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03.25.2020 COVID-19 DAILY UPDATE

Posted on: March 25, 2020 - 8:13pm

Daily Situation Report-COVID-19-2020- Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Be Advised: New Information will be at the top of each section with current date. Some info will be removed and can be found in previous reports on the Town Website.

Situation in Numbers

State of Massachusetts:

       Current as of 3/24/2020

Emergency Management:

 

3/25/2020-New from Emergency Management- In an effort to keep you informed on the status of the COVID-19 impact we are providing you with the Situation in Numbers which we receive daily from the State.  Be advised that the statistics are based upon the date noted, not real time. Please click on the link for additional information.

 

3/25/2020-Governor’s Office-50,000 + Sign Up ForNew COVID-19 Text Notification System. The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the launch of a new text-based notification system to deliver important information about the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 response to Massachusetts residents. More than 50,000 people have subscribed since the Governor made the announcement at noon. The new messaging tool called “AlertsMA” will allow residents to subscribe to real-time notifications by texting the keyword COVIDMAto 888-777. After signing up, state and public health officials can send short messages and links to information directly to a resident’s cell phone or other mobile device.  The Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Technology Services and Security partnered with Everbridge, a Mass-based company, whose platform powers AlertsMA, to bring the notification service online during the COVID-19 response.

 

Donate Blood-We ask all resident of the Town of Hadley to remember to donate blood if you can through the American Red Cross.  According to FEMA Administrator-Pete Gaynor “Donating blood is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give. We need your support to make sure healthy individuals in your community know that we need them to still donate blood as volunteer blood donors are the only source of blood for those in need.  Just as social distancing guidance recommends that it’s okay for people to leave home for necessities like groceries, or a doctor’s visit, or the pharmacy-donating blood is a necessity.” Mary Nathan-Disaster Program Manager states; “In the four western counties, the blood collection site is located at 150 Brookdale Drive, Springfield.  Mobile collection is no longer feasible in our area, but blood collected at our donor center travels throughout the region meeting the demand of our neighbors.”

 

Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order requiring all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential Services” to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public as of Tuesday, March 24th at noon until Tuesday, April 7th at noon. These businesses are encouraged to continue operations remotely. The Baker-Polito Administration issued a list of designated businesses and other organizations that provide essential services and workforces related to COVID-19 that shall continue to operate brick and mortar facilities during this two-week time period. This list is based on federal guidance and amended to reflect the needs of Massachusetts’ unique economy. While these businesses are designated as essential, they are urged to follow social distancing protocols for workers in accordance with guidance from the Department of Public Health. Businesses and organizations not on the list of essential services are encouraged to continue operations through remote means that do not require workers, customers, or the public to enter or appear at the brick-and-mortar premises closed by the order. Restaurants, bars, and other establishments that sell food and beverage products to the public are encouraged to continue to offer food for take-out and by delivery if they follow the social distancing protocols set forth in Department of Public Health guidance continue operations. On-premises consumption of food or drink is prohibited.  Please go to the following link to view the Essential Services list. https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-essential-services

 

Massachusetts 2-1-1 -Massachusetts residents are urged to use 2-1-1 for information, resources, and referrals regarding COVID-19. Operators are staffing this hotline 24/7 and translators are available in multiple languages. Residents with questions can dial from any land line or cell phone or use the live chat option on  the Mass2-1-1website.

Hadley Emergency Management continues to monitor the current situation and will be meeting daily via conference call with the Unified Command Team which includes Public Safety, Board of Health, Schools and Town Administration.  The meeting will be to review current reports and status on the COVID 19 Virus and to continue with preparedness and response planning in the event it requires implementation.

The Emergency Management Director continues to update the Town’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

 

Please go to https://www.mass.gov  for information pertaining to the COVID 19 outbreak.

 

Public Safety (Police, Fire, EMS and Communications)

 

3/25/2020- No New Business from Public Safety

 

Reminder:  Hadley Police, Fire and EMS are requesting that if any Hadley Residents or Businesses have N95 Masks, Gloves or Tyvek suits that they are willing to donate for use by your local first responders and EMS providers we would greatly appreciate your help.  With the current shortage nation wide we are trying to supplement our stock in the event we do not receive the stock of supplies in time.  We are currently collecting the items at the public safety complex at 15 East Street. As of today, Monday March 23rd,  a box is set up in front of the fire station and will be available between 9am and 5pm for drop offs only in an effort to maintain social distancing.  If you would like to provide contact info with your donation so that we can recognize you for your support that would be great but not required.  We thank all of you for your support during this challenging time!  If you have questions feel free to email the Fire Chief at spanknebelm@hadleyma.org or Deputy Chief at briante@hadleyma.org. 

 

The Fire Prevention Office will be scheduling and conducting all inspections of properties for any permit under MGL Chapter 148 section 10A as well as final Certificate of Occupancy and inspections for sale or transfer of homes (26F and 26F1/2).  Please contact the office at 413-584-0874 ext. 104 to make an appointment.  We have instituted certain requirements in an effort to limit exposure to our inspectors and also the residents of the homes we will be inspecting.  We will provide all information as part of the appointment process.  Thank you for your understanding! Please email Chief Spanknebel at spanknebelm@hadleyma.org if you have questions or concerns.

