Friday May 28, 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Updates
The Town of Barnstable is now classified as “green” (low risk) by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The number of new positive COVID-19 cases continues to decrease for the eighth consecutive week as illustrated in the graph below (see right side). During the past fourteen days, the Health Division received 42 new positive case reports of residents of the Town of Barnstable. This calculates to an average of only three (3) positive cases per day during the past two weeks.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported yesterday seventy-eight percent (78%) of our eligible residents (ages 12 and older) in Barnstable County have had at least one dose of COVID -19 vaccine. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of our eligible residents (ages 12 and older) are now fully vaccinated.
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.
Fifty-nine (59) vaccination clinics have been held to date at the Barnstable Adult Community Center (BACC), 200 Main Street, outdoor pop-up clinics (at HYCC and Main Street), at multiple apartment complexes, and at various other locations during the past four months. In addition, all five fire departments (Cotuit Fire, Barnstable Fire, COMM Fire, West Barnstable, and Hyannis Fire) worked together with our Health Division to provide vaccinations to our homebound residents.
From February 2020 to present, a total of 33,218,607 persons contracted the virus in the United States and a total of 593,293 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 660,513 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 17,491 deaths from COVID-19. Cumulatively for all fifteen towns of Barnstable County, there have been a total of 13,885 positive cases and 469 deaths from Coronavirus from February 2020 to present. . Here in the Town of Barnstable, a cumulative total of 4,230 residents of the Town have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. The percent positivity rate is currently at 2.29%.
Hospitalizations of patients infected with this virus continue to decrease in Barnstable County. As of May 26th , Cape Cod Healthcare reported seven (7) patients who were being treated in their two hospitals (Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital), including two (2) patients in intensive care. Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth hospitals have expanded visitation to two persons per inpatient per day.
Effective tomorrow, May 29th, the Commonwealth’s mask order will be rescinded. The Department of Public Health has issued a new mask advisory consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidance. Masks will continue to be mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems (including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA, Commuter Rail and transportation stations), in healthcare facilities and in other settings hosting vulnerable populations, such as congregate care settings.
Also effective tomorrow May 29, 2021 all industries will be permitted to open. With the exception of remaining face-covering requirements at transportation systems and facilities housing vulnerable populations, all industry restrictions will also be lifted and capacity will increase to 100% for all industries. All industries will be encouraged to follow CDC guidance for cleaning and hygiene protocols.
Governor Baker will end the State of Emergency on June 15, 2021. The Baker-Polito Administration is currently working with legislative and municipal partners during this period in order to manage an orderly transition from emergency measures adopted by executive order and special legislation during the period of the State of Emergency.
Key officials of the Town of Barnstable continue to meet twice weekly to plan and implement proper actions which are in step with the lifting of restrictions and ending of the State of Emergency.
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 those individuals who have come into contact with them to take the required quarantine precautions.
We continue to ask residents to continue to follow the basic State guidelines which include:
- Stay at home from work, school, sports and other activities when ill.
- 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.
- All unvaccinated residents are asked to wear a face coverings while indoors in public places and when unable to physically distance. The Department of Public Health issued a public health advisory effective May 29 that advises all unvaccinated residents to continue to wear masks in indoor settings and when they can’t socially distance.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas A. McKean, R.S., C.H.O.
Director of Public Health
TOWN OF BARNSTABLE
PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION