NORTH READING — Town of North Reading officials, including the Health Department, School Department, Public Safety, and Administration, continue to monitor COVID-19 vaccination data, case data, and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
19 new cases; no hospitalizations
After a period of zero reported cases during the late spring and early summer, 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported to the Health Department since July 1. “Ten of these cases were in vaccinated individuals, and those 10 individuals generally reported mild illness. Nine of these cases were in unvaccinated individuals and reported more severe illness. None of the 19 cases reported requiring hospitalization,” stated Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto, who is part of the town’s working group. “While none of these 19 cases were associated with Royal Meadow View Nursing Home, Health Department officials remain in contact with nursing home staff.”
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine in Massachusetts, including how to get vaccinated, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine
The Health Department has been notified of one participant in a Parks and Recreation program who has tested positive for COVID-19. At press time, the Health Department and Parks and Recreation Department were notifying and providing instructions and guidance to all individuals who are close contacts of this positive case.
Check out new guidance issued July 30
Residents are advised to review and familiarize themselves with guidance regarding the use of face coverings and cloth masks by individuals who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, as issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on July 30.
The guidance generally states as follows:
• [Last] week, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidance that continues to state that individuals who are fully vaccinated may, as a general matter, resume many of the activities that they engaged in prior to the pandemic without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where otherwise required by federal, state, or local laws, rules or regulations. In response to the recent spread of the Delta variant, however, the CDC’s updated guidance does recommend that even fully vaccinated persons wear masks or face coverings when indoors if other risk factors are present.
• In light of the information provided by the CDC, and in order to maximize protection of vulnerable individuals from the Delta variant, the Department of Public Health (DPH) released updated guidance that recommends that a fully vaccinated person wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home) if you have a weakened immune system or if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is an unvaccinated adult.
• All people in Massachusetts (regardless of vaccination status) are required to continue wearing face coverings in certain settings, including transportation and health care facilities. Please see www.mass.gov/maskrules for a complete list of venues where face coverings remain mandatory as of May 29, 2021.
The full DPH guidance may be viewed at: (https://www.mass.gov/doc/updated-advisory-regarding-masks-and-face-coverings-july-30-2021-0 )
Additionally, for individuals who are not fully vaccinated – which means two weeks having passed after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks having passed after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine – the following guidance is in effect:
• For individuals who are not fully vaccinated, it is important that you continue to wear a face covering or mask to help prevent you from spreading COVID-19 to other people. People who show no symptoms of illness may still be able to spread COVID-19.
• For individuals who are not fully vaccinated, the CDC advises the following:
• Wear a face covering or mask that covers your nose and mouth.
• Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
• Get tested if you have been exposed to or have symptoms associated with COVID-19
Guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) issued July 30 may be viewed here: https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/2021-0730fall-2021-covid19-guidance.pdf
Officials will continue to monitor COVID-19 vaccination data, case data, and guidance and will provide updates to the community as needed. The next North Reading Board of Health meeting is Thursday, August 12.
Previous town of North Reading COVID-19 updates may be viewed by visiting: https://www.northreadingma.gov/home/news/town-north-reading-coronavirus-covid-%E2%80%93-19-information
