Weston Publishes Coronavirus Updates

Press release from the Town of Weston:

May 18, 2020

Updates will continue to be posted to the Town’s website at Weston.org/COVID19 and will be issued via email/text, as well as through the Town’s social media channels. Subscribe to receive these “News Flash” email/text messages at Weston.org/StayInformed by entering your email or cell phone number, clicking “sign in” and selecting Latest Town News and/or Public Safety News. Be sure to verify the subscription(s) so you receive them.

In This Update:

• The re-opening framework
• Safer at Home Advisory
• State resources

See also:

• State dashboard and indicators
• Prevent making others sick or getting sick yourself - steps everyone should be taking
• COVID-19 Information and Guidance - health and human services resources
• COVID-19 Infographic for Safety - printable version
• Update on Town Departments and Service

The Four-Phase Plan to Reopen

Today, the Baker-Polito Administration released its framework and report for reopening the state. To summarize, this will be a very cautious, methodical, and data-driven phased approach in order to avoid the risk of further spread of the virus. It is not in any way an instantaneous rewind to before times.

The plan is inherently the responsibility of every person to work cooperatively to ensure the four key actions are upheld on a daily basis:

1. face coverings in public spaces
2. physical distancing
3. increased hand washing and sanitation
4. staying home when feeling unwell

Each phase of the reopening plan will last at minimum 3 weeks and different sectors/businesses will reopen at each phase but only if a decline in the number of infections and hospitalizations support it. Details of the reopening plan can be found at Mass.gov/Reopening. Here you will find:

• A description of the framework to reopen
• The full report of the plan to reopen
• Business reopening outline
• Compliance and best practices for reopening
• Overview data & indicators - green (trending favorably), yellow (trend in progress), red (trending negatively, return to previous phase)

Safer at Home

Not to put too fine of a point on this, but the Reopening of Massachusetts is NOT a return to before times. As of this week, the Governor’s Stay at Home Advisory is now the Safer at Home Advisory and this really sums it up. We are all safer and are keeping vulnerable populations safer when we stay at home. It’s pretty much what we’ve been doing since March. We’re good at this by now, Weston, so keep at it.

Remain vigilant in being cautious and courteous. The face coverings is for the protection of others. If you cannot keep a 6-foot physical distance from another person - especially when outside - you need to cover your mouth and face.

Reopening Weston

There are remaining details that are being worked through at the state level and Town Officials and the Emergency Management Team are discussing how to reopen Weston within the framework set by the state. The team is currently reviewing the safety measures for the Weston Public Library, the Building Department, and the Recreation Department. These details will be announced through this update, as well as Weston.org/Status when they become available.

Remain Vigilant

Residents should continue to be vigilant in ensuring safety and proper hygiene:

• stay at home as much as possible, even with the new face covering order
• If you need to venture out, wash your hands before leaving and maintain a 6-foot physical distance
• sanitize everything you touched (wallet, car door handles, steering wheel, credit card, etc.)
• wash your hands immediately after touching/removing your mask
• avoid cross contamination when using masks and gloves
• If you are going outside for fresh air and exercise, do so with your own immediate family and maintain a 6-foot physical distance from others
• Bring a face covering with you in case the trails are crowded and maintaining a safe distance is not possible. See also Weston.org/Trails for additional information

Cases in Weston

There is a counting discrepancy in the state’s system due to a laboratory attributing a batch of confirmed positive tests to Weston; however, not all of the test results can be attributed to Weston residents. The numbers for today have not yet been confirmed. With the four-phased plan, contact tracing is crucial, so please continue to:

• Call 781-786-5030 if you have a doctor diagnosis of COVID-19 without being tested
• Call 781-786-5030 if you have arrived to town from foreign or domestic travel

More Information

Prevent making others sick or getting sick yourself - steps everyone should be taking now and as we move forward, consider these your New Normal

COVID-19 Information and Guidance - health and human services resources

COVID-19 Infographic for Safety - printable version

Update on Town Departments and Services

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