The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) is implementing new safety protocols to keep the community and employees safe from the increasing spike in COVID-19 cases. The health and social services organization continues to monitor the situation as the current health emergency progresses and may extend the changes if needed.

The Senior Center in Cambridge was closed last Monday, January 3, 2022, and it’s expected to reopen at the end of this month.  MAPS six offices in Greater Boston, Framingham, and Lowell are only open for clients with appointments. Walk-ins are not allowed at the moment. The organization will continue to offer assistance to clients seeking information or referrals via the telephone or social media. A limited number of MAPS staff will continue to work in the office, while the rest are being encouraged to work from home. Masks must be always worn in the offices and clients are being screened for COVID-19 symptoms.

“Given the prevalence of the omicron variant and evidence that it likely is more transmissible than previous strains, we are taking some measures to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 and keep our community, our clients, and our staff safe,” said Paulo Pinto, MPA, MAPS Executive Director. “We encourage all of our community members to stay safe, limit interactions, wear masks in public, and get vaccinated right away, as well as take their booster shots.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should get tested at least 5 days after the exposure. If you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms, you should stay home and isolate yourself from other people for at least 5 full days and wear a mask when around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days.

MAPS offers free COVID-19 Vaccination & Booster clinics three times a week at its offices and other key community locations such as churches and social clubs, in partnership with Health Innovations, Inc, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Please access maps-inc.org/community-calendar to check out the calendar and find out the next clinic location and date. MAPS encourages the community to call 888-509-7788, our free hotline to ask any questions regarding COVID-19. For more information and resources about the COVID-19 pandemic, our vaccination clinic’s schedule, and booster, please access maps-inc.org/coronavirus.

The organization can be reached in Cambridge (617-864-7600), Somerville (617-764-2091), Brighton (617-787-0557), Dorchester (617-825-5897), Framingham (508-872-2652), and Lowell (978-970-1250) or via messages on social media at facebook.com/maps.org and Instagram.com/maps_org.