Business

Watertown Company Looks to 3-D Print Medical Equipment to Help With Coronavirus

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A Watertown company has started looking at how it can produce much-needed medical equipment to help during the Coronavirus outbreak. A shortage of medical supplies has been a problem as hospitals test for and treat patients with the COVID-19. Mark-Forged, located on Pleasant Street, has started to develop ways to 3-D print swabs and protective face shields used by medical staff when working with patients who may have the Coronavirus. The company was featured in a story on WHDH Channel 7. CEO Mark Greg estimates that 20 3-D printers could make 14,000 swabs a day.

Around Town

State Sen. Brownsberger Polling People About State’s Response to Coronavirus

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger

State Sen. Will Brownsberger is taking an anonymous poll of constituents about Massachusetts’ response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), so far. (See the results here: https://www.watertownmanews.com/2020/03/24/see-the-results-of-sen-brownsbergers-poll-on-the-states-coronavirus-response/)

The short questionnaire (four questions) asks people what they think about the steps taken by the State of Massachusetts, including closing schools, potentially sheltering in place and how it has impacted them. To take the poll go here: https://willbrownsberger.com/covid-19-response-questions/

Brownsberger represents Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston.

Around Town

State Hosting Virtual Town Halls on Unemployment Assistance

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The Mass. Department of Unemployment Assistance will host a series of town hall meetings which people can join by phone or online. The sessions will help people file unemployment claims and get other questions answered. Those joining by computer can do so that day, but people joining by phone need to register by 5:30 p.m. the day before. The Mass.

Coronavirus

Gov. Baker Closing Non-Essential Businesses, Issues Stay-at-Home Advisory

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NEW: Gov. Charlie Baker orders all non-essential businesses in Massachusetts to close Tuesday at noon https://t.co/7FtmrZJiUi #Breaking— WBZ | CBS Boston News (@wbz) March 23, 2020

Gov. Charlie Baker announced an order closing non-essential businesses for two weeks, and put out a stay-at-home advisory to state residents, due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The order begins at noon on Tuesday, March 24 and runs through April 7. It closes physical workspaces and facilities to all workers, customers, and the public, Baker said, according to a report by WBZ Channel 4. This list of essential businesses include medical facilities, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, restaurants open for delivery and take out and companies working on a vaccine for COVID-19, according to WBZ. Also medical equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and the MBTA are exempted.

Arax Market

Watertown Markets Offering Alternatives to In-Store Shopping During Coronavirus Outbreak

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People who cannot go to a store, or do not want to in a social distancing effort during the Coronavirus outbreak, have some alternatives at two Watertown markets. At Russo’s, 560 Pleasant St., customers can order delivery through the Mercato website (click here), or they can order a Russo’s Box and pick it up in the market’s parking lot. There are two Box options, one for $50 and the larger size for $100. Each includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, bread, milk, eggs and more. See details by clicking here.

Police Log

Police Log: Trio of Shoplifter Hit Mall Store, No Arrests

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. There were no arrests this week. Incidents

March 11, 11: 57 a.m.: Security at Home Depot stopped a man who had eight items in a cart, but only scanned four. He left the store without paying for the items, which were worth $90.82. When security spoke with the man in the parking lot, they saw a hammer drill, valued at $699, in his car.

Schools

Public Can Join Monday’s School Committee Meeting Remotely

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The Watertown School Committee will hold its scheduled meeting on Monday, March 23, and members of the public can join in by video conference to watch and possibly to participate. Viewers can join the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Monday, using Zoom. This is the first meeting for the School Committee since most others were cancelled due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). School Committee Chair John Portz said members will be at home or some other location and will join in electronically. “We’re working on the logistics and technical side of this, but I think there will be an opportunity for the public to speak,” Portz said.