Mass. DPH Will Send 4.5 Million COVID Warning Texts Ahead Of Thanksgiving

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will send automated calls and texts with COVID-19 advisories to 4.5 million phones days ahead of Thanksgiving this year.

Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders told WCVB the department intends to use the messages as a form of "reminding residents of the increased risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 over the coming holiday season."

The messages will be sent at around 5:00 p.m., and will include a reminder of new statewide COVID-19 rules, which include an overnight stay-at-home advisory, updated mask policy, limitations on the amount of people allowed at a gathering and a 9:30 p.m. mandated closing time for many businesses, health officials confirmed to WCVB.

The system used to distribute the texts was created in response to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March after Massachusetts officials contracted with Burlington-based Everbridge.

Landlines will be included for phone messages and cell phones will be eligible for both text or phone calls. Massachusetts residents can choose their preferred alert method by signing up at mass.gov/covidalerts.

The Massachusetts Health Department last used the system on November 5 in orderer to distribute executive orders implemented by Governor Charlie Baker, which included the state's new limitations on gathering capacity.

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