Tuesday February 16, 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advisory Information
The Town of Barnstable Health Division has not received any requested first dose COVID-19 vaccine during the past four weeks due to a State-wide shortage. We will be scheduling local vaccination clinics for eligible residents as soon as vaccine becomes available. The Health Division is prepared and ready to hold clinics as soon as vaccine is received.
To obtain vaccinations at other sites, you must be eligible for Phase 1 or for eligible for Phase 2 Tier 1 (residents ages 75 and over). You may check to see if you are eligible to get a vaccine according to the Massachusetts vaccine distribution schedule at: https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine. Barnstable County registration and vaccination information is available at: https://www.barnstablecountyhealth.org/ Last week, Massachusetts launched a Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line for residents ages 75 and older, with over 500 staffers available for multilingual live phone support. Please 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.
For the fourth consecutive week, the Town of Barnstable has experienced a reduction in the average daily incidence rate of Coronavirus. During the past fourteen days, 241 new probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported, which is an average of 17.2 new positive cases per day as illustrated in the graph below.
Since March 19, 2020, a cumulative total of 2,768 residents of the Town have tested positive for COVID-19. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 9,632 positive cases (cumulatively) and 380 deaths from Coronavirus this year. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 530,735 positive cases and 15,208 deaths from COVID-19 in the State of Massachusetts this year. In the United States, 27,695,000 persons contracted the virus and a total of 486,322 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 twenty-seven (27) positive patients who were being treated in their two hospitals (Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital), including seven (7) patients in intensive care units.
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 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. Each complaint is investigated and appropriate action is taken within 24 hours.
During these times of increasing numbers of positive case counts and patient hospitalizations, we strongly 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