Friday May 14, 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advisory Information
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported yesterday sixty-eight percent (68%) of our Barnstable County residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Fifty-four percent (54%) of our residents are now fully vaccinated.
The number of new positive Covid-19 cases continues to decrease for the sixth consecutive week as illustrated in the graph below as the Town continues to be classified as “yellow” (medium risk) by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. During the past fourteen days, the Health Division received 79 new positive COVID-19 case reports of residents of the Town of Barnstable who recently contracted Coronavirus which calculates to an average of only 5.6 new cases per day. This is significantly less than the average daily incidence rate the Town experienced at the beginning of April, when the average incidence rate was 35.1 cases per day.
There have been several variants of this virus which have been in circulation globally. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported that here are three of particular concern: B117 (UK), P1 (Brazil), and B1351 (South Africa). All three are more transmissible than the original virus which dominated world populations during the first wave. B117 and P1 have been identified in Massachusetts and are currently circulating within Barnstable.
From February 2020 to present , a total of 32,853,349 persons contracted the virus in the United States and a total of 584,495 persons have died from the virus according to data received from the John Hopkins University website. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 655,350 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 17,366 deaths from COVID-19. Cumulatively within all fifteen towns of Barnstable County, there have been a total of 13,736 positive cases and 464 deaths from Coronavirus. Here in the Town of Barnstable, a total of 4,160 residents of the Town have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
Hospitalizations of patients infected with this virus continue to decrease in Barnstable County. As of May 13th, Cape Cod Healthcare reported eleven (11) patients who were being treated in their two hospitals (Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital), including one (1) patient in intensive care. Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth hospitals have expanded visitation to two persons per inpatient per day.
Harbor Health, the Hyannis Fire Department, and the Town of Barnstable continue to partner to provide vaccinations at the Barnstable Adult Community Center (BACC) in Hyannis. These clinics are held daily Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Appointments are not necessary; walk-ins are welcome.
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 re-openings in compliance with the latest Massachusetts requirements and recommendations. Health inspectors continue to investigate and respond to complaints, conduct food establishment inspections, swimming pool inspections, horse stable inspections, rental unit inspections, witness percolation tests, conduct inspections at businesses which store or utilize hazardous materials, review disposal works construction permit (septic system) applications, and review building permit applications,.
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.
As the number of positive cases continues to decrease, the number hospitalizations decrease, and as more persons become vaccinated, we continue to ask everyone to continue to follow the basic State guidelines which include:
- Stay at home from work, school, sports and other activities when ill.
- Wear a face covering while indoors in public places. [NOTE: When outdoors, face coverings are not required except at locations where social distancing from others is not possible];
- Frequent hand-washing, for 20 seconds with soap;
- 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.
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