A Message From The Dedham Board Of Health

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

October 22, 2020

DEDHAM — In an effort to continue to update Dedham residents on state and local preparedness efforts and impacts related to COVID-19 (commonly referred to as Coronavirus), the Dedham Board of Health offers the following updates:

Testing Sites

STOP THE SPREAD COVID TESTING SITES remain open throughout the Commonwealth. For specific information on site locations, please visit www.mass.gov/COVID19

Halloween

The Board agreed that participation in Halloween festivities shall be a personal, informed decision. Those who choose to participate by way of Trick or Treating with their children, or passing out candy to Trick or Treaters are urged to follow CDC and MDPH guidelines to keep you, your loved ones and your community safe.

Flu Clinics

The next scheduled clinic for seniors is Friday, October 30th at the Endicott Estate. This clinic is by appointment only; please call the Council on Aging at 781-326-1650 to schedule an appointment.

The first Community Drive-Thru Flu Clinic, for ages 4 and older, was held on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clinic was a success and a total of 198 vaccines were administered. Information on future clinics will be announced as soon as dates are confirmed.

Question & Answer

As promised, the Board has added new frequently asked questions. We continue to encourage residents to submit questions and concerns to the Board at dedhamboardofhealth@dedham-ma.gov

Q. There has been some confusion on where residents are to report a potential exposure or COVID19 test result.

A. All reporting should be directed through the Dedham Health Department (781-751-9220). It is important that the information be centralized for the purposes of identifying potential clusters, and the follow up required for contact tracing, etc.

Q. How does one know the difference between the common cold, the Flu and COVID19?

A. Unfortunately, the symptoms for all of these ailments are very similar. Some or all of the symptoms for each ailment may be evident, while others can remain asymptomatic. It is extremely important that you reach out to your Primary Care Physician for guidance on how to treat the symptoms you are experiencing. It is equally important to STAY HOME until you and your doctor have identified the source of your illness.

Q. Can you be asymptomatic and contagious at the same time?

A. The short answer is yes, which is why it is critically important to stay diligent in hand washing, social distancing and ALWAYS wear a face covering.

Confirmed Cases
There are 557 confirmed cases of the virus in Dedham as of October 21, 2020. Please note, this number reflects the total number of cases confirmed since March 2020. As a result of the recent increase in confirmed cases across the Commonwealth, the Board strongly urges residents to continue to practice social distancing, proper hygiene and the wearing of a face covering.

Resources
Residents are encouraged to visit the website, dedhamcovid19.com, for all town updates as the COVID-19 situation develops. Visitors can subscribe via email to receive notifications for new posts.

Although Town Hall remains closed to the public, the Health Department is staffed and available to address all questions and concerns. We encourage residents and businesses to contact the office at 781-751-9220 with any questions or concerns. The Board most respectfully asks for your patience and understanding of the demands on the Department. All inquiries and complaints are important and will be addressed. Please remain kind and respectful!

The Board appreciates the continued collaboration with all Town departments in assisting residents and businesses adapt to the new normal.

The Board again wishes to remind the public to properly dispose of gloves and masks at all public locations.

The Board wishes to thank the Health Department staff for their continued dedication during these unprecedented times.

Stay safe and be kind!
Respectfully submitted by the Board of Health
Leanne Jasset, Chairman
Kathy Reda, Vice-Chairman
Mary Ellard, Member

This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.