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Gloucester Weekly COVID-19 Update for April 8, 2021

New This Week / Highlights – 4/8/2021

• (4/5) Massachusetts entered Vaccine Phase 2, Step 5 which expanded the rollout to residents over the age of 55 and those with a single health condition on April 5, with plans to make everyone eligible by April 19. Massachusetts is hoping to vaccinate more than 4 million residents with officials prioritizing individuals with the highest exposure to the coronavirus and risk of severe illness or death due to COVID-19, before gradually expanding the three-phase rollout to wider populations.
  • If your group is not specifically listed in either Phase 1 or Phase 2, you will be eligible to receive the vaccine in Phase 3, which will launch April 19, 2021.
• (4/6) Gov. Baker announced Tuesday efforts to align with President Biden on increasing vaccinations to more populations, with a targeted goal of April 17, 2021.
• (4/7) The CDC updated travel guidance for domestic travel, with updates focused on those that have received vaccinations. Updated earlier this week, the CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated, because travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, follow CDC’s recommendations for unvaccinated people. CDC will update these recommendations as more people are vaccinated, as rates of COVID-19 change, and as additional scientific evidence becomes available. This guidance applies to travel within the United States and U.S. territories.
  • Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19.
  • People who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States:
    • Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to get tested before or after travel unless their destination requires it
    • Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to self-quarantine
  • Fully vaccinated travelers should still follow CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely including:
    • Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
    • Stay 6 feet from others and avoid crowds
    • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer

• (4/8) President Joe Biden was set to announce Tuesday that he is shaving about two weeks off his May 1 deadline for states to make all adults eligible for coronavirus vaccines. With states gradually expanding eligibility beyond such priority groups as older people and essential, front-line workers, the president plans to announce that every adult in the U.S. will be eligible by April 19 to be vaccinated.

Community Resources

The following links will lead to official sources or community partners directly with the latest information and contacts:

• City of Gloucester Board of Health
• Cape Ann Vaccination Hotline (978-515-5255)
• CATA Van Service (FREE): 978-283-7916
• Senior Care, Inc (Residents 60+): 978-281-1750
• MassHealth (Free to Members and Health Safety Net-Eligible): 800-841-2900
• Beauport Ambulance: 978-281-6955
• State Homebound Vaccination Central Intake Line: 833-983-0485

Community Reminders

• STAY INFORMED, SIGN UP FOR CITY EMERGENCY ALERTS/WEBSITE NOTIFICATIONS:  City officials have and will continue to use the Smart911 system to share information and updates regarding COVID-19 as the situation surrounding the virus continues to evolve. To sign up for Smart 911 go to http://www.gloucester-ma.gov/384/Emergency-Alerting. To review current subscription selections and/or sign up for City of Gloucester website notifications go to http://gloucester-ma.gov/list.aspx

• WANT TO VOLUNTEER TO SUPPORT A FUTURE COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC:  Volunteers with and without medical experience are needed to support different aspects of their work, and will supplement existing emergency and public health resources.  To sign up to volunteer, visit their website maresponds.org. Additional instructions on how to register for Cape Ann efforts can be found here.
• DPW BUSINESS OFFICE OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY:  Please call 978-325-5600 during normal business hours for assistance.  If you get voice mail, please leave your name, number and a brief message and someone will return your call.
• CITY CLERK’S OFFICE HAS LIMITED HOURS FOR WALK-IN SERVICES:  The City Clerk’s Office, now has limited walk-in hours, only be available on Thursdays from 2-6 p.m., and will be conducting the majority of services by appointment only.  For a full list of services and options available, please click here or contact the office at 978-281-9720 during normal business hours.
• VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS:  The City of Gloucester is utilizing the Zoom platform for remote participation of public meetings.  Virtual Public Meeting Forums are open to the public.  For a list of all upcoming scheduled meetings, including meeting agendas, click here.

Gloucester Daily Metrics – 04/07/2021

Daily metrics for Gloucester are trending higher as compared to last week. The latest metrics are:

(4-7-21)	Total	New Today	Active	Total Hospitalized	Currently Hospitalized	Total Deceased	Recovered
Confirmed COVID Cases	1884	11	67	60	4	43	1774
Probable COVID Cases	119	3	6	1	0	0	113
Totals	2003	14	73	61	4	43	1887

MA Metrics on Gloucester, MA

BioBot Waste Update (Sample 3/31 – Reported 4/2)

State Updates – 4/7/2021

Current Phase as of April 8, 2021 – Phase 2, Step 5; (Phase 3 Eligible 4/19)

Weekly numbers for Massachusetts are trending slightly more positive as compared to last week.

