Board of Health Report on COVID-19 Outbreak

March 24 2020 8:30am

Ashby Board of Health Update

The Board of Health would like to report the following actions are being taken to assist the community with the COVID-19 outbreak

1.) Our public health nurses are on the front line of this situation as they monitor the State’s communicable disease surveillance system – MAVEN for our community. One resident in town has a laboratory confirmed positive test for COVID-19 as of this morning.

2.) Our staff continues to field a wide range of questions regarding this situation helping citizens find the answers they need.

3.) Our staff regularly reviews the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to provide up to date information to the public and Town Departments in your communities.

4.) Today the Governor’s revised his order on gathering and reduced assemblages to 10 or less; the on-premises consumption of food and beverages is prohibited but take out is still allowed. A follow up email will be sent to the food businesses.

5.) The Governor issued an order today - “Order Assuring Continued Operation of Essential Services in the Commonwealth, Closing Certain Workplaces, and prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people.” (the documents are attached). Our Health Agent will review the documents and provide guidance to the Board and local businesses.

6.) Daycares are closed by order of Governor unless they have received approval to remain open. Our Agent will check with the daycare in town to verify its status.

7.) Our Staff regularly participates in conference calls with the DPH.

8.) The Nashoba Associated Boards of Health office is closed to the public but the Health Agents, Public Health Nurses and administrative staff are available by phone and email. The office will continue to perform most of their inspectional duties for our Town. We have a drop box at the front door to facilitate the exchange of paperwork.

9.) We would like to remind the public they can protect themselves and others by taking the following actions.
a. If you’re sick please stay home and take care of yourself!
b. Wash your hands, for at least 20 seconds.
c. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.
d. Practice social distancing

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. Another way to prevent the illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person:
1. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6’) and,
2. Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

Additional information on how to protect you and your family can be found at the links below.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
www.mass.gov/covid19