COHASSET– Town Manager Christopher Senior, Health Director Pam Fahey and Public Health Nurse Mary Goodwin report that the Town of Cohasset has seen a rise in positive COVID-19 cases recently, resulting in an increased risk designation from the Commonwealth.
According to the public health data released on Thursday, Oct. 29, linked here, the Town’s designation is now “Red,” indicating a “high risk” in the community. Residents are urged to continue to practice social distancing, wear face coverings in public and limit their interactions with anyone who lives outside of their household.
According to Thursday’s data, there have been 9 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Cohasset over the past two weeks. Cohasset’s average daily incidence rate, which the state uses to calculate risk determinations, has risen to 8.7 cases per 100,000 residents, up from last week’s rate of 6.8. Anything above eight cases per 100,000 nets a high risk designation.
“We’re urging residents to be responsible, and practice the guidance that has been shared from state and federal officials for months regarding this pandemic,” Town Manager Senior said. “Especially going into Halloween weekend and with the holidays on the horizon, people need to be serious about the precautions they’re taking to limit the spread of COVID-19.”
“The guidance hasn’t changed: wear a mask around people from outside your household, practice social distancing in public and wash your hands, thoroughly and often,” Public Health Nurse Mary Goodwin said. “These steps are effective and simple, and everyone needs to do their part so that the spread of this virus is reduced as much as possible.”
Massachusetts’ Stop the Spread testing sites are free to all Massachusetts residents. The closest Stop the Spread testing site is located in Brockton. For information about testing availability through the Stop the Spread initiative, click here. For closer sites offering testing that may require a fee, click here.
Residents who plan to participate in Halloween activities this weekend are asked to take several precautions. This includes avoiding door-to-door trick-or-treating, wearing a face mask, observing proper hygiene, avoiding large or crowded gatherings and avoiding activities with people outside of your household. For additional guidance on safer Halloween alternatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, click here , and from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, click here.
Additional Halloween guidance will also be posted to the town’s COVID-19 news blog later today.
“People need to avoid large gatherings, especially if they’re being held indoors, and stay home if you feel sick or may have been exposed to this virus,” Health Director Fahey said. “These are sacrifices that need to be made to keep yourself, and the people around you, safe from COVID-19.”
COVID-19 prevention tips from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health include:
- Remember that an infected individual can spread COVID-19 before they have symptoms, which is why social distancing, maintaining a minimum of 6 feet from others, is critical.
- Those who must go out are urged to:
- Avoid gathering in groups
- Maintain 6 feet from people outside your household
- Do not shake hands or hug
- Wash your hands often
- Those who are at a high risk for COVID-19, including those over the age of 65 and with underlying health conditions, are advised to stay home and avoid non-essential tasks and errands
- Wear a mask in indoor and outdoor spaces where social distancing from people outside your household is not possible. This does not apply to those under the age of two and with underlying health conditions.
- Face coverings should:
- Cover the nose and mouth
- Fit snugly and comfortably against the side of the face
- Be secured with either ties or ear loops
- Permit breathing without difficulty
- Be able to be washed and machine dried without damage. Face masks should be washed regularly depending on the amount of use.
For more information about COVID-19 prevention and symptoms, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website here.
Additional information regarding the Town of Cohasset’s response to COVID-19 can be found on the Town’s website: https://www.cohassetma.org/.
Residents can also visit https://cohassetcovid19.com/ for the latest updates and guidance pertaining to COVID-19 in Cohasset.
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