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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-02 Board of Health MinutesRECEIVED Town of Reading TOWN CLERK .. fir. Meeting Minutes READING, MA. 2022 JAN -4 AM 9:38 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Health Date: 2021-12-02 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; Associate Members: Geri Cramer, Kevin Sexton Members - Not Present: Paula Curren Others Present: Health Director Ade Solarin, Assistant Town Manager lean Delios, Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen, Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris, Maryanne Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. As a quorum was not present, Chair Richard Lopez elevated Kevin Sexton, as the more senior Associate member, to voting member for the purposes of this meeting, and called the meeting to order at 7:12 pm and previewed the evening's agenda. Review/Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Mr. Sexton, and seconded by Dr. Lopez, the Board of Health voted 2-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of November 4, 2021 and November 18, 2021. Roll call vote: Kevin Sexton -Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes. Readino Coalition Update Mr. Sexton recapped the last meeting of the Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support held on November 17th. At the last Board of Health meeting, Coalition Director Erica McNamara presented the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results, with a lot of troubling trends in it. The Coalition compared those results with the previous one and noted a stark difference with negative trends presumably due to the pandemic. The Coalition dove Into the schools, working with kids in different programs. The Coalition also provides the Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Program (SBIRT) program, which is an early intervention program. When students have flex time in school, certified School and Coalition staff interview them to get an idea of things that are problematic in their lives. Another program called Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) is a tool they utilize at the High School and Middle School level. It identifies data points to look at to try to intervene earlier. Information can be reviewed at positiveexperience.org. The program Page I 1 looks at adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as ways to identify negative experiences in their lives and depending on amount and severity, guides how to help them. Health Department Monthly Report Health Director Ade Solarin presented a general update on what the department is working on. Current renewals are ongoing, but were slightly delayed due to the multiple changes in the department and the transition from paper to online. Staff Is working swiftly and diligently to get the renewals done before the end of the calendar year. The finishing touches were put on the job description for the Health Inspector vacancy and the position will be posted early next week. The proposed FY23 Health Department budget includes requested funding for full time administrative staff, as the Health department Is scheduled to move to the Police Station on July Ig, and will no longer have Public Services administrative staff for support. Because the space the staff is moving into will not have enough space for file cabinets, there is a request for funding to digitize the Health files. There is also an estimated $61,209 requested for cost of living and salary adjustments. There was a tobacco compliance violation at Square Liquors at 18 High Street. Because this is their first violation within a three year period, it triggers a suspension of one to thirty days, and a fine of $1,000. Mr. Solarin will send a cease and desist letter next week along with a notice of the Hearing to be held at the next meeting in January. The store representatives are expected to appear before the Board to explain why they think their license should not be suspended, and the Board can decide how long the suspension should be, or decide to waive the suspension. Environmental Health In the month of November, the department conducted six complaint inspections, ten food inspections, three pre-operation food inspections, one reinspection, one site plan review, and two site visits. There was a inquiry from a body art establishment looking to hire an apprentice. But the Town does not currently have an apprenticeship program or regulations applying to apprenticeship of body art. Mr. Solarin explained that the Town will need to amend its policy and update the system to add a permit. Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris shared the COVID case numbers per MAVEN data reporting from November 180 to December 2M: • Total Cases: 2,658 • Active Cases: 146 • Deaths: 50 • Transferred Cases: 16 • Recovered: 2,446 These figures do not include 43 additional cases reported after noon time today, which brings the total cases to 2,701. Ms. Harris stated that she would provide additional updated numbers. Active COVID cases In Schools over the past two weeks: • Reading Memorial High School: 4 students, 0 staff • Coolidge Middle School: 3 students, 0 staff • Parker Middle School: 1 student, 0 staff • Eaton Elementary School: 1 student, 0 staff • Barrows Elementary School: 2 students, 0 staff • Killam Elementary School: 2 students, 0 staff • Birch Meadow Elementary School: 4 students, 0 staff • Wood End Elementary School: 0 students, 0 staff • Rise Preschool: 1 student, 0 staff Pave 1 2 Vaccination rates at Schools: . Reading Memorial High School: 85% . Middle Schools - Parker & Coolidge: 63% . Eaton Elementary School: 5% . Barrows Elementary School: 5% . Killam Elementary School: 3% . Birch Meadow Elementary School: 6% . Wood End Elementary School: 7% . Rise Preschool: 0% The Schools held their first COVID clinic for kids ages 5-11 on November 3r0, but there was not a large turnout and only approximately 23 children received their first dose. There is another clinic tomorrow that has approximately 175 registered, which Includes second doses. The School nurses have