"Mass DPH has released the following guidance for the upcoming holiday.
Read the details here https://t.co/D1kipWiVud @massdph "
Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/O8znIm40io
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| Thanksgiving during COVID-19 |
Showing posts with label coronavirus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coronavirus. Show all posts
Friday, October 30, 2020
"added 54 communities to the red this week"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"More than one-third of the cities and towns in Massachusetts now stand in the Department of Public Health’s highest risk designation for COVID-19, while the statewide incidence rate increased again in the latest weekly report.
The state’s color-coded system counts 121 municipalities in the red, representing an average daily incidence rate of 8 cases per 100,000 or higher over the past 14 days, in Thursday’s update.
Locally, Bellingham, Dover, Mendon, Northborough, Southborough and Westborough have been added to the list.
Milford is among communities required to revert to the first step of Phase 3 in the reopening plan, starting Monday."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
The interactive version of this state map can be found
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| "added 54 communities to the red this week" |
Thursday, October 29, 2020
In the News: "1,137 additional COVID-19 cases"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported an additional 1,137 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 150,498.
The daily positivity rate — the rate of new cases diagnosed among those newly tested — is 6.10%.
State health officials also confirmed 36 new COVID-19-related deaths across Massachusetts, bringing the state’s confirmed coronavirus death toll to 9,700."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Community level data map for 10/22/20 https://www.mass.gov/info-details/community-level-covid-19-data-reporting
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| last week's map, what will the update show later today? |
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
"New York state now 'highly discourages' any non-essential travel to and from MA"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Public health officials confirmed more than 1,000 new COVID-19 infections for the fourth consecutive day Tuesday and the latest report shows all four of the state’s primary COVID-19 metrics trending in the wrong direction. The Department of Public Health reported 1,025 new coronavirus infections Tuesday and announced the recent COVID-19 deaths of seven individuals.
The seven-day average of the positive test rate is now 1.7 percent -- more than double its low-point value of 0.8 percent from just more than a month ago. Despite the steady climb in the percentage of tests that come back positive, DPH said Tuesday that it still sees a “positive trend” in that metric.
There were 567 people with COVID-19 hospitalized in Massachusetts as of midday Tuesday, up by 17 patients from midday Monday. The three-day average number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is 552, up about 83 percent from its low point of 302 patients, DPH said. As with the positive test rate, DPH said that it sees a “positive trend” in the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
From CommonWealth Magazine:
"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER urged Massachusetts residents to celebrate Thanksgiving differently this year, limiting any gatherings to people you live with or with whom you are regularly in contact.
Any bigger gathering, the governor’s top COVID advisor said, should be done remotely. “You could actually Zoom Thanksgiving with your family and friends across the country,” said Marylou Sudders, the secretary of health and human services.
Baker and Sudders said the science is clear that a traditional Thanksgiving, with people gathering indoors for most of the day to eat, watch football, and eat some more, is not appropriate during COVID. Sudders called it “the worst possible scenario for spreading the virus.”
Gov Baker's press conference on Tuesday https://youtu.be/jHUqjwtX9Qs
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
In the News: 3rd day of more than 1,000 cases in MA; man arrested in Boston ballot box burning incident
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Massachusetts health officials on Monday reported more than 1,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day.
The 1,216 new cases were out of about 20,000 tests, a positivity rate of about 6%, according to data released by the Department of Public Health.
The 7-day rolling average of daily new cases in Massachusetts has now surged over the past two weeks from more than 565 on Oct. 11 to more than 986 on Sunday, according to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
The 7-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Massachusetts has risen over the past two weeks from 0.96% on Oct. 11 to almost 1.4% on Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
"A man was charged with setting a Boston ballot drop box on fire and damaging dozens of ballots, police said Monday.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Worldy Armand, a 39-year-old Boston resident, was taken into custody late Sunday, hours after he started a fire inside a drop box outside the Boston Public Library in the city’s Back Bay neighborhood, authorities said. The box contained more than 120 ballots.
Armand faces a charge of willful and malicious burning, police said. It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney to speak for him.
The FBI had said Sunday that it’s investigating. Federal authorities urged members of the public to “remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious, election-related activity.”
Monday, October 26, 2020
FM #370 Board of Health Mtg - 10/21/20 (audio)
FM #370 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 370 in the series.
This session shares the Board of Health meeting held on Wednesday, Oct 21, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
The discussion centered around one net new business attempting to open for business without being properly prepared to file the documentation required to open and operate during this pandemic period.
The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and the Board of Health page.
