NORWOOD — The Town of Norwood seeks to provide updates to residents on a continuous basis.
The Norwood Health Department would like to provide an update on the current status of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in town.
General Manager Tony Mazzucco was notified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) that his test results came back positive today.
To respect the federally protected health privacy rights of individuals, any additional individual statuses (i.e. who is self-quarantining, individual’s test results) will not be made public by the town. Mazzucco volunteered that his information be made public, including today’s test results.
All individuals who are considered close contacts with Mazzucco have been notified by public health officials of the need to self-quarantine and have been given appropriate instructions. If you have not been contacted by public health officials about self-quarantining you do not need to self-quarantine.
A “close contact,” per CDC, is a person that has been within six feet of a confirmed case for a prolonged period of time, or with direct contact with infectious secretions, while the individual was likely to be infectious.
If you saw a person with COVID-19 before they had symptoms, even if you were in close contact, it is unlikely you were exposed to the virus because the individual was not contagious at that time. In addition, walking through a building or room where there is or was a positive case does not mean you are a close contact.
Mazzucco began exhibiting symptoms on Thursday, March 5. Any close contact with him before then is not considered to be at risk of being exposed to COVID-19.
A professional cleaning crew was hired to sanitize and disinfect Town Hall over the weekend and Town Hall will continue to be open this week during normal business hours. To the knowledge of local public health officials there has been no additional exposure to Town Hall since last week.
Town officials and the Norwood Health Department remain in continuous communication about this issue and further updates will be provided.
DPH officials said today they are pleased with the level of cooperation and participation of those in Norwood who have been asked to self-quarantine and they asked that people continue to follow the guidance of DPH and the Norwood Health Department.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has provided the following information for all residents:
- DPH strongly advises that anyone who feels ill to remain at home and call their primary care physician to see if they meet the criteria for COVID-19 testing
- Although the risk to Massachusetts residents of the novel coronavirus is generally low, the risk for influenza is currently high. Many of the things you do to help prevent colds and the flu can help protect you against other respiratory viruses:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean things that are frequently touched (like doorknobs and countertops) with household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands.
- Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
The best source of guidance and recommendations is the DPH website www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus. You can also visit http://www.norwoodma.gov/departments/health/coronavirus_(covid-19).php for local news and updates.
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