« February 2021 » loading...
S M T W T F S
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
1
2
3
4
5
6
Wed 24

Open House at Boston Outdoor Preschool Network

February 24 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Wed 24

MBTA meeting about service cutbacks, changes

February 24 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Most Read Posts

  • "I Care a Lot" movie that filmed in Wellesley making Netflix debut
  • Where to eat in Wellesley, Massachusetts
  • Wellesley summer camp listings 2021 โ€” find the experience of a lifetime
  • Wellesley has first case of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant; Health Dept. readies to vaccinate homebound residents
  • Wellesley Select Board to discuss recent reported racist incidents

Pages

  • Guidelines for letters to the editor
  • How to submit your flyer for the Community Bulletin Board page
  • Wellesley Community Bulletin Board
  • Wellesley coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
  • Wellesley’s 7 official scenic roads
  • Wellesley, Mass., fishing spots
  • Wellesley Choral Society
  • Wellesley College Notable Alumnae
  • Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.
  • Wellesley outdoor art gallery
  • Wellesley restaurants offering take-out and delivery
  • Wellesley, Massachusetts restaurant โ€” Amarin of Thailand

Recent Comments

  • Marie Brown on Letter to the editor: in support of Columbus Day
  • Jason on Letter to the editor: in support of Columbus Day
  • Kim on Wellesley Business Buzz: Wellesley Office Park transformation underway; Digging Natickโ€™s new Beach House volleyball center; 6 more small businesses get COVID-19 relief; Prepped and Polished adds Wellesley location; NatureWorks Landscape opening in Church Square; storefronts in for artsy makeover
  • Bob Brown on Wellesley Business Buzz: Wellesley Office Park transformation underway; Digging Natickโ€™s new Beach House volleyball center; 6 more small businesses get COVID-19 relief; Prepped and Polished adds Wellesley location; NatureWorks Landscape opening in Church Square; storefronts in for artsy makeover
  • Vita Melignano on Wellesley Business Buzz: Wellesley Office Park transformation underway; Digging Natickโ€™s new Beach House volleyball center; 6 more small businesses get COVID-19 relief; Prepped and Polished adds Wellesley location; NatureWorks Landscape opening in Church Square; storefronts in for artsy makeover

Links we like

  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Taquitos.net
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Categories

  • 2021 Town Election (16)
  • Animals (381)
  • Antiques (48)
  • Art (539)
  • Beyond Wellesley (28)
  • Books (343)
  • Business (1,369)
  • Camp (1)
  • Careers/jobs (44)
  • Churches (72)
  • Clubs (209)
  • Construction (280)
  • Dump (113)
  • Education (2,893)
    • Babson College (240)
    • Bates Elementary School (14)
    • Dana Hall School (29)
    • Fiske Elementary School (6)
    • Hardy Elementary School (33)
    • Hunnewell Elementary School (34)
    • MassBay (47)
    • Schofield Elementary School (20)
    • Sprague Elementary School (19)
    • St. John School (1)
    • Tenacre Country Day School (9)
    • Upham Elementary School (30)
    • Wellesley College (598)
    • Wellesley High School (888)
    • Wellesley Middle School (195)
  • Embracing diversity (44)
  • Entertainment (724)
  • Environment (673)
  • Fashion (134)
  • Finance (13)
  • Fire (142)
  • Food (328)
  • Fundraising (561)
  • Gardens (137)
  • Government (407)
    • 2020 Town Election (47)
  • Health (745)
    • COVID-19 (140)
  • History (359)
  • Holidays (365)
  • Houses (120)
  • Humor (45)
  • Kids (815)
  • Law (3)
  • Letters to the Editor (9)
  • Media (63)
  • METCO (5)
  • Military (3)
  • Morses Pond (96)
  • Music (543)
  • Natick Report (28)
  • Neighbors (248)
  • Obituaries (58)
  • Outdoors (585)
  • Parenting (60)
  • Police (695)
    • Crime (350)
  • Politics (544)
  • Real estate (290)
  • Religion (127)
  • Restaurants (303)
  • Safety (142)
  • Scouts (1)
  • Senior citizens (110)
  • Shopping (123)
  • Sports (900)
  • STEM (104)
  • Technology (154)
  • Theatre (383)
  • Town Meeting (22)
  • Transportation (210)
  • Travel (11)
  • Uncategorized (1,206)
  • Volunteering (319)
  • Weather (167)
  • Wellesley Election 2019 (21)
  • Wellesley Free Library (258)
  • Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend (5)
RSS Feed Icon Subscribe to RSS Feed

© 2021 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login