The meeting runs about 60 minutes, so let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting for Oct 21, 2020 Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HB2v0fYK
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Meeting agenda:
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/franklin-ma-board-of-health-agenda-oct.html
Board of Health page https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
- If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
- If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
screen grab of Board of Health Mtg 10/21/20
In the News: Rausch vs. Kelly in Senate race; case count over 1,000 2nd day in row
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"In 2018, Sen. Becca Rausch, D-Needham, defeated incumbent Republican Richard Ross by less than 1,700 votes. Franklin Town Councilor Matt Kelly, R-Franklin, is vying for her spot this year.
On Nov. 3, voters will choose to either re-elect Raush, 41, to her seat on the state Senate to serve thousands across Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex counties, or incomer Kelly, 42, who has served on the Franklin Town Council since 2010.
Kelly, 42, calls himself “the common sense candidate” because of his experience on the Town Council, as a small business owner, marriage to a public school teacher and being the father of two girls, he said."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201025/get-to-know-candidates-state-senate-race?rssfeed=true
"The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported an additional 1,097 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the statewide total to 147,210.
This marks the second straight day that state health officials reported 1,000-plus newly confirmed coronavirus cases. The last time that happened was May 20-21.
The daily positivity rate -- the rate of new cases diagnosed among those newly tested -- is 6.45%, which is the highest mark Massachusetts has seen since May 30 (7.32%)."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Detail reports from the COVID-19 page for the State of MA
Sunday, October 25, 2020
IN the News: "1,128 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in MA"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The state Department of Public Health reported an additional 1,128 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 146,023.
The number of newly-reported COVID-19 cases is the highest the state has seen since May 16, when the DPH reported an additional 1,512 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The daily positivity rate — the rate of new cases diagnosed among those newly tested — is 5.88%.
State health officials also confirmed eight new COVID-19-related deaths across Massachusetts, bringing the state’s confirmed coronavirus death toll to 9,616."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Detail reports from the COVID-19 page for the State of MA
Saturday, October 24, 2020
“We’re disappointed. It’s out of our control”
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"An “unfortunate situation” is how Hudson High School ice hockey coach Michael Nanartowich described the two-week shutdown of all indoor ice rinks and ice skating facilities statewide due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the sport.
The state Department of Public Health announced the move Thursday. The shutdown starts 5 p.m. Friday and runs until Nov. 7.
Nanartowich, entering his 31st year as Hudson High’s coach, believes it’s possible one pocket of COVID-19 activity may be affecting the entire Massachusetts hockey community."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Franklin has 33 active cases (all in quarantine)
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The daily positive COVID-19 test rate in Massachusetts on Wednesday was more than 5%, according to the latest daily report from the Department of Public Health.
Officials also announced Wednesday that the weekly report, which contains a town-by-town map of COVID-19 spread rates, was pushed back to Thursday afternoon.
The 646 newly confirmed cases brings the statewide total for the pandemic to 142,941.
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This marks the sixth consecutive day the state’s positivity rate is above 4% and the first day above 5% since early June."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201021/states-covid-19-positivity--test-rate-is-above-5-for-first-time-since-early-june?rssfeed=true
As mentioned during the Board of Health meeting on Wednesday, and then also in the Town Council meeting at night, Franklin has 33 active cases (all in quarantine). This number is the highest it had been since June.
Please take care of yourself and others. Wear a mask, maintain social distance!
Shared from the Town of Franklin page
Franklin has 33 active cases (all in quarantine)
CommonWealth Magazine: "Salem BOOting visitors out for Halloween"
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
"SALEM MAYOR Kim Driscoll and Gov. Charlie Baker urged the public to stay away from the city until Halloween is over to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and announced a series of weekend measures to discourage visitors, including the shuttering of parking garages, 8 p.m. closings of restaurants and stores, and the shutdown of the municipality’s commuter rail stop.
“This is not the year to come to Salem,” said Driscoll who, even with the unprecedented crowd control measures, insisted “Salem will not be a ghost town on Halloween.”
Baker said in the past 50,000 to 60,000 people have shown up in Salem the weekend before Halloween and Halloween weekend. “The mall area is literally shoulder to shoulder,” he said."
Gov Baker's press conference in Salem on Wednesday: https://youtu.be/qQTiO2Kc8Z4
Sunday, October 18, 2020
In the News: "the statewide rate of average daily cases is also in the red"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported an additional 550 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 139,903.
There were 12,395 new molecular tests conducted, with an approximately 4.44% daily positive rate. This marks the second straight day the daily positivity rate is above 4%.
State health officials also confirmed 21 new COVID-19-related deaths across Massachusetts, bringing the state’s confirmed coronavirus death toll to 9,503."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
MA.gov dashboard https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-october-17-2020/download
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| In the News: "the statewide rate of average daily cases is also in the red" |
Weekly Community report
And yes, in a small way, Franklin is contributing to these numbers...
