HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-21 Board of Health MinutesrR
Town of Reading
1 1, Meeting Minutes
iT,s
ea bJe` MOPPPP
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2021-03-21 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Session - Remote Meeting Version: Final
ttCtiVrD
IIOWN CLERK
2021 MAY 18 AM H: 45
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Richard Lopez, Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren; Associate
Members: Geri Cramer, Kevin Sexton
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Assistant Town Manager Jean Delos, Interim Health Director Peter Mirandi,
Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris, Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom
Chair Richard Lopez called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm and briefly reviewed the
evening's agenda. He also noted that the Board of Health and Public Health Services web
pages had been updated to remove a lot of outdated material and dead links. He
encouraged Board members to review the updated pages and provide any other feedback.
Public Comment:
There was no comment from the public.
Review of Minutes:
To the Alcohol Licensing section, Dr. Lopez requested to add the Police Department to those
the Select Board wanted feedback from, and add that he volunteered to send a memo to
the Select Board.
On a motion by Ms. Dunnell, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health
voted 3-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of January 7'h, 2021 as amended.
Roll Call Vote: Richard Lopez - Yes; Kerry Dunnell - Yes; Paula Curren - Yes.
COVID 19 Updates:
Case Count Updates
Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris provided the latest case counts in Reading:
• Total: 1,123 in 2020 + 307 so far In 2021 = 1,430
• Current Month YTD 307
• Total Deaths: 43 (41 in 2020, 2 in 2021)
• Transferred cases: 10
• Total number of tests performed on Reading Residents in the last 14 days: 4,344
• Total positive cases in the last 14 days: 276
Page 1 1
• Schools:
o Reading Public Schools:
• High School: 6 active, 69 total
• Middle Schools: 3 active, 35 total
• Elementary Schools: 5 active, 35 total
• Staff: 2 active, 34 total
• Sports: 3 positive athletes and 9 teammates quarantined
o Austin Prep: 9 active - 3 affiliated with in -season sports
• Clusters:
0 Bear Mountain: 6 active cases - Testing is being done twice a week
o Artis Senior Living: 4 active cases - Testing being done twice a week
o Smart Physical Therapy: 2 active cases
o Misc:
• Home Depot: 1 reported Reading case
Ms. Harris noted that some cases had not been closed out in a timely manner, as the nurses
doing the contact tracing have been prioritizing new cases coming in, and working the
COVID vaccine clinics for first responders. She will conduct an audit every two weeks to
ensure the numbers are current and accurate.
COVID Vaccination Update
Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen provided an overview and demonstration of the PrepMod
system, which will be used by the Town to manage vaccine inventory, and create a clinic,
and used by clients to register and schedule a vaccine. Clients will need to complete the
health questionnaire in PrepMod and will be re -screened at the time of vaccination. Even
though the vaccine is free to clients, health insurance information is requested in the
system so the Town can bill the insurance companies to recoup administrative costs for the
clinics. Other funding sources may also become available to support the clinics.
The Board had an extensive discussion on the many challenges and concerns with
scheduling vaccination clinics including: logistics, availability of doses, accessibility of
PrepMod, and ensuring people in the right phase are registering and receiving the vaccine.
The Board hopes that Incident Command will be able to provide some answers ahead of the
next meeting on February 4`h.
Pertinent Incident Command Updates
Ms. Dunnell noted that a major topic discussed at the Command meeting was about pre-
vaccination event communication and what to do for pent up demand. Business
Administrator Jayne Wellman made modifications to the website by adding a "Here's what
we know" section that explains what the Town has done, what the next phase is, and that
the state is in charge of distribution. Command also continued the discussion with Schools
and testing.
Civic/Recreations Permit Issues
There have been no Civic Function Permit or Recreation Permit requests since the last
meeting.
COVID Guideline Compliance for Food Establishments
Ms. Curren reviewed the work she has done with Health Agent Laura Vlasuk. Ms. Vlasuk
had compiled a spreadsheet of restaurants in town and will visit each establishment to
distribute an informational flyer with the guidance they should be following, and ask if they
need assistance with staff and customer compliance. There is a question whether to
remove the state logo and replace it with the Town of Reading seal, and once that question
is answered, Ms. Vlasuk will begin distributing.
Ms. Curren also offered a summary of the first responders COVID vaccination clinics. Each
vial was supposed to have 10 doses, but some had 12, and others only had 9. Everyone
who was vaccinated was to report for 15 minutes to an area for observation of side effects,
Page 1 2
or 30 minutes if they had an allergy. Only one person slipped out without observation.
There will need to be a monitor at the exits at the larger clinics. Mr. Mirandi noted that the
RFD paramedics assisted with administering the vaccines. There are many folks who want
to volunteer to help, but Ms. Dunnell stated that it is best for people who want to volunteer
to register on Mass Responds so they can be credentialed and assigned to a Medical Reserve
Corp unit.
Next Agenda Planning;
At the next meeting on February 4`", Mr. Sexton will provide an update on recent Coalition
for Prevention and Support meetings, the usual COVID topics will be addressed, the Health
Division staff will provide their monthly report, and the Board will have a discussion on
having a consultant come in for an internal assessment.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to adjourn at 6:30 pm.
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell - Yes; Paula Curren - Yes; Richard Lopez - Yes.
Page 1 3