Town Of Bedford Update On Coronavirus - November 13, 2020

Press release from the Town of Bedford:

November 13, 2020

The Bedford COVID-19 Task Force met during the week of November 9, 2020 to review the latest guidance from the MA Department of Public Health (MA DPH), 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

Bedford is now a Green (Lower COVID-19 Risk) Community

The November 12, 2020, “Weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report” prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH) identified Bedford as a green or lower COVID-19 risk community. This designation is based on specific COVID-19 metrics including the identification of fourteen (14) new COVID-19 cases in Bedford over the past 14 days as well as a positivity rate of 1.06% over the same period. For full Bedford, Middlesex County and State data navigate to https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting#covid-19-weekly-public-health-report-.

COVID-19 Data for Bedford, MA as of November 12, 2020

Bedford Residents

Case Count as of 11/12/20 from previous 14 days1

Confirmed2 Case Count Totals 11/12/20

Health Care/Long Term Care Facilities

1

119

Community (non HC/LTC)

13

200

Unknown (waiting for demographics)3

0

3

Community Total - Confirmed

14

322

Bedford Confirmed Cases - Active

10

Bedford Confirmed Cases – Recovered4

263

Bedford Confirmed Cases – Deaths

49

COVID-19 Data - Bedford Public School Community*

School

Total Confirmed2 Cases - Active

Total Confirmed Cases – Recovered4

Total Confirmed Cases to date

Davis

0

1

1

Lane

0

1

1

John Glenn MS

0

1

1

Bedford HS

0

16

16

Total District Wide

0

19

19

*The Bedford Public School Community includes students/teachers/staff, some of whom may reside outside of Bedford.

MAVEN reported cases

for Bedford 11/12/20

MAVEN reported cases

for Bedford 11/12/20

Percent Positivity

11/12/20

Cases by Gender (%)

11/12/20*

Confirmed2

322

Bedford

1.06%

Female

36%

Probable5

29

Middlesex County

1.65%

Male

64%

Total cases –

confirmed and probable

351

State

2.29%

*only confirmed cases

Total Case Breakdown by Age - Confirmed and Probable

0-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80+

Total

28

67

25

44

52

22

45

68

351

Notes:

1 Previous-14 day data is used by the MA Department of Public Health to determine Bedford's COVID-19 risk category (gray, green, yellow or red) on a weekly basis.

2 Confirmed cases = positive viral (PCR) test.

3 Demographics unknown for confirmed case. Follow-up required. Often cases are reassigned to the proper community for follow-up or become probable/confirmed.

4 Recovered cases counts are adjusted due to deaths subsequent to recovery and/or reassignment of cases to other communities.

5 Probable cases = positive antigen test or clinical diagnosis. Probable cases are not included in the Confirmed Cases totals.

Thanksgiving Gatherings

We continue to see an increase in COVID-19 cases in Bedford and across the Commonwealth. Over the past several months many of our positive COVID-19 cases have been attributed to household and family contacts where one person in a family who is positive and asymptomatic transmits the virus to close family/household members. Keeping distance, not mingling with those outside the household, and following the strict isolation protocols provided by the Board of Health or Community Tracing Collaborative while isolating in the home, away from other non-positive household members, are methods a COVID-19 positive individual can stop the spread.

With the holiday season upon us some folks may be feeling the desire to loosen restrictions and gather in groups consisting of non-household members. Out of respect for each other and our community, the COVID-19 task force asks the Bedford community to adhere to the social distancing and mask requirements and the limitations on gathering size (10 inside, 25 outside) to prevent spread in Bedford.

If you will be hosting a gathering during the holiday season that brings people who live in different households together, follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tips for hosting gatherings found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/personal-social-activities.html#gatherings. If you will be attending a gathering that someone else is hosting, follow CDC Considerations for Events and Gatherings found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/considerations-for-events-gatherings.html.

Any time you or your family are attending a public or private celebration, remember that safe, responsible participation includes:

• Assessing your personal COVID-19 risk and assess and discuss COVID-19 risk for those you live with, before attending the event.
• Staying home if you are sick.
• Wearing a face covering at all times to cover your nose and mouth when outside your home.
• Avoiding large crowds. While outdoor gatherings of 25 and indoor gatherings of 10 are allowed, they can still represent a risk to public health in our current environment.
• If you choose to be in a crowd, or even just hanging out with friend, practice strict social distancing, wear a face covering, bring hand sanitizer or wash hands before and after, do not shake hands, gather for photographs, hug, or have long face to face conversations and avoid touching your face.
• Keeping 6 feet away of from other people who are not in your household.
• Good social distancing also includes dogs. Keep them 6 feet away from those not in your household.
• Do not share water bottles or utensils for eating or serving of food.

A lot of these protocols have been part of our routine for the past several months. However, we may have to remind ourselves to apply them when a new event occurs that’s outside the routine. If you choose to venture outside your home or in your home with non-household members, remember to apply the “3 Ws” – Wash your hands, Wear a mask, Watch your Distance!

Holiday Travel

In the upcoming holiday period, some Bedford residents may travel out of state and will be required to follow the MA Travel Order if doing so.

All MA residents are discouraged from traveling to high risk states (see list: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order). If you have to travel to a High Risk Area or participate in foreign travel, Governor Baker’s Travel Order requires that all returning travelers over the age of 18 must complete a MA Travel Form: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order#massachusetts-travel-form-.

All residents, regardless of age, must be quarantined for 14 days upon return to MA, unless you present evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test on your return (note: while an antigen test is permissible, any negative test will have to be confirmed by a PCR, so PCR is the recommended test). The COVID-19 PCR test must be done 72 hours prior to your return to MA, or when you get home. You must quarantine at home until receipt of your negative test result. Testing for children, 10 years and younger, who are traveling with an adult(s) from their household is not required, as long as the adult(s) is tested and if found to be negative. Quarantine is not necessary in this case.

The same travel order applies to all Bedford Public School students:

· Students older than 10 traveling to High Risk Areas must quarantine and may not return to school, until their negative test results come back.

· If the family chooses not to test a student who is 10 years or younger, the parent/guardian must submit a copy of their own test results to the school nurse.

· If the families choose not to test, the entire family/group must quarantine for 14 days upon return.

Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Need a COVID-19 test?

Free COVID-19 testing sites are open in numerous communities as part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s “Stop the Spread” initiative. Visit www.mass.gov/stopthespread for free testing site locations.

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.

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