Return to Board of Health
(posted 04/29/20)
Do you want to be part of the COVID-19 solution? Then just answer the call.
We need your help. If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19, the COVID Community Team will be reaching out via phone to you and your close contacts to slow the spread. We’ll make sure that you are getting the medical attention you need and support through quarantine.
Your caller ID will show the call is coming from:
413-834-5729 (local health department) or
413-834-5596 (local health department) or
833-638-1685 (MA COVID Team) or
857-305-2728 (MA COVID Team)
Please answer the call.
#COVID19MA
(posted 04/06/20)
Last week, the Department of Public Health issued a Stay-at-Home Advisory, built in two parts. The first part is directed to those Massachusetts residents who are 70 years and older and those with underlying health conditions to strongly advise them to stay-at-home with the exception of essential trips for food, medicine, and focused time for exercise and fresh air. As this part of our population has significantly higher fatality rates with confirmed cases of this virus, this DPH Advisory in the strongest terms urges you to stay-at-home unless necessary and to limit your exposure to this virus.
The second part is directed to the population as a whole - both to those who are needed to keep our essential services operational, and for all other residents of the Commonwealth. This part of the advisory also advises staying-at-home for all those who are not providing essential services as described in Executive Order #21 (found online at https://www.mass.gov/doc/march-31-2020-essential-services-extension-order/download), and https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-essential-services
In every instance, this DPH Advisory requires the adherence for safe hygiene practices and vigilant physical distancing. Individuals in the Commonwealth should always practice physical distancing, meaning keeping a distance of 6 feet between you and the other person.
Under this advisory, “staying home” means:
(posted 04/06/20)
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health recently released an infographic covering 10 tips for managing at-home isolation or quarantine. That infographic can be found online at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/10-tips-for-at-home-quarantine-or-self-monitoring/download
(posted 04/06/20)
If you have been diagnosed by lab test or have a doctor’s diagnosis with 2019 Novel (new) Coronavirus (COVID-19) and now have symptoms, or if you have had a high-risk exposure to COVID-19 but have no symptoms:
Stay home and have no visitors to your home. Contact your local Board of Health for guidance on isolation and quarantine. You can find a contact list for each Franklin County community public health nurse online at: https://frcog.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Local-Public-Health-Contacts-for-COVID-19-for-Primary-Care-_Updated-April-1.pdf. Reporting to your Board will allow them to communicate with local dispatch to ensure that any first responder who might need to come to your home for any type of emergency can know to take appropriate precautions.
ISOLATION is required of persons who have symptoms and have a diagnosis of COVID-19. You will be required to stay home and have no visitors unless medically required and wearing proper levels of protection.
ISOLATION may discontinue after the following conditions:
QUARANTINE is for persons who are not symptomatic but are at high risk for having been exposed to the COVID 19 virus. A person at high risk for exposure without symptoms is required to stay home and monitor symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms develop, quarantine may not be exited until the 14 days have passed AND all symptoms have resolved, which may be later.
Update: March 6, 2020
Case Tracking
On Thursday, March 5th, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced its second presumptive positive case of COVID-19 since testing started Friday, February 28, at the State Public Health Laboratory. The woman is in her 60s and lives in Middlesex County. Her recent European travel included northern Italy. She was symptomatic, did not require hospitalization, and is recovering at home.
The State Public Health Lab’s result is considered presumptive positive and the specimens will now be sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmation. This case brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts to three - one confirmed and two presumptive positive - since the outbreak started in the US in January. The risk to the public from COVID-19 remains low in Massachusetts.
Since January, Massachusetts has tested 25 residents, including the first confirmed case and the first presumptive positive case. Going forward, the Department of Public Health will be updating confirmed and presumptive positive cases on a daily basis at www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus.
Actions Residents Can Take
As we approach school breaks, residents are advised that on March 4, the CDC issued an updated Travel Health Alert for all United States residents, instructing travelers returning from countries with a Level 3 alert (currently China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy) to stay home and monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the US. The guidance advises against any non-essential travel to Level 3 countries.
This guidance also instructs travelers from countries with a Level 2 alert (currently Japan) to monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the US.
In response to CDC's Travel Health Alert on March 4, Governor Charlie Baker and Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders urged all Massachusetts schools, including elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities, to cancel upcoming, organized international trips at this time.
While the risk of COVID-19 is low in Massachusetts, out of an abundance of caution, all schools have been advised to cancel all upcoming organized international travel for the foreseeable future.
The CDC hosts a Frequently Asked Questions page regarding travel at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html
We continue to encourage all residents to learn more about the everyday preventative actions they can take at: https://www.cdc.gov/nonpharmaceutical-interventions/personal/index.html
Update: February 28, 2020
COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that’s spreading from China throughout the world: You’ve heard about it; you’re concerned about it. Here are some things you need to know.
1. We’re on it.
Your Board of Health is the local end of a chain that starts with the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and goes through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Mohawk Area Public Health Coalition (MAPHCO) down to us. At every link in this chain emergency response plans are being updated and supplies and equipment are being marshaled.
In this rapidly evolving situation, an important part of our job is to keep you informed of the risks and the proper precautions you can take. You can also get updates, and more information on the virus itself, on these websites:
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
mass.gov/guides/information-on-the-outbreak-of-2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19
2. Understand the risk.
We are committed to offering realistic professional guidance. Yes, as of this writing, in late February, 2020, the risk of infection in our area is low. But we can’t count on it staying low. It’s entirely possible we will see cases of COVID-19 in our community. We’re the lucky ones; we have time to get ready.
3. Things you can do to prepare.
There are basic precautions everyone can easily take to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 — or flu. Let’s face it, the world is a germy place, and you pick up those germs on your hands and carry them into your body by touching your eyes, nose, mouth, or food.
To learn more about ways you can help yourself, visit cdc.gov/nonpharmaceutical-interventions/personal/index.html
And finally, start thinking about being prepared for any kind of emergency, from an infectious disease outbreak to an ice storm. You can get started by visiting www.ready.gov
If you have questions, please contact your local Board of Health at health@gillmass.org