Town of West Newbury Urges Continued Vigilance as COVID-19 Risk Remains High and Holidays Approach

The Town of West Newbury Board of Health urges residents to remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19 as the community remains at high risk for the disease, and to review the state’s health and safety guidance as they finalize plans and prepare for their holiday celebrations this year.

According to public health data released on Thursday, Dec. 17, the Town’s designation is now at “Red,” indicating a “high risk” of spread in the community. The average daily incidence rate for the Town of West Newbury is 49.5 per 100,000 residents, up from 42.47 last week.

There are currently 28 active cases of COVID-19 in the community. There have been a total of 78 cases in West Newbury since the start of the pandemic.

Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid high risk activities, especially indoor social or holiday gatherings, and all Massachusetts residents are under orders from the Governor to wear masks at all times while in public.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), residents should take the following precautions this holiday season:

  • Limit in-person celebrations to household members only
  • Postpone or cancel travel this holiday season. If you do choose to travel, be aware of and comply with Massachusetts travel order requirements. Note: Hawaii is currently the only state where people can travel from to Massachusetts without being required to fill out the state’s travel form and quarantine and/or produce a negative COVID-19 test result.
  • Follow the current state gathering size limits and sector-specific workplace safety standards.

Those who still choose to travel or host a small gathering are urged to consider lower risk alternatives and review the precautions they can take to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

DPH recommends several lower risk activities for celebrating the holidays this year, such as:

Lower-Risk Celebrations and Activities:

  • Limit in-person holiday gatherings to only people you live with.
  • Host a virtual holiday dinner with extended family or friends.
  • Prepare foods for family and neighbors and deliver them in a contactless way.
  • Virtually attend your traditional holiday activities, such as a visit with Santa.
  • Consider virtual caroling or reciting. Provide a link to your virtual caroling for the people you want to sing to.
  • View holiday lights from your car with those you live with.

Higher-Risk Celebrations and Activities:

  • Any time you gather with others outside of your household, you increase the risk of contracting or spreading illness. All residents are discouraged from gathering with those from outside their household. Gatherings in Massachusetts are subject to gathering size limits.
  • You are risking your health and the health of others if you host or participate in any in-person festivities if you or anyone in your household:
    • has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not completed the isolation period;
    • has symptoms of COVID-19;
    • is waiting for COVID-19 viral test results;
    • may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days; or
    • is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults or those with certain medical conditions.
  • If in-person caroling or reciting, stay more than 25 feet from the people you are reciting or singing for and wear a mask. Remain outdoors while caroling.
  • If you visit Santa Claus in person, wear a mask, stay six feet from Santa and others while in line, and make a reservation for your visit where available.
  • If viewing holiday lights outdoors, take a one-way walk with those you live with and maintain distance from others.

Other Recommendations and Guidance:

  • Always wear your mask and watch your distance. (Remove your mask only for eating and drinking.)
  • Do not share food, drink, or any utensils, including serving utensils.
  • Seat people with plenty of space (at least six feet) from one another while dining.
  • Consider seating people at smaller tables in multiple rooms instead of around a large family table.
  • Improve ventilation by opening windows and doors.
  • If setting up outdoor seating under a tent, ensure guests are still seated with physical distancing in mind. Enclosed four-wall tents will have less air circulation than open air tents and should be considered indoor spaces (also check fire codes for heating tents).
    • If outdoor temperature or weather forces you to put down the tent sidewalls, consider leaving one or more sides open or rolling up the bottom 12 inches of each sidewall to enhance ventilation while still providing a wind break.

More information about the state’s guidance for holiday celebrations can be found here.

Additional Information

Residents are reminded to always take the following precautions to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the community:

  • Remember that an infected individual can spread COVID-19 before they have symptoms, which is why social distancing — maintaining a minimum of 6 feet from others — is critical.
  • Those who must go out are urged to:
    • Avoid gathering in groups
    • Maintain 6 feet from people outside your household
    • Do not shake hands or hug
    • Wash your hands often
  • Those who are at a high risk for COVID-19, including those over the age of 65 and with underlying health conditions, are advised to stay home and avoid non-essential tasks and errands
  • Wear a mask in indoor and outdoor spaces at all times.
  • Face coverings should:
    • Cover the nose and mouth
    • Fit snugly and comfortably against the side of the face
    • Be secured with either ties or ear loops
    • Permit breathing without difficulty
    • Be able to be washed and machine dried without damage. Face masks should be washed regularly depending on the amount of use.

