From the Gloucester city website:
Hi, this is Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken with some important COVID-19 updates and reminders.
Gloucester’s COVID-19 case count has risen over the past week. As of this noon today, the status of cases in the City of Gloucester were as follows: 368 overall cases (321 confirmed and 47 probable); 318 recovered; 26 COVID-19 related deaths; 24 active cases
Although disappointing this increase in active cases is not entirely unexpected based on public health forecasts for the fall and winter seasons. It serves as a very important reminder that we all must remain vigilant and continue taking steps to mitigate the spread of the virus in order to protect each other and our friends and loved ones.
As of this past Wednesday, October 7 our City was designated a Green Lower Risk community. These new cases will most likely move our City to a moderate or high risk designation this coming Wednesday.
The uptick in cases are associated with isolated cases within the schools as well as gatherings/social events. Our contact tracing team has been working hard to identify close contacts which is a crucial step in how we slow the spread in our community.
Together, for months, we made excellent progress in reducing transmission of COVID-19 in Gloucester. Thank you for all your help in making that happen. We are working very hard to keep our local economy and schools open. In order to do that we MUST keep our community transmission low.
Once again I am asking for your help – to keep your family, friends, and neighbors healthy and safe. It is more important than ever that we follow the guidance around social distancing and the use of face coverings so we can reverse this negative trend.
Our best defenses against this awful virus remain wearing a mask or face covering when out in public, maintaining a safe physical distance of 6 feet from others, washing and sanitizing your hands and frequently touched surfaces often, and staying home if you’re sick.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms you should contact your primary care physician and discuss whether or not you should get tested. If you are tested, while you wait for the results, you should quarantine.
We are working proactively with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to get a Stop the Spread mobile testing site set up in Gloucester. As soon as details are available we will send another Gloucester alert.
Thank you. Be well and stay safe.
