Covid-19: Seeking Further Community Input
Covid-19: Seeking Further Community Input
Please Respond by 10 am, Wednesday, February 2
The Adams Board of Health continues to seek community input regarding the current, alarming surge of Covid-19. Our goal remains the same: to investigate what measures the board might take to make Adams safer. Since the most readily available tools against infection and spread are vaccination and masking, we would appreciate suggestions for improving our vaccination rate and indoor mask wearing in publicly accessible venues.
Our Board of Health discussion on this topic on January 12 was very productive. We heard from 2 public health experts, with the message remaining the same: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask in public. Of particular note, the experts stressed that tight-fitting, non-cloth masks (N95 or KN95) provide much better protection against infection than cloth masks for both wearers and those around them. Although the Omicron variant of Covid-19 appears to cause less serious illness than previous variants, it is still hospitalizing & killing unvaccinated individuals as well as, to a lesser extent, elderly vaccinated individuals.
Once again, we seek your written comments. We would particularly like to hear from business owners regarding their concerns about and/or strategies for safeguarding themselves, their employees, and their patrons. All comments received will be summarized for the Covid Report we plan to present at the Board of Health meeting scheduled for 4 pm on Wednesday, February 2. Please send letters to the Health Department at Adams Town Hall, 8 Park Street, Adams, MA 01220, or email the Board Chair (drhoads@town.adams.ma.us) by 10 am that morning.
We will hold a public-comment period during our Covid discussion on February 2. Depending on the number of residents wishing to talk, though, we may have to impose time limits. Therefore, the best way to ensure that you will be reaching us with the full range of your concerns and recommendations is to do so in writing, before the meeting.
We do not intend to adopt any regulations at the February 2 meeting. However, should we decide on February 2 that a regulation is warranted, we will schedule a Public Hearing for the subsequent meeting.
We look forward to hearing from you.
David B. Rhoads, Ph.D., Chair