Friday February 26, 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advisory Information
For the sixth consecutive week, the Town of Barnstable continues to experience a decline in the average daily incidence rate of Coronavirus. During the past fourteen days, 136 new probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported, which is an average of 9.7 new positive cases per day as illustrated in the graph below. The Town of Barnstable is no longer classified as “red” high risk and is now classified as “yellow” moderate risk.
Since March 2020, a total of 2,895 residents of the Town have tested positive for COVID-19. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 9,955 positive cases (cumulatively) and 398 deaths from Coronavirus this year. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 545,624 positive cases and 15,208 deaths from COVID-19 in the State of Massachusetts this year. In the United States, 28,413,635 persons contracted the virus and a total of 508,314 persons in the United States have died from the virus this year according to data received from the John Hopkins University website.
Hospitalizations of patients infected with this virus have decreased during the past few weeks in Barnstable County. As of yesterday, Cape Cod Healthcare reported seventeen (17) positive patients who were being treated in their two hospitals (Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital), including three (3) patients in intensive care units.
Individuals age 65 or older, individuals with two or more specific medical conditions (see list of medical conditions at this website: https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.), and residents and staff of public and private low income and affordable housing are now eligible to receive the vaccine. Barnstable County registration and vaccination information is available at: https://www.barnstablecountyhealth.org/ Massachusetts provides a Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line with over 500 staffers available for multilingual live phone support. You may call 2-1-1 to access this hotline. This call center is a key option for older residents who do not have internet or can’t use the website.
Appointments may not be immediately available due to overwhelming demand and still-limited supply of vaccine from the manufacturers. CVS, Stop and Shop, and Walgreens are scheduling vaccinations for the groups in Phase 2, again depending upon vaccine supply.
As reported earlier, the Town of Barnstable Health Division has not been able to obtain vaccine since the beginning of January. Vaccination clinics will be scheduled in the future once we can be sure of vaccine is available from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Key officials of the Town continue to meet daily to plan and implement proper actions which are in step with the Governor’s orders and MA DPH guidelines. Health Division staff continue to meet and coordinate daily to ensure we are providing the most up-to-date information to citizens and business owners relative to latest Massachusetts requirements and recommendations. Health inspectors continue to respond to complaints, review applications and issue disposal works construction permits, review building permit applications, witness percolation tests, respond to complaints regarding hazardous wastes, retail stores, food establishments, semi-public swimming pools, hotels, recreational camps, tanning facilities, mobile food units, rental units, and horse stables.
We continue to urge everyone to follow the State guidelines and to take these basic precautions which include:
- Stay at home from work, school, sports and other activities when ill.
- Wear a face covering while out in public where social distancing is not possible per the Governor’s order;
- 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 to isolate or quarantine when contacted and required by the Board of Health.
Our Public Health Nurse and team of contract nurses continue to contact those who become infected to ensure they are appropriately isolated and to contact individuals who have come into contact with them to take the required quarantine precautions.
If you should have any questions, call us at the Town of Barnstable Health Division Office at 508 862 4644.
Respectfully Submitted,
Thomas A. McKean, RS, CHO
Director of Public Health