Great visual to reinforce social distancing

From the Ohio Dept of Health  https://youtu.be/o4PnSYAqQHU

Their COVID-19 page  https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home

Why we are social distancing

From The Guardian, background research already revealing how some of the COVID-19 hots spots became so. This set of stories helps to provide some of the simple events that happened before the social distance awareness was created to fight the COVID-19 virus.

"A hundred days after a Chinese government website announced the discovery of a “pneumonia of unknown cause”, it has become clearer that the dynamics behind the virus’s rapid expansion across the globe has relied heavily on such “cluster effects”.

Each of the countries most heavily hit by the pandemic has reported similar stories of social, cultural or religious gatherings where large numbers spent numerous hours in close company – holding hands, kissing, sharing drinks from the same glass – which then turbo-charged the spread of the pandemic.

“One pattern we are seeing across the globe is that wherever there was singing and dancing, the virus spread more rapidly,” said Prof Hendrik Streeck, a virologist at the University of Bonn whose team of researchers has spent the last week carrying out the first “Covid-19 case cluster study” in Heinsberg.

“Most infections didn’t take place in supermarkets or restaurants,” Streeck said of his preliminary findings. In Heinsberg, his team of coronavirus detectives could find scant evidence of the virus being transmitted via the surfaces of door handles, smart phones or other objects."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/09/the-cluster-effect-how-social-gatherings-were-rocket-fuel-for-coronavirus

For up to date info, please visit the Town of Franklin portal
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/coronavirus-information-portal

and for school specific info
https://www.franklinps.net/district/pages/franklin-public-schools-covid-19-closure-information-portal

https://www.franklinps.net/district/pages/franklin-public-schools-covid-19-closure-information-portal

"every community can assume that the virus is here"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"At least four towns in the MetroWest and Milford regions are no longer publicly reporting the number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases in their communities.

On March 28, the state Department of Public Health recommended that individual communities stop publishing the number of COVID-19 cases to protect the privacy of patients. However, reporting those numbers remains entirely up to each individual community.

At least three communities in Greater Milford are following the DPH’s advice: Franklin, Millis and Upton, according to town public health officials. Those three towns, however, had already released information about their first confirmed positive cases in their communities."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200407/at-least-four-communities-not-reporting-new-coronavirus-cases

The next Franklin Board of Health meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8 at 5:00 PM. It will be a virtual meeting. Information on how to connect is contained in the meeting agenda

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/agenda-4-8-2020_revised.pdf

https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/coronavirus-information-portal

In the News: DPH commissioner positive for coronavirus

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, who has been at the center of the state’s efforts to respond to the outbreak of a deadly coronavirus, has tested positive for COVID-19, according the Department of Public Health, and will recuperate at home as she continues to work remotely.

Bharel, in a statement, said she was tested Thursday night and received her results back Friday.

“As the public health commissioner and an essential state employee, I have been vigilant about practicing social distancing from my colleagues and members of the public. My symptoms so far have been mild. I have notified my appropriate close contacts and will rest and recuperate at home, while continuing to carry out my work responsibilities remotely,” Bharel said in a statement.

The Department of Public Health said its offices, which are also headquarters for the coronavirus command center being led by Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, will be “thoroughly cleaned over the weekend.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200327/dph-commissioner-positive-for-coronavirus