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| Franklin is contributing to these numbers |
Saturday, October 17, 2020
In the News: by the numbers, there are highs and lows
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The state Department of Public Health reported an additional 702 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the statewide total to 139,353.
There were 14,962 new molecular tests conducted, with an approximately 4.69% daily positive rate. That is the highest rate since June 6."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
"The state’s unemployment rate dropped into single digits in September after spending five months above 10%, as employers reported adding 36,900 jobs and Massachusetts continued its economic recovery from the sudden COVID-inflicted recession.
State labor officials announced Friday that the unemployment rate declined to 9.6% in September, 1.8 percentage points below the revised August rate of 11.4%.
The state unemployment rate is now the lowest it has been since March, the last month of data that did not fully reflect the massive layoffs prompted by government-mandated shutdowns and large-scale shifts in consumer behavior to avoid public health risks."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
“The weather is just getting more and more extreme,” she said, noting that while droughts are happening in this part of the world, other areas are seeing record rainfall and hurricanes.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Earlier this month, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides declared a Level 3 Critical Drought in the southeast region of the state. When such a declaration is made, it means “many sectors, community functions and environmental resources are facing critical strain” due to the drought, according to the state’s drought management plan.
In September, Theoharides declared all seven regions of the state at a Level 2 Critical Drought Level, which called for more restrictions on water use and greater collaboration between the state and municipalities."
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| Town Common walkway as the fallen leaves are gathered |
Friday, October 16, 2020
Franklin Historical Museum: November's News - getting ready to re-open
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| new Holiday ornaments |
Due to the ongoing Covid epidemic, everyone visiting the museum will be required to wear a mask. Guests will provide their name and contact information upon entering to allow for contact tracing if needed. There is an building occupancy capacity, so we ask that people are patient in the event we reach our capacity. Patrons will be able to look, read and observe, but will not be allowed to touch items in the museum for safety, and will be required to maintain social distancing. Please be aware that our research library will be temporarily closed to the public and we are putting a hold on physical donations to our collections for the time being. We thank you for your patience and understanding during these unprecedented times.
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| also in the gift shop |
Our limited schedule and COVID-19 protocols are a necessary yet temporary arrangement. As conditions change and improve, we will most certainly move to a more regular schedule. Our ever popular Second Sunday Speaker Series will hopefully return at some point early next year. Finally, workers have been measuring, cutting and hammering behind the scenes at the museum on the installation of a very intriguing and historically unique Franklin exhibit. More details to follow with an opening date for the exhibit to be announced. Check back here for more exciting details coming soon.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Look for our Trivia Tuesdays the second Tuesday of each month on Instagram. Visit us at 80 West Central Street, Franklin MA. The museum is ADA compliant and admission is always Free. Donations are gratefully accepted.
In the News: Library closed due to exposure; MEMA did send an alert - researching continues
From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:
"Staff at the Franklin Public Library will return to work on Saturday after being sent home Wednesday morning due to a possible exposure of COVID-19, town officials said in a press release Wednesday night.
In consultation with the Board of Health, the library decided to send staff members home on Wednesday morning out of an abundance of caution, town officials said. In the meantime, crews were expected to be on-site to disinfect the entire library building and, if necessary, staff will be encouraged to take a COVID-19 test and quarantine.
“Since the library has not yet been open to the public, we are confident that Franklin residents have not been exposed to the virus and the town continues to remain confident we can reopen the library on Nov. 9 as we are planning,” town officials said.
The library plans to reopen for curbside pickup and other services on Monday. The library has been closed to the public since March due to the coronavirus and has been offering curbside pickup since May. Curbside pickup is offered Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the vestibule of the entrance at the top of the parking lot ramp."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
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| reopen for curbside pickup and other services on Monday |
"There is increasing clarity as to who sent a shelter-in-place alert on Sunday that was sent to many communities around Franklin.
The alert was sent to several communities using a geo fencing process by Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Franklin police said they sent the alert to those who signed up for Reverse 911. However, because its system only sends alerts to those who sign up for it, a second “resource” sent out a similar message.
MEMA sent out the second alert, which went to several communities, including non-neighboring towns Mendon and Milford, which weren’t part of the shelter-in-place order, that was similar to the message Franklin
The MEMA system uses something called “geofencing,” which sends wireless messages to mobile devices in a defined area."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Franklin, MA: Library closed through Sunday; re-opens Monday, Oct 19
October 14, 2020
To: Town of Franklin Residents
From: Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator
Felicia Oti, Library Director
The Franklin Public Library will be closed from Wednesday, October 14, 2020 through Saturday, October 17, 2020. We plan to reopen for curbside pickup and other services on Monday, October 19, 2020.
There has been potential exposure to COVID-19 within the Library and, in consultation with the Board of Health, we have decided to send staff home out of an abundance of caution.