worked diligently and continued with pool testing. This has helped School Nurses, in collaboration with the Public Health Nurses, to Intervene and provide guidance in positive cases before they even hit the DPH lab reporting, which has helped to keep in -school transmission rates quite low. Austin Prep had a cluster in indoor baseball, where there were 13 positive cases, with one being a Reading resident. Other clusters in the community Include three home operated daycares, plus one home operated daycare that reopened yesterday following a shut down due to positive cases. Another larger daycare, Christian Coop, was closed and just reopened yesterday. There was a recreation hockey tournament on Cape Cod that the school and public health nurses were able to trace and Intervene thanks to the coach being forthcoming with the roster. Austin Prep Basketball also had a cluster that has since been resolved. In addition to COVID, Ms. Harris also noted that she has seen a number of RSV cases and influenza -A cases. In response to a question by Mr. Sexton, Ms. Harris explained that about 53% of active cases are breakthrough cases, where Individuals who were vaccinated early on are experiencing a second Infection. She is also tracking people who have received a booster, but still tested positive. Household transmission continues to be the main source of spread, and it appears that within the households with positive cases, there is a younger child or someone who has not been vaccinated. Ms. Harris stated that she would start providing the breakthrough figures in future reports. Ms. Dunnell arrived at 7:46 pm. Ms. Dunnell asked how severe the active cases are. Ms. Harris stated that there are two hospitalizations right now. There are another ten active cases that received antibodies, responded well, and recovered quicker. People over age 65 with respiratory symptoms and underlying disease are difficult referrals for antibodies, though in the last week and a half, It seems more people are being offered that treatment. Most symptoms in younger children are mild. Ms. Dunnell expressed her Interest in hearing about cases in those that have had boosters, as she has observed hospitalizations skewing toward non -vaccinated people, with an occasional vaccinated person, but no one having received a booster. While the vaccine does not entirely prevent Infection, it seems to be effective in preventing severe illness and death. She also asked what the plan is to continue with contact tracing, once the Contact Tracing Collaborative (CTC) ends their services later this month. Ms. Harris explained that Sandra, her contact at the CTC has provided great resources that will be incorporated with other resources that Reading is using. Mr. Solarin explained that he, Ms. Harris, and Ms. Shen met earlier this week to develop a plan to discuss CTC issues. Ms. Shen can provide backup. The nurses plan to hold a monthly meeting with school nurses. They are also Gage 1 3 looking at a shared service grant with Lynnfield and Methuen. Mr. Solarin also cautioned about the reporting of breakthrough cases, because we do not want to signal that vaccines do not work. The vaccines do work and people should get vaccinated. Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen provided additional department updates for the Board. The current vaccination in Reading Is 70%, with 80% receiving at least one dose, and 41% of 5-11 year olds receiving their first dose. There have been many calls recently asking where people can find a booster shot, and the department recommends going to the state vaccine finder website: vaxfinder.mass.gov. There were some updates to the Health webpage including the addition of healthy holiday season tips, and updates to the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the need to wear masks. On November 17th, a staff member of the Reading Senior Center reported a positive use. The Center closed and received a deep clean. All other staff tested negative, but it was decided that the center would remain closed until after Thanksgiving. It re -opened this past Monday. For Emergency Preparedness, on November 17th, the Health & Medical Coordinating Coalition (HMCC) Red Flag Alert System sent out a WebEOC drill. Reading successfully completed the drill on time. The rate for Region 3B is 87.5%. On November 26th, the World Health Organization classified a new variant, known as omicron, which was first reported in South Africa. The transmissibility and severity of the variant are not yet clear. The CDC recommends continuing prevention strategies including: masking in public indoor settings, washing hands frequently, physically distancing from others, and getting vaccinated. Mr. Solarin asked if there was something that could be done to help Improve the vaccination rates of the 5-11 year old children. Erin Schaeffer, Economic Development Director, informed him that a bookstore on Main Street welcomes having a vaccine bus park in front of her store and offer vaccines to kids who buy books. Ms. Dunnell stated that she loved the idea of retailers hosting vaccine buses, and suggested using resources created by the Academic Public Health Core. Mr. Sexton suggested distribution at the school, and sending a pamphlet home with the kids for their parents. Ms. Harris stated that she will follow up with the School's Director of Nursing about providing educational Information and plans for additional vaccine clinics at the schools. Public Comment There was no comment from the public. Next Meetina Agenda Items: Final Comments Dr. Lopez stated that at the next meeting in January, MAPC will come back to give the Initial draft of their findings. There will also be information regarding the tobacco violation. As this is the last meeting that Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios is attending, now that the Health Director has been hired, the Board and Mr. Solarin thanked Ms. Delios for all of her support and contributions. On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted 3-0-0 to adjourn at 8:16 pm. Roll call vote: Kevin Sexton -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes. Page 14