Covid-19 Update for Week Ending May 22, 2020

COVID-19 Board of Health Report

Week ending 5/22/20

The cumulative laboratory confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Town of Stow is 28 as of 5/22/20.  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.

 

 

COVID-19 Board of Health Report

Week ending 5/15/20

The cumulative laboratory confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Town of Stow is 27 as of 5/15/20.  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