01/20/2022 BOARD OF HEALTH Minutes

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Tobin of '-ffia'gbPee BOARD OF HEALTH r � 16 GREAT NECK ROAD NORTH MASHPEE, MASSACHUSETTS 02649 508 539-1426 * Fax 508 477-0496 Public Health Prevent. Promote. Protect. BOARD OF HEALTH - PUBLIC SESSION Mashpee Town Hall —WAQUOIT MEETING ROOM Virtually via Zoom Minutes of the Meeting of JANUARY 20, 2022 Board Members Present: Member Absent: Also Present: Ernest Virgilio,Vice-Chair Brian Baumgaertel,Chair Glen Harrington, Health Agent Kripani Patel,Clerk Christine Willanger,Asst. Health Agent Vice-Chair Virgilio called the January 20, 2022 Board of Health meeting to order at 6:00 PM. OLD BUSINESS: 1. COVID-19 update Mr. Harrington commented that as of January 8th 2022,the 14-day percent of positivity rate in Mashpee was 16.38%, and the average daily incidence rate was 152.2. As of this meeting, Mashpee has 148 current cases in isolation that have been reported.As of this week,the average number of cases reported throughout Barnstable County has been lower than the previous week, indicating that the peak from 1/3-1/11 may be ebbing. As of Wednesday,the average hospitalizations over a 3-day period was 73,with nine of those being ICU patients. The requested Board of Health Town-Wide Mask Advisory was recently approved by the Town Manager for inclusion on our website and social media pages. Additionally, it has been sent along to Mashpee TV, Mashpee Food Establishments,the Library and COA. On January 3, 2022,the department transitioned from the VNA to the County Health Department for case investigations. The County service was being provided at no cost to the Town, as the program was funded through a grant. After reaching out to the County directly, the department learned that they are operating under a surge protocol,which essentially allows the use text notifications versus phone calls for everyone other than the senior population. Additionally, it was learned from conference calls with DPH, and discussions with the VNA, that the state is moving to a model of personal responsibility, and contact tracing is no longer recommended for individual cases who are not either attending grades K-12 or considered to be part of an at-risk population. As time allows, the County does hope to resume contacting all cases, but, based on the new model a reduced level of contact-tracing/reporting is anticipated. The majority of guidance provided,at this juncture, is to Town employees, Department Heads and Human Resources personnel. The number of calls each week from residents and businesses with questions about isolation/quarantine requirements for close contacts are low.