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Council on Aging consulted with Health Agents on Agents began discussions with the School Nurse
<br /> how to proceed with a full re-opening plan that would Coordinator about scheduling a local pediatric clinic.
<br /> include close-contact activities. At the end of May, By late November 2021, case numbers were again on
<br /> Health Agents authorized the transfer of the entire the rise. Health Agents prepared a comprehensive
<br /> Mashpee contact-tracing and investigation caseload COVID guidance document for Town employees that
<br /> from the Visiting Nurses Association of Cape Cod upheld current isolation/quarantine requirements, as
<br /> (VNA) to the state-run Contact Tracing Collaborative well as testing and mask requirements. Health Agents
<br /> (CTC). responded to inquiries from the Town Manager
<br /> regarding the possible need for a town-wide mask
<br /> Mashpee Town Hall, which had been closed to mandate and/or the closure of Town facilities to the
<br /> the public since March 16, 2020, reopened on June 1, public.
<br /> 2021. On June 15, 2021, Governor Baker lifted the
<br /> state of emergency that had been in effect since March By December 2021, the highly transmissible
<br /> 10, 2020. Legislation was subsequently approved to Omicron variant,coupled with the onset of the holiday
<br /> extend certain pandemic-era policies until April 1, season,resulted in a significant increase in new COVID
<br /> 2022, including expanded outdoor dining and remote cases being reported. Board of Health staff responded
<br /> public meetings. Mashpee saw weeks pass with no to dozens of inquiries regarding access to test sites
<br /> new COVID cases reported. Vaccines were readily and/or at-home test kits. Town employees who were
<br /> available on a walk-in basis at pharmacies and exposed, symptomatic, or who tested positive were
<br /> healthcare centers, and scheduling inquiries to our referred to the Board of Health guidance, consistent
<br /> office were greatly reduced. Health Agents worked with the Town employee COVID guidance document.
<br /> closely with recreational camp directors and staff to In response to the surge,Health Agents performed the
<br /> maintain protocols and best practices that would initial review of all new COVID cases reported in
<br /> safeguard unvaccinated campers and staff. By July Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiological Network
<br /> 2021, it was evident that vaccine hesitancy/resistance (MAVEN),and cases identified as having the potential
<br /> among certain demographics was the greatest obstacle to impact Mashpee students, faculty, and staff were
<br /> to getting all residents 12 years old and older fully reported to the School Nurse Coordinator on a daily
<br /> vaccinated. In August 2021, the Board of Health basis. Health Agents coordinated a pediatric vaccine
<br /> supported the School's decision to uphold its existing clinic for children ages 5-11 in mid-December,with the
<br /> mask policy for the upcoming school year. A Board of second-dose clinic to be held three weeks later.
<br /> Health meeting in late September drew a large crowd, Information collected from homebound residents in
<br /> with a great deal of public comment opposing the need of a booster was compiled and passed on to the
<br /> school mask mandate. At that time, Health Agents VNA. The Board of Health signed a commitment letter
<br /> were already fielding calls about a third shot/booster. for participation in the County Health Department's
<br /> By October 2021,poor participation at locally offered contact-tracing program that was funded through a
<br /> vaccine clinics indicated that the demand for testing grant, with services to begin after the first of the year.
<br /> and vaccines had diminished. The Board of Health was
<br /> notified that the CTC would stop accepting new case Over the course of 2021, Health Agents focused
<br /> investigations on December 1 st, and would be closing on tracking the constant and ever-changing flow of
<br /> down at the end of the calendar year. information and guidance disseminated by federal and
<br /> state agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control
<br /> In early November 2021,the Omicron variant was (CDC), MA Department of Public Health (DPH), the
<br /> first identified in the U.S.,but case numbers remained Department of Early and Secondary Education
<br /> low through the Thanksgiving holiday. Data indicated (DESE), and the Department of Early Education and
<br /> that one in every three new cases statewide was a Care (EEC). Health Agents interpreted that
<br /> breakthrough case, reinforcing the need for booster information for application in Mashpee schools,
<br /> vaccinations. Board of Health staff fielded many childcare facilities,long-term care facilities,businesses,
<br /> inquiries about booster vaccines,and provided detailed Town offices and households. They maintained regular
<br /> information about eligibility,as well as clinic locations communication with the Mashpee School District, the
<br /> and scheduling sites. On November 2nd,the fourth and Mashpee Tribal Health Center, the VNA, and the
<br /> final phase of the state's vaccination plan authorized Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) regarding
<br /> the vaccination of children ages 5-11, and Health case investigations, clusters and trends. Board of
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