Current State Social Gatherings Guidance (04/08/2021)

• Require face coverings for all workers and attendees, except where an individual is unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or disability
• The host of an indoor event at a private residence must limit the number of attendees at all times to:
  • No more than 10 persons
• The host of an outdoor event at a private residence (such as a backyard) must limit the number of attendees at all times to:
  • No more than 25 persons
• The host of an indoor event held at an event venue (e.g., hotels, private clubs, and space available for lease) or in a public setting (e.g., public parks) must limit the number of attendees at all times to:
  • No more than 100 persons
• For outdoor events held at an event venue (e.g., hotels, private clubs, and space available for lease) or in a public setting (e.g., public parks) a host must limit the number of attendees at all times to:
  • No more than 150 persons
  • Occupancy counts in all cases must include all attendees, but may exclude event staff or other workers.
  • In addition to the capacity restrictions specified above, all participants in indoor and outdoor gatherings, including gatherings at private residences, must maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance whenever possible.
  • An event will violate these capacity limits where, regardless of the actual number of attendees, it is not reasonably possible for all participants regularly to maintain 6 feet of separation
• Restaurants hosting events must adhere to the capacity limits specified in these standards.
  • Ensure separation of 6 feet or more between individuals
  • Close or reconfigure worker common spaces and high density areas where workers are likely to congregate) to allow social distancing. Employers are encouraged to close break rooms or limit their use
  • Physical partitions must separate workstations that cannot be separated by 6 feet or more (partitions must extend to at least 6 feet in height)
  • For customer facing enterprises, install visual social distancing markers to encourage customers to remain 6 feet apart (e.g., lines to make payments, lines to use the restroom) and physical barriers for checkout stations where possible
  • Mark rooms and hallways to indicate 6 feet separation
  • Stagger lunch and break times for workers, regulate the maximum number of people in one place, and ensure at least 6 feet of physical distancing
  • Valet parking operations must be provided with hand sanitizer and should use sanitizer before and after parking vehicles

New State Resource Pages Updated This Week

• COVID-19 Homebound Vaccination Program
• COVID vaccine FAQs in multiple languages – Dept. of Public Health

State Guidelines / Community Resources

• Reopening Massachusetts –Governor Baker
  
• COVID-19 Public Resources Map – Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, MassGIS, Project Bread, Greater Boston Food Bank, Worcester County Food Bank, Massachusetts Communities
• Stop COVID-19 – Vaccine education – Mass Public Health

Recreation and Outdoor Activities

• Recreational camps and programs health and safety standards for reopening  – Mass. Dept. of Public Health
• Updated Sector-Specific Workplace Safety Standards for Phase IV, Step 1 – Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
• Safety Standards and Checklist: Golf Facilities – Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
• Safety Standards and Checklist: Arcades and Other Indoor and Outdoor Game and Recreation Businesses – Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
• Safety and Reopening Standards For Businesses and Other Entities Providing Youth and Adult Amateur Sports Activities – Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Business Activities

• Sector-specific safety rules for large capacity venues permitted to open to the public in Phase 4 – Dept. of Labor Standards
• Workplace Safety Standards for Indoor and Outdoor Events to Address COVID-19 – updated March 12, 2021 – Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
• Submit a Large Capacity Venue Safety Plan – Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development

Human Resources

• Massachusetts Travel Advisory (eff. March 22, 2021)

Remote Work

• Telework cybersecurity advice for cities and towns – By Stephanie Helm, Director, MassCyberCenter

Housing and Sheltering

• Eviction Diversion Initiative: Services available and preview of upcoming expansions (Oct. 19) – Dept. of Housing and Community Development
• FAQs for Cities and Towns regarding FEMA Reimbursement for Quarantine/Isolation Solutions – Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

CDC Health Guidance and Recommendations

According to the CDC, symptoms of the virus appear within 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19: Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing or at least two of these symptoms: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell.

If you display symptoms or suspect that you may have come into contact with a person who may be infected, please contact your primary care provider immediately.

Important Updates / Latest News

Please visit the City of Gloucester’s COVID-19 information page here.