GEORGETOWN — Emergency Management Director and Police Chief Donald C. Cudmore and Town Administrator Michael Farrell reports that the Town of Georgetown has been notified by the Department of Public Health of the town’s first two positive cases of COVID-19.
Georgetown public health officials were notified by DPH of the positive test results and have been in contact with both residents, who are members of the same household. The patients are in isolation and are recovering at home, per DPH orders. Public health officials are conducting contact tracing to identify and give guidelines to anyone who has been in close contact with the cases.
In order to protect the residents’ medical privacy rights, no additional information will be disclosed about the patients.
Police, Fire and EMS Services
The Georgetown Police and Fire Departments are fully staffed and prepared to respond to any emergencies. Officers, firefighters and medics may appear different and may be wearing additional personal protective equipment (PPE) when responding to calls and their interactions with the public will be different, out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of first responders.
If emergency fire or medical services are needed, residents should inform the 911 dispatcher if they or anyone they have been in contact with is experiencing signs and symptoms consistent with the COVID-19 virus. The dispatcher should also be alerted if individuals or anyone they live with or have come in contact with have been required to self-quarantine.
When requesting police, fire or emergency medical services, when possible, safe and feasible, residents may also be asked to meet first responders outside their homes.
All facilities, public buildings, parks and playgrounds in Georgetown are closed to the public, including Town Hall, Library, all school and town playgrounds, American Legion Park, the East Main Street recreation facility, Camp Denison, Harry Murch Park and the West Main Street fields.
Essential staff continue to work in the Town of Georgetown. Residents should plan to conduct their business with the town either by email or over the phone. Visit the Town’s website at www.georgetownma.gov.
Social Distancing and Hygiene
The Town of Georgetown encourages residents to practice social distancing, and the town is urging private organizations to consider cancelling or rescheduling events that would gather large numbers of people or result in groups of people being in close proximity.
Social distancing means remaining at least six feet away from others, and Governor Baker has temporarily banned gatherings of more than 10 people.
Social distancing will help to minimize exposure among people, especially given that COVID-19 is highly contagious and people may be contagious prior to exhibiting symptoms.
Local, state and federal health officials are encouraging residents to take the following precautions to prevent infectious diseases, such as the flu and COVID-19, from spreading:
- Washing hands with soap and water, scrubbing hands for at least 20 seconds before rinsing or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%-95% alcohol.
- Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces, including phones, tablets, keyboards, doorknobs, light switches, faucet handles, toilet flushers, countertops.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as lip balm, water bottles, eating utensils, etc.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing and then wash hands.
- Community members should stay home and avoid contact with others when
experiencing flu-like symptoms including a fever of 100.4 and should remain home until symptom-free and/or fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Additional Guidelines
As always, if anyone displays symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough or shortness of breath, they should not come to work or school and they are advised to contact their primary care physician.
The DPH recommends that residents continue with good hygiene practices including:
- Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds including under your fingernails. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol content) can be used when soap and water are not available.
- Keep your hands away from your face.
- Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing with a tissue and discard it immediately. Cough into the sleeve over your elbow instead of your hand. Wash your hands often when coughing and sneezing.
- Stay away from people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid social gatherings with large groups, particularly if you are over the age of 60, have underlying health conditions, a weakened immune system or are pregnant.
COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, has been declared a Global Pandemic by the World Health Organization and has moved Governor Baker to declare a State of Emergency and President Donald Trump to declare a National Emergency.
Residents are asked NOT to dial 911 for questions or concerns about coronavirus/COVID-19. The state has also set up the phone number 211 to answer questions that residents may have concerning COVID-19. If someone feels sick, they are asked to call their primary care provider as a first point of contact.
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website here or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (DPH) website here.
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