Town Of Bedford Publishes Coronavirus Update For August 31

Bedford MA

02 September, 2020

7:48 AM

Description

Press release from the Town of Bedford: August 31, 2020 The Bedford COVID-19 Task Force met Monday, August 31, 2020 to review the latest guidance from the Department of Public Health, the office of Governor Charlie Baker, and Town Legal Counsel. The COVID-19 Task Force is comprised of the following Town officials: Sarah Stanton, Town Manager Philip Conrad, Superintendent of Schools Heidi Porter, Director of Health and Human Services Robert Bongiorno, Police Chief David Grunes, Fire Chief Taissir Alani, Facilities Director Christopher Laskey, Code Enforcement Director Case Counts The MA DPH is now reporting COVID-19 data on a community level and releasing the data weekly on Wednesdays. Based on this data, each city or town will be designated a color – gray (formerly designated white), green, yellow or red. Gray and green are lower risk communities, yellow represents a moderate risk community and red represents a higher risk community. Based on data reported by the state through Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Bedford is currently a gray, lower risk community. The color-coded relative risk designation established by the state is a tool that can be used by the Town to set policy and implement safety protocols for the protection of the community. In the coming weeks, this data will continue to be updated by the state on a weekly basis. For the current color-coded risk map, please navigate to: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/community-level-covid-19-data-reporting. The Bedford COVID-19 task force will update the Bedford COVID-19 data dashboard in the Thursday task force updates. Influenza Vaccine Clinics Welcome to the 2020-2021 Flu Season. Being vaccinated is an effective strategy to preserve your health. The Town of Bedford, MA Board of Health has announced the 2020-2021 Flu Clinic dates and times. This year, flu vaccine will be administered via a series of drive-thru clinics only and online registration is required. The registration process can be found by visiting the following Town of Bedford Board of Health webpage: https://www.bedfordma.gov/bedford-board-of-health/pages/flu-clinic-information-community. To make the registration process more effective while adhering to pandemic infection risk mitigation strategies, the Board of Health is utilizing an online registration and health care information exchange web-based technology, IntakeQ. Online registration must take place before your clinic appointment via the online IntakeQ portal found here: https://intakeq.com/booking/arkth6. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Board of Health at 781-275-6507. While the drive-thru clinics will be open to all residents over the age of 6 months, additional clinics for Bedford's school-aged population are being planned with the Bedford Public Schools and will be announced once school starts. More community drive-thru flu clinics may be announced as we traverse through the coming months in the current pandemic. Please continue checking the Board of Health website for more information about this year's flu clinics and for updated information relative to planned flu clinics. CodeRED Emergency Notification System The Town would like to remind residents to sign up for or manage their CODE RED Community Notification Account in order to receive timely communications from the Town. Please use this link to enroll, manage your account, or unenroll: https://www.bedfordma.gov/home/pages/code-red-emergency-notification-system. You can also text "BEDFORDALERTS" to 99411 to receive a direct link to the enrollment form on your mobile device. COVID-19 Travel Order – Updated list of states As of Saturday, August 1, 2020, all visitors and returning residents entering Massachusetts must follow new travel orders to help us keep COVID-19 transmission levels as low as possible. All visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, who do not meet an exemption, are required to: Prior to arrival in Massachusetts, complete the online Travel Form (https://www.mass.gov/forms/massachusetts-travel-form; and, Quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts. If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arrival, visitors, and residents must quarantine until they receive a negative test result. The list of lower risk states was adjusted on August 28th to include all of the following states: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia. For other exemptions and additional information please navigate to: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order Small Business Updates The website of Bedford restaurants open for business is updated regularly, and now includes restaurants with outdoor and indoor dining. See the updated website at www.bedfordtakeout.com On August 25, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the launch of a new initiative to encourage residents of the Commonwealth to support their local economies by shopping at local businesses in a safe manner. The "My Local MA" advertising campaign was developed as a response to the economic impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. Consider patronizing small and local businesses when you can to help minimize the economic impact of the pandemic on our community Read the full release. Election Information Election day is tomorrow (7:00 am – 8:00 pm at JGMS). All voters are reminded to wear a face mask or covering, and to maintain social distancing at all times. More information on the September 1 primary election can be found here: https://www.bedfordma.gov/home/news/primary-election-information-september-1 Need a COVID-19 test? – Free Testing until September 12th Free COVID-19 testing sites are open in twenty-one (21) communities as part of the Baker-Polito Administration's "Stop the Spread" initiative. Testing sites in the following communities are free to all residents of the Commonwealth regardless of symptom state and will now remain open until September 12th to help stop the spread of COVID-19: Agawam, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Saugus, Springfield, Taunton, Winthrop, and Worcester. Visit www.mass.gov/stopthespread to find out more. If you need testing closer to home or beyond September 12th, consider navigating to https://memamaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=eba3f0395451430b9f631cb095febf13 to find a testing site. Check with your insurance company for covered services prior to booking an appointment for testing. Common Sense Actions to Protect Yourself and Others from COVID-19 Employ Social Distancing Basics: Stay Home, especially if you're feeling sick, have a fever, or a cough as to avoid contact with other individuals. If you are sick, stay at home and contact your healthcare provider for further instructions. Call/Facetime/Online chat with friends and loved ones Frequently clean and sanitize common-touch surfaces If you go out for essential needs: Avoid Crowds Stay 6 feet away from others Don't shake hands or hug Wear a face covering or mask if physical distancing is not possible. Always have a face covering with you. You cannot always predict or control when someone will be close to you. This press release was produced by the Town of Bedford. The views expressed here are the author's own.