HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-19 Board of Health Minutesa ora
Town of Reading 'RIVE'IVED
' Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
READING, MA.
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2021-08-19 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Session - Remote Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Richard Lopez, Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren; Associate
Members: Gen Cramer, Kevin Sexton
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Assistant Town Manager Jean Delos, Interim Health Director Peter Mirandi,
Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen, Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris,
Director of School Nursing Mary Giuliana, Carlo Bacci
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 reviewed the evening's
agenda.
There was no comment from the public
Update on Role of School Nurses with respect to COVID:
RMHS Director of Nursing, Mary Giuliana, explained the collaboration between the School
Nurses and Town nurses for COVID. When positive cases come in, they are given a number
in MAVEN and the Public Health Nurse follows up for contact tracing. When cases are found
in the schools, the school nurses are the first to know, and they perform data collection and
contact tracing in those cases, then notify the Public Health Nurse for follow up. Killam
School Nurse Sharon Grottkau assisted with contact tracing for the Town on Saturdays.
School nurses are well -versed in DPH guidelines and capable of doing contact tracing.
For pool testing in schools last year, DESE provided support with some medical assistants,
but each school's nurse would coordinate testing in their building. However, DESE staff is
not available after school, so a lot of after school testing with athletics and preschool was
done by school staff. When there was a positive pool in the spring, follow up testing and
contact tracing would fall on staff.
This year, DESE has said that they can do follow up in the lab and students in Kindergarten
and up can swab themselves. There are two other types of testing that can be utilized this
year. One is a symptomatic test with Bynex, which is a rapid antigen test. The other is test
and stay, when there is a positive case in school, those close contacts would be able to
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come to school and get rapid testing every day when they would have otherwise had to stay
home. DESE can send support to assist with Bynex testing. Ms. Giuliana stated that she is
also trying to get additional support for that testing, as she needs more information from
DESE what assistance they can provide. She has also been relying on the help of
volunteers such as retired nurses, and is applying to the state for grant funding to provide
extra per diem nursing support.
Discussion of School COVID Policies:
Ms. Giuliana noted that she has seen cases In younger children and teens, and some
breakthrough cases, and asked the Board what metrics should be followed to make changes
on policies. DESE guidelines recommend masking in grades K-6, and those unvaccinated in
grades 7-12. However, the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend universal
masking In all grades K-12. The state has not wanted to Issue a mandate at the district
level. The Reading School Committee met Monday night to discuss adopting a prototype
about universal masking provided by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees
(MASC) with operational amendments and an Included list of metria, such as Incident rate,
vaccination rate in schools, and the number of cases in town or the school system, they
would consider to determine when the policy might be rescinded. The Board agreed to
support universal masking for students and staff, and to not rely on certain data points to
automatically rescind a mask order. There are many variables to consider Including: surge
incidence statewide, variants, vaccination rates, transmission rates, testing rates, and what
is happening in town.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Donnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to endorse the School Committee's approach of universal masking as
described in the edited version of the Massachusetts Association of School
Committees policy. The Board believes that metrics used ought to be viewed in
the larger context of what is happening in the state and with the viral
transmission, and add the metric of days missed from school.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
Discussion of Select Board COVID Policies:
Dr. Lopez and Mr. Mirandi reviewed a request by Select Board Chair Karen Herrick for the
Board's perspective on in-person meetings of the Select Board. She had expressed concern,
as at the recent Select Board meeting, the first to be held in-person since the pandemic
started, the audience was not necessarily socially distant or wearing masks. The Board
discussed the CDC recommendations for masking Indoors in high -transmission areas, which
includes Middlesex County, though the county's numbers are only at 9 per 100,000, far
lower than the CDC guidance of 50 per 100,000. The Select Board can set parameters for
their own meetings which can Include: limiting the number of people allowed in the room,
spacing the seats In the audience 3-6 feet apart, encouraging masking, and providing
access for remote participation. The Select Board can add the topic to their agenda for
discussion. Mr. Mirandi will follow up with Ms. Herrick with the Board's recommendations.
MAPC Project Update:
Ms. Delios reviewed slight edits to the scope that the Board approved on May 20, 2021.
Sam Wong who was originally selected as the Subject Matter Expert has accepted a job with
the state and is no longer available to consult on the project. The new Subject Matter
Expert will be Pat Maloney. The reference to the regional arrangement with Wilmington and
Lynnfield was removed. The timeline was updated to extend the final report to February
2022. The peer communities decided on were Bedford, Danvers, Winchester and Needham.
The stakeholder Interviews were changed from focus groups to key department heads and
stakeholders. Ms. Dunnell will be the representative for the Board, and Dr. Lopez asked all
members to send their feedback to her ahead of the interview.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to approve the revised scope of services and fee schedule for the MAPC
project as dated and presented today.