For more information about COVID-19 prevention and symptoms, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website here.

Pentucket Regional School District to Take Part in State’s K-12 Rapid COVID-19 Testing Program

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew reports the Pentucket Regional School District has been chosen by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the U.S. Department of Defense to receive rapid COVID-19 tests to help identify cases of coronavirus in the district.

On Monday, Nov. 16, the district was one of 134 districts in the state chosen to receive free, rapid tests as part of the program. There are approximately two million tests available, but Pentucket officials have not yet been notified of the number of tests they will receive.

The tests are to be used for staff or students who develop COVID-19 symptoms while at school. If the individual tests positive for COVID-19, they will be sent home and given instructions regarding the next steps to take, including self-isolation protocols and additional testing requirements. These tests can only be administered to those who are already showing symptoms related to COVID-19 and the district has created isolation areas at each school for those who are showing symptoms.

The instant results will also allow for the district to start conducting contract tracing immediately after a positive result is confirmed, helping to mitigate further spread of the virus in the school community.

“Being able to start the contact tracing process moments after confirming a positive test result is vital in preventing any further spread of COVID-19 in our schools,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “Though this resource will be vital in identifying cases of the disease among our school population, it’s important to remember that any individual who is showing symptoms of COVID-19 prior to the start of the school day should stay home and contact their healthcare provider about testing options.”

School nurses will be trained to administer the rapid tests in the coming weeks. Testing will only be conducted with parent or guardian authorization. Parents and guardians will also receive consent forms that must be returned and will also be contacted directly by the school should their students become symptomatic and need to get tested.

Families and staff are reminded that any individual who is showing any COVID-19-related symptoms prior to the start of the school day must stay home and contact their healthcare provider about testing. Those who may have been exposed to the disease are asked to remain home as well, monitor themselves for symptoms and contact their healthcare provider about testing options.

The district applied for the tests approximately three weeks ago. Districts chosen to receive the first round of testing kits were those who are currently utilizing in-person learning. Pentucket is currently following a hybrid learning model.

This is the first phase of the state program. DESE will also use the information gathered from the testing completed by all selected schools to help establish protocols for future phases. The tests will also be distributed to other organizations, such as private schools and nursing homes.

For more information about the program, click here. The district will share more information as it becomes available in the coming weeks.

Groveland Police to Host “Stuff a Cruiser” Food and Sock Drive

Chief Jeffrey T. Gillen is pleased to announce the Groveland Police Department will be holding a “Stuff a Cruiser” food and sock drive to benefit the Sacred Hearts Food Bank and the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, Inc. next month.

WHEN:

Saturday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:

Outside of the Groveland Police Station, 181 Main St.

WHAT:

Community members are invited to donate canned goods and non perishable-items, such as canned fruit, canned veggies, soups, baked beans, boxed stuffing mix, boxed potatoes and yams, peanut butter, jelly, jam, dried pasta and pasta sauce, to help those in need. All donated food items will be given to the Sacred Hearts Food Bank, which serves the Bradford and Groveland communities.

New, unworn socks can also be donated and will be given to the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, an organization that works with homeless veterans in Haverhill.

Residents are asked to sanitize their items prior to donating, and to wear a face mask or covering when dropping the items off at the Police Station. Residents should also practice social distancing while there.

“We are proud to hold this event each year to give back and help support the organizations that service many of our residents,” Chief Gillen said. “We are humbled to see the tremendous amount of donations residents give each year, and thank them for their generosity.”

Detective Steven Petrone first organized the drive in 2016 as a way to give back to the community and help residents in need during the holiday season. He has organized an event each year since.

Those with questions should contact Detective Petrone by calling 978-521-1212.

West Newbury Fire Department Offers Fire Prevention Activity Bags for Children 

WEST NEWBURY — Chief Michael Dwyer is pleased to announce that the West Newbury Fire Department is offering free children’s fire activity bags for West Newbury residents.

During the month of October, the West Newbury Fire Department will be offering these bags to celebrate Fire Prevention Month and teach children of all ages about fire safety.

The bags include an activity book, fire prevention pamphlets, stickers and a plastic fire helmet. These activity bags are designed to help teach children and families more about fire safety.

