Board of Health update May 8, 2020

Social distancing and adhering to the stay at home orders has flattened the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak locally in Berkshire County. Numbers of new cases are down unlike other areas in the state and country.

The COVID-19 virus remains serious and highly contagious. Many in the county, state and country have suffered with severe illness and deaths. Nursing homes, long term care facilities and place of congregate living including shelters and jails are particularly hard hit. The stories of large meat packing plants hundreds of workers are becoming infected due to the working conditions are heartbreaking and creating more concern for essential  workers and our food supply. It is also well known that many people positive with the COVID-19 virus can have mild or no symptoms .

Gov. Baker has enacted a facial covering order. Mask and Face Covering Order Takes Effect Wednesday 5/6 The Baker-Polito Administration has ordered all residents over the age of two to use a face covering or mask in public places where maintaining proper social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are not possible. This statewide order goes into effect on May 6 th and supersedes previously issued guidance relative to mask use. This order applies to all workers and customers of businesses and other organizations that are currently open to the public and permitted to operate as COVID-19 Essential Businesses, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail stores. Residents are also required to wear a mask or face covering at all times when using any means of transportation service or public mass transit. There are masks available for sale at Carr Hardware, Joann's Fabric, online and many patterns and instructions are available on line for DIY. Even a folded bandana with hair ties or rubber bands will work. I am sewing masks and will gladly offer a mask to those in need. N95 masks continue to be in short supply so if ordering online better to stay clear of N95s and look for alternatives either cloth or surgical.

The same recommendations stand even if wearing masks: stay at least 6 feet apart of others, wash your hands for 20 minutes with soap and water, avoid unnecessary trips to public places like grocery stores and do not gather with others outside your immediate household. Essential workers are now front line and less exposure for them may be lifesaving. When outside choose places less frequently visited, avoid parks and trails if the parking lot is already full. We can stay connected while keeping our distance.

The criteria for testing has loosened due in part to availability, focus on tracking and contact tracing and dropping numbers locally. The BMC hot line is the place to start if not in need of urgent intervention. They will answer questions and assess the need for getting tested. The line is open 8:00AM to 6:00PM 7 days a week 1-855-262-5465 or 1-855-BMC-LINK.

Answer the call and help stop the spread of COVID-19

The MA COVID Team and local boards of health are working together on a contact tracing program to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts.

Contact tracing in an important tool is reducing the spread of the virus, along with testing and social distancing. Through the Community Tracing Collaborative, everyone who has tested positive will get a call from the Board of Health or the MA COVID Team, making sure they have the support they need to quarantine and get better, and to find out who they have recent been in contact with.

From there, the MA COVID Team or Board of Health will then talk to those contacts, encouraging them to get tested and to stay at home to not spread the virus further. Together with massive testing and hospital care follow up, contact tracing is absolutely essential to stop the virus and get our communities moving again.

What Happens Next? Answer the Call!

1. You will receive a phone call from the MA COVID Team. The number will either be: 833-638-1585 or 857-305-2728. It is important to answer the call.

2. During the phone call a Case Investigator will ask you for a list of all the people and places you were within six feet of during the 48 hours prior to your symptoms. For those who do not have symptoms, include all contacts 48 hours prior to your diagnosis. The Case Investigator will also ask for the phone numbers of any people you identify so that they can be reached and notified about their exposure.

3. You are encouraged to inform your contacts about your illness, the state will not share your information. The MA COVID Team call your contacts and tell them they have been exposed to COVID-19 so they can get tested, but will not release your name. This process is called contact tracing, and it is a very important piece to fighting this pandemic and stopping transmission.

4.We will not share any information with immigration officials or ICE.

5. If you are staying at home during the isolation period, the Case Investigator will also discuss any needs you may have for this time period and may connect you with a Care Resource Coordinator who will help you get the support you need.

6. A Case Investigator and/or your local board of health will check in on you regularly to monitor your symptoms and needs.

Many people have been afraid to go to the hospital and seek medical care therefore people are arriving sicker and with more serious medical threat. Hospitals have protocols in place to separate patients and can still handle emergencies. Many physicians are giving care via telemedicine and able to assess first the need to be seen in their offices. Please do not ignore, minimize or put off seeking medical care if needed.

The Peru Board of Health continues to work with the Berkshire Public Health Alliance during this crisis. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health remains a vital source of updated information daily.

Stay Informed Get information from trusted sources. Visit https://www.mass.gov/covid19 for the latest news, case counts, and lab testing results.

Call 2-1-1 with questions.

Text the keyword COVIDMA to 888-777 to receive notifications to your phone. ·

Take care of your emotional health: ·

Call 2-1-1 and choose the “CALL2TALK” option. · Samaritans is continuing operations 24/7, as always.

During this unprecedented time, it can feel overwhelming to receive constant messages about COVID-19.

Call or text their 24/7 helpline any time at 877-870-4673. ·

The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including disease outbreaks like COVID-19. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories.

Peggy White, Peru Board of Health pwhiteperuboh@aol.com