 

Reminder:  The Fire and Police Chiefs request that if you are experiencing flu symptoms that requires you to call 911 for assistance we are asking that you notify the 911 dispatcher of your symptoms in an effort that we can prepare our EMS and First Responders prior to coming in contact with you or family members

 

In an effort to reduce contact between responders and citizens, walk-in business at the Public Safety Complex as well non-emergency calls for service will be reviewed and handled by phone or email when possible until further notice.

 

Public safety continues to work together to plan and prepare as well as ensure that we have the most up to date information from our Federal and State Response partners.  We currently have had no reported cases in the Town of Hadley come through our Action EMS/Hadley Fire System.  Our Public Safety Departments are working individually and jointly on response protocols for our first responders and EMS partners to ensure potential exposures are minimized and mitigated.

Public Health/Local Board of Health

 

No New Info from Board of Health

 

03/24/2020-A Hadley resident has been confirmed to have contracted the COVID-19 virus.  The Board of Health awaits additional confirmation from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).  The Board of Health is currently on the case working directly with MDPH.  Those who have been in close contact with the resident have been identified and have been contacted properly in accordance with professional practice.

 

The Hadley Board of Health (BOH) continues to work tirelessly and around the clock to assure that our community has the most recent and accurate information and resources to provide our public health.  The health needs of our community need to be met at this time more than ever.  

 

There are noted delays with obtaining accurate information from the identified channels of the MA DPH and CDC which we have personally addressed on the local, regional, and state levels.  There are problems being experienced nationally with information not crossing into the identified areas.  We continue to actively communicate with our local healthcare agencies to improve information flow and create an ability for effective and timely action at our local level. 

 

Due to this identified delay in results- If you are staying at home due to pending test results, are self-isolating due to active symptoms, or have other COVID-19 information please call directly to the Board of Health COVID cell at 413-727-6067.  This will support the timely follow-up necessary to maintain safety and continued monitoring within our community. 

 

There are daily needs that local boards of health are required to perform to assure our public health for this current situation including:

  • Active communication and collaboration with regional, state, and national public health partners 
  • Resource management and allocation
  • Increased staffing and assuring our workload is being able to be successfully executed
  • Daily monitoring and case management with COVID-19 cases within Hadley 

 

If you have a local Board of Health question or request you can call the department’s cell at 413-727-6067. 

Town Administration

 

No New Info today from Town Administration

 

3/24/2020 - Be advised that the Hadley Fire Department is working with Hadley Council on Aging to put a food pick-up and delivery program in place for our local Seniors in place of the Wednesday shopping trips. The program will start on April 1, 2020 for residents 60 years and older.

 

3/23/2020 Virtual Town Halls on Unemployment Benefits: - Beginning this week, in order to better meet the needs of residents whose employment has been affected by the COVID-19, the Department of Unemployment Assistance will be hosting daily town hall meetings to help constituents achieve a successful unemployment claim. DUA will also take questions from claimants across the Commonwealth.

 

From the Council on Aging Director: FOOD DELIVERY RESOURCES The following is a list of food delivery resources for Hadley Residents. Please note many are overloaded and wait times may be longer than usual.        Link: https://www.hadleyma.org/council-aging/pages/food-delivery-resources

 

The Goodwin Memorial Library Announced this afternoon that they will be closed until further notice and are unable to continue with providing books for pick-up or delivery to the public.  Please go to  https://www.hadleyma.org/library for updated info.

 

There are many closures town wide, here is a short list with links to find more information:

Council on Aging / Senior Center, no programing however staff is on hand to provide remote services https://www.hadleyma.org/council-aging

Hadley Public Schools

 

3/25/2020 New Business from School Superintendent.

 

Dear faculty, students, and families,

Governor Charlie Baker has announced that school closures in Massachusetts will continue until May 4, 2020. The Commissioner of Education, Jeffrey Riley, will provide districts with guidance on revising distance learning plans to provide greater structure. Our district leadership team will carefully review the guidance, seek input from our faculty and staff, and develop a learning plan that will support our students and families through this extended closure.

 

We continue to have many questions. We expect that the guidance will answer some of these questions; however, we realize that we will need to wait for answers to questions regarding MCAS, and other topics.

 

This is a challenging time. Our teachers and support staff miss our students. They are working hard to balance the demands of providing academic and emotional support to students remotely, in a virtual environment, and in some cases having to meet the needs of their own families. Our families are experiencing unprecedented disruption in their work and home life. Our students miss their friends and are wondering if they will be denied some of the experiences they have been looking forward to all year.

 

This is hard and I will reiterate my belief that we get through hard times by relying on each other.

 

You can rely on the faculty and staff of Hadley Public Schools to thoughtfully review the expectations and guidance from the state; consider how we will implement that guidance in a manner that makes sense for our students, families, and staff; and listen to input from everyone, in order to continuously improve district operations during this time.

 

You can expect to receive information about revisions to our learning plans based on state guidance early next week.

 

Thank you,

Annie McKenzie

 

I invite you to listen to my video message from the Superintendent for the week of March 23, 2020. Please check the district website frequently for updates https://www.hadleyschools.org/

 

Superintendent McKenzie of the Hadley Public Schools requests that you go to the Hadley Public Schools website for information pertaining to the school district.  Please go to https://www.hadleyschools.org/