Mon. April 6, 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advisory Information
In the United States, 337,933 persons have test positive for COVID-19; 9,653 have died according to John Hopkins University.
In Massachusetts, the Department of Public Health reported 12,500 residents of Massachusetts tested positive for COVID-19 as of 4:00 p.m. yesterday. This includes 347 residents of Barnstable County.
Here in the Town of Barnstable, fifty-three (53) Town of Barnstable residents have tested positive to date for COVID-19. This chart depicts the cumulative number of positive cases in the Town of Barnstable during the time period from March 19, 2020 through April 1, 2020.
A total of 71,937 persons were tested in Massachusetts for COVID-19; 17.4% 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/
Our 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.
Public Health Division staff have been contacting all of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to ensure all of the CDC and MA DPH guidelines are being adhered to.
The Public Health Division staff have also continued to contact stores including supermarkets to provide guidance and to promote social distancing.
All residents are urged to “social distance” (maintain a minimum of six feet from others) while out in public including while shopping at grocery stores wherever possible, to limit exposure to others. We also continue to urge everyone to take basic precautions 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.
Town officials have been working through the week-end, days and evenings, 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.
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.
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 call us at the Town of Barnstable Public Health Division at 508 862 4644.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. McKean, RS, CHO
Director of Public Health