COVID-19 Update Week Ending May 1, 2020

COVID-19 Board of Health Report

Week ending 5/1/20

The cumulative laboratory confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Town of Stow is 21 as of 5/1/20.  The Board of Health receives this information from the Massachusetts Department of Public (MDPH). 

As testing becomes more available and more individuals get tested it is likely the number of positive cases of COVID-19 our community will increase. 

The Board of Health will continue its disease surveillance and monitoring activities to help slow the spread of this disease; listed below is a summary of those activities.

When the Board of Health receives laboratory confirmation that an individual has tested positive for COVID-19 it takes the following actions.

A public health nurse contacts the individual who tested positive and directs them to isolate, as required by State regulations; the nurse will monitor them during their isolation period.  In addition to providing ongoing support and education about isolation, the nurse will also make an assessment to identify those individuals that have been in close contact with this person (defined as anyone within 6’ of the individual for more than 15 minutes).

The nurse will then contact those individuals and they will be requested to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days; the Board of Health will establish a monitoring system with these individuals.

Massachusetts has launched a new resource that residents can use to assess symptoms and find the right care.  The following link will bring you to that resource.  https://www.mass.gov/how-to/check-your-symptoms-for-covid-19-online

We must all do our part to protect ourselves and others by:

  • Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes with your hands
  • Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve (not with your hands)
  • Clean and disinfect surface areas frequently
  • Remain out of congregate settings, avoid mass gatherings, and maintain Social Distancing of at least 6 ft from others
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Stay home from work or school if you are sick.  

For the latest updates and information on COVID-19 please visit the MDPH or CDC websites at:

www.mass.gov/covid19

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/index.html

 These numbers are subject to the limitations listed below.

  1. The numbers in this report describe laboratory confirmed cases in which the Board of Health has received a report through the MDPH disease surveillance system.
  2. The number of COVID-19 cases reported above represents all laboratory reports received as of the date listed on this report.  The Board of Health will update this report weekly.
  3. A doctor can diagnosis an individual with COVID-19 based on symptoms, without ordering testing.  In this case, unless the doctor or the individual reports these findings to the Board of Health we will not be aware of them.  In this situation you may know of individuals in town reporting they have COVID-19 but who have not been tested; these individuals will not be reflected in the number of cases reported here. 
  4. The number of cases reported may not lend themselves to further and detailed analyses due to the small number of individual cases, lack of demographic information on the cases and lack of medical information about the cases.

 

 

(4/29/20)

The cumulative laboratory confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Town of Stow is 19 as of 4/29/20.  The Board of Health receives this information from the Massachusetts Department of Public (MDPH).  

 

The information regarding the COVID-19 (coronavirus) is evolving and you can expect guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will be updated as these agencies receive new information.

It is important to get you information from reliable sources and the links to CDC and DPH are provided as part of this message; visiting these sites will keep you informed and will provide you with the most up to date information on the situation.

CAUTION DEFERRING URGENT MEDICAL TREATMENT

On 4/23/20, at the Governor’s regular press conference, hospital leaders from around the Commonwealth noted a drop of emergency room visits and those seeking urgent, acute medical treatment; they’re concerned people maybe avoiding medical treatment because they are afraid of contracting COVID-19 at the hospital.  The Governor and the hospital leaders outlined their concerns with the drop in those seeking care and assured the public the hospitals’ staff are working to maintain the safety of their facilities.  They provided the following information to the public.

  1. Planning done by the Commonwealth, in conjunction with the hospitals, to stand up additional hospital capacity to address the needs of those with COVID-19 has provided hospital capacity to address the regular, urgent medical needs of the Commonwealth’s citizens.
  2. The use of telehealth, including calls to your health care provider, can help citizens determine if urgent medical treatment is needed and determine if a hospital visit is necessary.
  3. Deferring treatment for symptoms of serious illness (even minor symptoms)

can increase the need for emergency care and may result in more serious issues.

  1. As always if you need emergency medical attention call 911 without delay.

The Governor and hospital leaders recommend against the delay of needed medical treatments and individuals should follow the recommendations of their health care providers to get that necessary care.

FACE COVERINGS/MASKS

CDC on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.  Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators.  Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

The use of face coverings/masks is an advisory from the DPH and CDC and the Board of Health can recommend using them but we can’t require using them.

 

SYMPTOM CHECKER

Check your symptoms for COVID-19 online

Massachusetts residents can visit www.Buoy.com/mass to get advice from an online health assistant safely at home, for free.

Buoy's online tool is not to be used in place of emergency medical care. If this is an emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.

Buoy will connect you with the appropriate health care resource based on your symptoms and risk factors for COVID-19. 

POSITIVE TEST FOR COVID-19 

What will happen if I test positive for COVID-19?

In order to slow the spread of the disease you will be asked to isolate in your home.  The purpose of isolation is to keep infected individuals from passing the disease onto others by separating themselves from others. 

If you test positive for COVID-19 you will be contacted by a  public health nurse from the Board of Health or a Contract Tracer working for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Contact Tracing Collaborative (CTC) who will explain the steps that need to be taken to properly isolate yourself from others.

As of 4/24/2020

The cumulative laboratory confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Town of Stow is 13 as of 4/24/20.  The Board of Health receives this information from the Massachusetts Department of Public (MDPH).  

As testing becomes more available and more individuals get tested it is likely the number of positive cases of COVID-19 our community will increase.  

The Board of Health will continue its disease surveillance and monitoring activities to help slow the spread of this disease; listed below is a summary of those activities.

When the Board of Health receives laboratory confirmation that an individual has tested positive for COVID-19 it takes the following actions.

A public health nurse contacts the individual who tested positive and directs them to isolate, as required by State regulations; the nurse will monitor them during their isolation period.  In addition to providing ongoing support and education about isolation, the nurse will also make an assessment to identify those individuals that have been in close contact with this person (defined as anyone within 6’ of the individual for more than 15 minutes).

The nurse will then contact those individuals and they will be requested to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days; the Board of Health will establish a monitoring system with these individuals.

Massachusetts has launched a new resource that residents can use to assess symptoms and find the right care.  The following link will bring you to that resource.  https://www.mass.gov/howto/check-your-symptoms-for-covid-19-online

We must all do our part to protect ourselves and others by: 

  • Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes with your hands
  • Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve (not with your hands)
  • Clean and disinfect surface areas frequently
  • Remain out of congregate settings, avoid mass gatherings, and maintain Social Distancing of at least 6 ft from others
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Stay home from work or school if you are sick.

For the latest updates and information on COVID-19 please visit the MDPH or CDC websites at:

www.mass.gov/covid19

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/index.html

These numbers are subject to the limitations listed below.

  1. The numbers in this report describe laboratory confirmed cases in which the Board of Health has received a report through the MDPH disease surveillance system.
  2. The number of COVID-19 cases reported above represents all laboratory reports received as of the date listed on this report.The Board of Health will update this report weekly.
  3. A doctor can diagnosis an individual with COVID-19 based on symptoms, without ordering testing.In this case, unless the doctor or the individual reports these findings to the Board of Health we will not be aware of them.In this situation you may know of individuals in town reporting they have COVID-19 but who have not been tested; these individuals will not be reflected in the number of cases reported here.
  4. The number of cases reported may not lend themselves to further and detailed analyses due to the small number of individual cases, lack of demographic information on the cases and lack of medical information about the cases.