Town Of Bedford Publishes Coronavirus Update For September 10

Press release from the Town of Bedford:

September 10, 2020

The Bedford COVID-19 Task Force met Thursday, September 10, 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 reporting COVID-19 data on a community level and releasing the data weekly on Wednesdays. Based on this data, each city or town is designated a color – gray, 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 yesterday, Wednesday, September 9, 2020, Bedford is now a green community, elevated from gray as reported last week. 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.

Influenza Vaccine Clinics

The Town of Bedford, MA Board of Health has announced 2020-2021 Flu Clinic dates and times and has already expanded the offerings. This year, flu vaccine will be administered via a series of drive-thru clinics and tomorrow at 1 pm, we are opening up registration for an outdoor, Saturday, walk-up clinic on September 26th. Please check the Board of Health Flu Clinic webpage to access the registration link after 1pm tomorrow. All clinics require online registration and insurance information will be collected in advance through the online registration system. The insurance reimbursements we receive enable us to run these clinics each year and as we strive to protect public health.

The flu clinic 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 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 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 updated information relative to planned flu clinics.

Rallies and Protest Safety During COVID

As residents are taking to the streets and parks in Bedford and other communities to protest racism and rally in support of social justice, civil rights and other causes, the Bedford Board of Health supports residents’ desire and right to express themselves and offer the following precautions to implement before, during and after you gather to help you stay safe during COVID-19.

Before:

• Assess your personal COVID-19 risk
• Assess and discuss COVID-19 risk for those you live with
• Stay home if you are sick
• Bring hand sanitizer or wash hands before and after
• Bring water to stay hydrated
• Wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth

During:

• Maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet from others
• Do not shake hands, hug, or have long face to face conversations
• Avoid touching your face

After:

• Take a shower and clean your belongings as soon as you can
• For 14 days after attendance at an event where you may have had an exposure, please perform self-monitoring: check for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other COVID-19 symptoms. Seek medical attention if you develop symptoms.
• Individuals who are participating in protests and related large public gatherings may have a heightened concern that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. If you were not able to be consistent with social distancing and face covering recommendations, speak to your healthcare provider and consider getting a COVID-19 test about 5 days after the event.

Be safe and if you have any questions about COVID exposure you are encouraged to reach out to your health care provider of the Bedford Board of Health at 781-275-6507.

Need a COVID-19 test?

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: 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, 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.