“During normal fire prevention months, the West Newbury Fire Department tries to ensure a presence in West Newbury school classrooms to discuss the importance of fire safety,” Chief Dwyer said. “In the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to take an alternative approach to discuss the importance of fire safety by providing these educational kits. We encourage any family who would like one to reach out to us as soon as possible.”

Families can request the activity bags by either privately messaging the West Newbury Fire Department on Facebook or by emailing fire@westnewburysafety.org. Those interested in receiving a bag should provide the department with their name, address and number of bags needed.

All requests should be made prior to Friday, Oct. 30.

Once the department has received your request, a West Newbury Firefighter will deliver the bags to your home on either your doorstep or doorknob. All deliveries will be contactless.

As always, the West Newbury Fire Department encourages any residents with any fire department-related questions to contact them at 978-363-1111 or fire@westnewburysafety.org.

West Newbury & Groveland Fire Respond to Pentucket Regional High School as Precaution Following Science Demonstration 

WEST NEWBURY — West Newbury Fire Chief Michael Dwyer and Groveland Fire Chief Robert Valentine report that their respective fire departments responded to Pentucket Regional High School as a precaution after a science experiment did not perform exactly as expected.

At 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, the two departments were dispatched to the high school, located at 24 Main St. in West Newbury, for an alarm activation. Upon arrival, firefighters were notified that a routine science experiment went wrong when a water vapor cloud caused by the experiment was sucked out the window of one classroom and into a nearby one.

Out of an abundance of caution, the building was evacuated. Firefighters working with a HazMat team member from the Amesbury Fire Department, determined that there was no danger as the cloud consisted only of water vapor.

The experiment involved sodium and water and is a routine part of the science curriculum. Fire crews cleared the area by 9:44 a.m., and classes resumed.

The Groveland Fire Department automatically responds as a mutual aid partner when alarms are activated at the high school. Groveland firefighters provided station coverage in West Newbury in addition to providing support on-scene. Atlantic Ambulance also responded to the high school and evaluated students and staff in the two classrooms as a precautionary measure.

 

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Town of Groveland Shares Trick-or-Treat and Halloween Safety Tips

Board of Selectmen Approves Trick-or-Treating for Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Police Chief Jeffrey T. Gillen and the Groveland Board of Selectmen would like to share safety tips and guidance regarding Halloween activities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Board of Selectmen, taking into account the most current public health guidance and statements made by Governor Charlie Baker, has decided to maintain the annual trick-or-treating hours, while encouraging strict public health and safety practices.

The official hours set by the Town for trick-or-treating on Saturday, Oct. 31 will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Should residents choose partake in trick-or-treating, they are encouraged to leave individually wrapped candy that can be placed at the end of a driveway or the edge of their yard for families to take. Those who do not wish to participate in Trick-or-Treat are asked to shut off their outdoor lights as an indicator. Residents are strongly discouraged from going “door-to-door.”

Residents are asked to take the following precautions from the Department of Public Health if they choose to trick-or-treat this year:

  • Wear a face mask or face covering. For more information on face masks and face coverings, please see the state’s Mask Up MA webpage.
  • Observe good hand hygiene, including hand washing and use of alcohol-based sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol. Carry hand sanitizer and use it often, especially after coming into contact with frequently touched surfaces and before eating candy.
  • Refrain from touching your face.
  • Stay home and refrain from Halloween activities, including giving away Halloween treats, if:
    • you feel unwell;
    • you have tested positive for COVID-19;
    • you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19; or
    • you have traveled to or from a state that is not classified as lower risk within the last 14 days. For more information on lower risk states, please see the state’s COVID-19 Travel Order webpage.
  • Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet of physical distance from all other participants who are not members of the same household.

Additionally, Groveland officials would like to share the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists of several low and moderate risk alternative activities that community members can take part in for Halloween.

Lower risk alternatives include:

  • Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them, or at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
  • Decorating your home
  • Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
  • Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
  • Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
  • Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

Community members may participate in moderate-risk activities, as long as they take the proper safety precautions. These include:

  • Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
  • Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
    • A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
    • Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
  • Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart

Residents are asked to avoid higher risk activities this Halloween in order to prevent the spread of the virus. These activities include:

  • Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door-to-door
  • Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
  • Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
  • Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
  • Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household

More information and holiday safety tips from the CDC can be found here.