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren -Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
Update Reading Coalition
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Mr. Sexton updated the Board on the latest meeting of the Coalition. The 2021 YRBS
preliminary data is still ongoing and findings are set to be presented to the School
Committee on September 271h.
The Coalition has operated an intervention program called "Chemical Health Intervention
Program" since 2012 at RMHS that deals with chemical issues and has worked with
approximately 400 students since its Inception. The program will be adapted and have a
new program rolled into it called 'I decide". It will be operated in conjunction with the
School Nurses, Athletic Department, and education staff. It Is a tier 2 intervention program
created by Mass General Hospital and the Department of Public Health and will focus on
mental health and risk assessment for chemical and substance abuse.
The Coalition has applied to the National Council for Wellbeing to bring Teen Mental Health
First Aid to grades 10, 11, and 12. They are currently training to provide the program for
grade 11, but they would like to get funding for all three grades.
The community justice project with Woburn district court is still ongoing. The program
seeks to prevent people with mental health issues from getting into the court system. Data
is still being collected.
For the Mental Health position added at Town Meeting, the Coalition has been meeting with
clinicians from Wilmington and Burlington, communities with similar positions, to review job
descriptions and clinical protocols, and discuss dally responsibilities and lessons learned.
Dr. Lopez expressed his hope that the Coalition will share the draft job description with
constituents in Town, such as the Board of Health and the School Department, before
finalizing.
Health Division Monthly Report:
Epidemiology
Ms. Harris presented the latest COVID data per MAVEN reporting (which is subject to
change) over the past 14 days from August 5th through August 19th:
• Total Cases: 1,993
• Active Cases: 31
• Deaths: 50
• Transferred Cases: 10
• Recovered: 1,902
There is a cluster identified at a home family -operated day care. A fully vaccinated staff
member tested positive for COVID and had mild symptoms. All five children are
asymptomatic and awaiting test results. The day care has been closed and DPH has been
notified. There is also a potential cluster at another home day care. Ms. Harris is working
closely with the day care owner and DPH, and monitoring is ongoing.
Of the current active cases, about 57% are transmitted via household contact, and close to
50% are fully -vaccinated breakthrough cases. There are currently no hospitalizations and
no cases are over age 70. From conducting contact tracing, many active cases are
appearing in people returning from vacation. There have not been many outbreaks or
clusters at camps or sporting events because a majority of them are outside. That may
change when school begins.
Ms. Shen shared the latest COVID vaccination, flu clinic, and website updates. She Is
hosting COVID vaccination clinics every Tuesday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm with the
remaining doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine on hand until they run out. According to
Mass.gov, the total vaccination rates in Reading as of August 12th is 70% with one dose,
and 66% fully vaccinated. Dr. Lopez noted that it was interesting that the 20-49 year old
age group has the lowest vaccination rates, as that is the age range of working parents of
school children. Ms. Harris noted that the 20-50 age group accounts for the highest percent
that Is positive right now.
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The Town has ordered 560 doses of Flu vaccine, including 120 high -dose. The first shipment
will arrive in October and will be distributed to seniors, school staff, first responders, and
residents of public housing. The clinics will be run in collaboration with CVS.
Ms. Shen and Ms. Curren are taking modules from the Foundations Course for Local Public
Health Practice from the Boston University training website. The course has four parts that
address emergency and health promotion. Ms. Shen and Ms. Curren will cover one or two
points at future meetings. The goal is to increase awareness In public health with practical
instructions and resources. Ms. Curren stated that in an effort to educate the public and
provide resources, the Information could even be presented on RCN.
Environmental
Mr. Mirandi reviewed the Health Department monthly report. There were 14 inspections.
John Fralick decided to resign as a contracted service inspector, and Mr. Mirandl and Ms.
Dellos are planning to get another contractor in place. There were some food complaints,
most notably a complaint at Chlpotle. A customer had a burrito delivered, and when one of
the kids bit into It, there was a cloth wipe in the burrito. Mr. Mirandi stated that it seemed
like a deliberate act intended to harm somebody and contacted the police. He received a
call from the company's corporate office explaining that it was a training exercise for new
employees to practice wrapping a burrito using a wiping cloth. Mr. Mirandl asked for an
explanation on how a training tool got put on the line then delivered, what documentation
does the company have in place, whether there was a report on this incident, and if
someone was disciplined.
Animal Control services are finally in place after a vote by the Select Board earlier this
month. The Police Department, Health Department, and Town Clerk's Office all have an
understanding of their roles in this new arrangement.
Review of Minutes:
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of July 15, 2021.
Roll call vote Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren -Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
Next Moetino Agenda Items (September 2. 2021): Final Comments:
Dr. Lopez stated that the next meeting Is scheduled in two weeks. Having just had a robust
meeting this evening that addressed a lot, if there Is not a lot to discuss in two weeks, the
meeting may be canceled, or the Board can meet briefly just to connect. Any suggestions
for agenda items can be sent to Mr. Mirandi.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to adjourn at 9:05 pm.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
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