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Home My WebLink About2020-04-06 Board of Health Minutes a� OrR Q Town of Reading Meeting Minutes ) : '9Ja.IMCOAYOPI' Yi{ _ . e!r1. /t Board - Committee - commission - Council: , cii Ca i'p't 16 1:"f 10: 45 Board of Health Date: 2020-04-06 Time: 10:00 AM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: COVID-19 Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Emmy Dove, Kevin Sexton, Eleanor Shonkoff, Ann Marie Messina Members - Not Present: Lara Romanowski Others Present: Paul Jackson, Greg Burns, Mark Dockser, Gail Dowd, John Doherty, Bob Lelacheur, David Clark, Mark Dockser, Jean Delios, Laura Vlasuk Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Eleanor Shonkoff and Emmy Dove Topics of Discussion: 10 05a - Meeting called to order by Dove Delios noted that meeting is being recorded Discussion of process for downloading cases from MAVEN and assigning for follow-up • Vlasuk has access to MAVEN • Vlasuk will assign cases to Kristine or Mary • Vlasuk Is concerned that we may be understaffed in nursing staff • Sexton wants to make sure we are continually asking if they need further assistance • Discussion about temporary hire of another nurse/consultant with MAVEN experience Dove stated that Chief Burns has gone to higher-risk facilities and will send people around to make sure people have what they need Discussion of how to do contact tracing when phone numbers are not provided in MAVEN. Nurses are calling test lab/hospital, which is time-consuming. Decision is for Vlasuk to mail the letter that can be downloaded from MAVEN to send asking recipient to call us back. Vlasuk will send to us and Command after letter is redacted Discussion of potential repository for face masks • Wakefield had created a system with a collection box with face masks and other things Page 1 1 • How to do we make sure that the people donate them do not have covid-19? How to ensure safety of masks? • Are there recommendations about washing them at home if you do receive them? • Suggestion was made that Rotary could take the lead on this • Sexton can reach out to the Chamber, which has many members in common Meeting minutes approval 3/10 - Sexton - Motion to amend minutes to indicate that we closed meeting. Shonkoff second. Roll call Sexton —y Shonkoff— y Dove - y 10.52 Sexton - Motion to accept 3/10/2020 as amended Shonkoff second Roll call Sexton- y Dove - y Shonkoff- y 3/13 - Sexton - discussion about how to list meeting because people couldn't call in since it wasn't posted. Decision to list as Open instead of Executive Sexton - Motion to accept 3/13/20 as amended Shonkoff second Roll call Sexton - y Dove - y Shonkoff- y Discussion of 3/16/20 Meeting minutes Because minutes will only be approved after anything that's happened deemed ready for public eye, minutes will be tabled until later, Shonkoff may add in more detail 10.57 people started calling in from Command At 11:01 Attendees from Command added (see above) 11 05a Delios locked the meeting Discussion of mask sewing/provision • Command received updates on BOH discussion • Discussion of volunteers and whether are we looking to funnel product from FB Covid sewing group to those who need it. • Anticipated increase in demand for masks now that CDC has issued guidance Page 1 2 • Discussion of ways to ensure safety: ex. wait period, signs about washing before use • Lalecheur- can put a moderator of the FB group in touch with BOH Discussion blood drive • Vlasuk raised the Idea and Burns indicated hearing similar needs from MEMA • Burns can inquire with nearby towns to see if others are doing this • Vlasuk can find out more from Red Cross Dense housing list— BOH had not yet discussed • Question about whether Town has sent guidance to these facilities; there is extensive guidance from the state • Discussion of plan for high-density buildings If someone tests positive; plan is isolate person and ask others to quarantine if there are common areas; and enforce cleaning • Many separate rental properties share a management company • Assisted living places are well-monitored but independent living places have less guidance; we could apply this guidance to independent living sites • Decision to use the site Bob sent around to base our recommendations for high- density areas; will we email this out to management facilities; we will edit the email and then send it out • Discussion about places to get additional guidance (Middlesex partnership; Emergency Preparedness, Woburn; • Bob - 75 Pearl, 100 Pearl, 1364 Main, 50 Bay state - fire needs to deal with those directly, just visit a few times a week rather than sending letter--these are the most vulnerable populations • Burns can touch base with Frank Tanner and Elderberry (more like small apartment house) to see about PPE and cleaning • Dove notes two different types of facilities; BOH will reach out to apartment buildings & condos - multi-family dwelling units; the other types can be visited by Fire Dept. Issue at Bear Mountain • Vlasuk reached out to let them know who individual was and what floor they were on and she went over the procedures for touch surfaces, buttons, railings, then reported that back to Mary (school nurse); Mary reaches back to them to do contact tracing; • Burns notes that Bear Mountain wore PPE and they were satisfied with the way operations were going that they could see at last visit • Jackson - Bear Mountain case is in hospital not residence - they have no other confirmed or suspected cases • Updated on Bear Mountain - still cleaning BOH will have participation in weekly Select Board meetings; one BOH member will attend each week Discussion of construction project policy • Would involve inspections by health and building staff • more details coming Wednesday • each site has been tasked with following safety plans • theory is that local government has no authority to shut down - can only shut down if they don't follow protocol Page 1 3 Discussion of mental health of students in town Discussion of school nurse support for COVID-19 • Schools reached an agreement with RTA to allow school nurses to work for any capacity related to the pandemic; with Mary, they have 9 nurses • Delios - we have a full-time nurse advocate • Bohmiller will help with community services Discussion of which nurses to train and who could be back-ups • Alyse can be trained as back-up Discussion of contact tracing • Burns -As cases increase, will be harder, while it's working now, can you put together a structure? • School nurses will be beneficial Note that MAVEN is updated manually after positive tests, which can mean delays in the information being available to all Decision - wait until information is verified in MAVEN before reporting for Town numbers Ms. Sheol left meeting at 12:10. Minutes continued by Ms. Dove. In response to question from Command, Ms.Vlasuk stated that our Public Health Nurse is responsible for all close contacts, including those outside Reading. Mr. Sexton will update the Select Board this week at 7:10pm. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Sexton, seconded by Ms. Dove. Roll Call: Mr. Sexton -yes Ms. Dove -yes Meeting adjourned at 12:19pm. Page 1 4