'Stop Gathering With Family And Friends': Danvers Town Manager

DANVERS, MA — Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha asked residents to restrict social gatherings with family and friends, and consider staying home for Halloween, amid a surge in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.

Danvers was designated at "high risk" for community spread in the state's weekly report after cases per 100,000 residents — the metric the state uses to determine whether a community needs to roll back eased business restrictions and capacity limits in its phased-in reopening — rose from 6.5 cases last week to 8.8 cases this week.

The threshold for being a high-risk community is 8.0 cases per 100,000 residents.

"Unlike in the spring, when our long-term care facilities drove our case numbers, infections in Danvers appear to be happening now as a result of letting our guard down at family and social gatherings and social events," Bartha said in a message to the community. "One hundred percent of our cases are from community spread, and not outbreaks in long-term facilities or schools."

Bartha said that while adherence to virus-related protocols has been "excellent" in town businesses, restaurants and schools, Danvers will have no choice but to proceed with increasing business restrictions and switching schools to fully remote learning if coronavirus rates remain in the high-risk range.

"The trajectory we are on is consistent with those in surrounding communities and the region," he said, "but (the coronavirus spike) still should be frustrating to all of us because we can and we should be doing more in our private lives to control the spread of the disease.

"Like many of you, I am tired of wearing a mask, constantly washing my hands, and not seeing family and friends, but these simple measures remain our most effective tools to slow the spread," he added. "So, please, wear a mask, wash your hands, keep your distance, do not share food, drinks or utensils, stop gathering with family and friends, stay home if sick, get a free COVID test at one of the 'Stop the Spread' testing sites, and protect yourself and your loved ones."

While trick-or-treating is allowed in neighborhoods this weekend, Bartha urged: "The safest place to be this Halloween weekend is home with your family."

More Patch Coverage: MA Town-By-Town Coronavirus Stats: High-Risk List Soars To 121

Danvers Officials Brace For Coronavirus Surge Impact

Danvers Coronavirus Rates Rise Sharply In Recent Weeks

Halloween Public Health Amid Coronavirus Crisis A Cautionary Tale