Monday March 30, 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advisory Information
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported that as of 4:00 p.m. yesterday, 4,955 residents of Massachusetts tested positive for COVID-19. This includes 148 residents of Barnstable County. As of this morning, a total of twenty-seven (27) Town of Barnstable residents tested positive for COVID-19. Public Health Division nurses continue to contact those who were infected to ensure they are appropriately isolated and with those who have come into contact with them to take the required quarantine precautions.
A total of 39,066 persons were tested in Massachusetts for COVID-19; 12.7% of them were found to be positive. Cape Cod Healthcare has issued guidance regarding testing at this link: https://www.capecodhealth.org/medical-services/infectious-disease/coronavirus/covid-19-testing-process/
During this past week-end and today, Public Health Division staff have been contacting managers of supermarkets and other businesses in Town to provide guidance and to promote proper social distancing practices. Signage, barriers, markings, and plexiglass shields have been installed. The Public Health Division continues to request managers of supermarkets to have their employees remind customers to adhere to signage and markings in order to maintain social distancing wherever possible.
All residents are reminded to take steps toward social distancing, including within grocery stores wherever possible, to limit exposure to others, and to wash hands frequently.
The Health Division continues to actively provide disease prevention guidance. We continue to suggest basic precautions to all which include:
- Frequent hand-washing, for 20 seconds with soap.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Cough hygiene – into a tissue when possible (throw it away immediately) or into your arm.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with those who are ill.
- Stay home yourself from work or school when ill.
The Town of Barnstable Public Health Division will continue to monitor the progress of the COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts, Barnstable County, and within our Town. We will continue to review and post the most up-to-date information from dependable sources to keep you informed. Our Town has an emergency response plan for public health emergencies should we need to implement it in the future. We recommend visiting the following websites with reliable information: Center for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. For the latest on case counts, visit the Centers for Diseases Control website: CDC website. Reported cases globally in real-time are also listed on the John Hopkins University site.
Town officials have been working through the week-end and will continue to work through the week to keep residents and town staff safe. In addition, we continue to meet and coordinate regularly with local and regional partners to ensure that the Town is taking any and all appropriate measures to respond to the virus.
A Massachusetts hotline 2-1-1 is operating 24/7 to provide updated information and answer questions regarding the Coronavirus. If you should have any questions, you may call the Massachusetts hotline 2-1-1 or the Town of Barnstable Health Division at 508 862 4644.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. McKean, RS, CHO
Director of Public Health