Additionally, crews will be on site through the next 24 hours to properly disinfect the entire Library Building. Staff will be encouraged to take a COVID-19 test and quarantine, if necessary, in accordance with CDC and Board of Health guidelines.
Since the Library has not yet been open to the public, we are confident that Franklin residents have not been exposed to the virus and the Town continues to remain confident we can reopen the Library on November 9th as we are planning.
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| Franklin, MA: Library closed through Sunday; re-opens Monday, Oct 19 |
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
In the News: “What we need from you is continued vigilance"
From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:
"With daily COVID-19 counts, average positivity rates and hospitalizations higher than they were during a summer lull, Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday outlined progress the state has made over the past several months “to prevent silent spread” of the highly contagious coronavirus and to prepare for a fall uptick in virus activity.
“Over the past few weeks we started to see an increase in the number of COVID cases here and across the country and in many other countries,” Baker said Wednesday during a State House press conference. “For months, public health experts have forecast this increase.”
Massachusetts has built a “massive infrastructure to respond to this pandemic,” Baker said, leaving the state “in a strong position to be prepared for what comes next.”
Baker said the state will be able to rapidly expand hospital capacity if necessary, and that there are sufficient personal protective equipment supplies to meet the needs of health care and human service providers."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Gov Baker's press conference on Tuesday: https://youtu.be/XMvjf3cKofw
Friday, October 9, 2020
Board of Health Meeting - Recap and Audio - 10/7/20
Recap:
- Short and productive meetings, minutes from prior September sessions approved
- Senior Center drive through flu clinic was a success, plans underway for another one to be scheduled
- Cathleen updated on the resumption of the podcast series planned for monthly
- Only 14 quarantine cases currently, has been good overall due to the coordination of Town departments and the community
----
As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
The Twitter hashtag can be found online ##boh1007
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23boh1007&src=typed_query
- Real time reporting underway for the Franklin, MA Board of Health meeting #boh1007
- Motion to approve both meetings for Sep as presented. Seconded, passes 3-0. Drive through, vaccinated 75 people including some children, well organized, nurses deployed to vaccinate on either side of car, forms handled, it went smoothly. #boh1007
- Cathleen updates on resuming podcast series monthly, #boh1007 Merchi had been closed for violations and now resolved, so reopened for business as of today. No issues with enforcement penalty previously approved.
- Q Any info on neighboring Communities and what they are doing. Not yet, everyone is head's down doing what they need to do. "It is a hot mess" Q any questions on Halloween? Not a holiday governed. #boh1007 14 in isolation now, other wise doing well.
- It has been good here starting with Fire Chief and what they did, it has built out from there, the collaboration is good. #boh1007 Motion to adjourn, passed 3-0 via roll call
Meeting agenda: https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/franklin-ma-board-of-health-meeting-oct.html
Meeting Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HsdJxZBK
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| Board of Health Meeting - Recap and Audio - 10/7/20 |
Thursday, October 8, 2020
wbur: "Getting The Band Back Together: How One Marching Band Is Practicing During The Pandemic"
From WBUR we share the following article of interest to Franklin:
"On a blustery Thursday afternoon, 13 students are spread out across the practice marching band field and parking lot at New Bedford High School.
The color guard is off in one corner, practicing some figure eights with bright orange and black flags, while the brass players and drum majors are running through a series of marching drills and rehearsing a new song.
This is only the fourth time this group of students has played together since March, when school buildings closed state-wide due to the coronavirus pandemic. In-person rehearsals are smaller now. This is only about 1/7 of the full Whaler marching band. But most of the kids don't seem to mind.
"The rehearsals were optional but we came here because we all want to do what we love," said trombone player Danny Lopez."
Continue to read the article online
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| wbur: "Getting The Band Back Together: How One Marching Band Is Practicing During The Pandemic" |
Commonwealth Magazine: "Number of high-risk communities doubles"
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
"THE NUMBER of Massachusetts communities considered high-risk for COVID-19 nearly doubled over the last week and the state as a whole moved much closer to the high-risk designation.
The state’s weekly breakdown of COVID-19 activity suggested the situation in Lawrence is spinning out of control, as the average daily case rate over the last two weeks rose to a high of 35.2 per 100,000 people. Lawrence has been on the state’s red list of municipalities – those with 8 or more cases per 100,000 people – since the state first began releasing the data in August.
The only community higher this week was Middleton, where the rate hit 58.1 per 100,000 people after an outbreak at the Middleton Jail and House of Correction where 139 inmates and 33 staff members tested positive. North Andover was at 34.5 per 100,000 people in its second week on the red list and Nantucket came in at 23.3 in its fourth week on the list."
Continue reading the article online https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/number-of-high-risk-communities-doubles/
The MA.gov dashboard https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting
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| Number of high-risk communities doubles |
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