April 15, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer
Today the Department of Public Health for Massachusetts released numbers reporting 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases for Hingham. The Town of Hingham is preparing for "a tough two weeks ahead," Town Administrator Tom Mayo reported to the selectmen last night." Estimates are still that we’ll see a caseload peak/surge [of COVID-19-related cases] around April 20 in Massachusetts," he said.
Town officials are aware that this is a challenging time for everyone. "We appreciate all of the steps our residents and businesses are taking to protect themselves and others against COVID-19," Mayo said. "We are not through this yet -- we have to remain vigilant, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts and sacrifices thus far."
There's some good news in the midst of this crisis: The Health Department received a second check for about $10,000 from the Department of Public Health for COVID-19-related expenses that will likely be used for "surge" staffing.
The newly-formed Incident Management team "is working extremely hard to try to flatten the curve," Mayo said. "We are in touch with residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 "to trace close contacts and advise on isolation and quarantine procedures," Mayo said.
Positive cases reported by county
In the meantime, the town continues to follow DPH's recommendation to report positive cases by county.
As of today (April 14), the state reported 2,207 COVID-19 cases in Plymouth county. "We believe that Hingham is experiencing COVID-19 cases proportionally to the other 26 communities in the county," Mayo said. "Keep in mind that the numbers reported by the state are lower than the actual number of cases, as they do not include clinical diagnoses of COVID-19 by medical professionals or people who self-diagnose and stay at home."
The IMT shares the latest information and updates each morning. "The command team meets later in the day to review new developments and to talk through operational decisions," Mayo said.
IMT staff are in regular contact with nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other residences for seniors and vulnerable citizens in town to advise on procedures and protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
"We are also in touch with grocery stores and more than 100 food establishments about social distancing guidelines and new guidance from the state; and with local hospitals about their procedures and current capacity," Mayo said.
PPE equipment available for essential personnel
The IMT team continues to ensure that essential town staff and first responders have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to safely do their jobs, according to Mayo. "We received one shipment of PPE from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency so far and are aware that funeral homes and long-term care facilities in town have received similar supplies from MEMA."
The town continues to receive regular reports from MEMA and the Department of Public Health about new state and federal guidelines.
Domestic violence resources shared
Mayo also shared domestic violence resources. "Unfortunately, there is sometimes an increase in domestic violence during situations like this where people are confined to their homes for extended periods," he explained.
Last week, the state announced expansion of SafeLink, the Commonwealth’s statewide, 24/7, toll-free, confidential domestic violence hotline that now includes resources and support for survivors of sexual assault.
The SafeLink toll-free number is (877) 785-2020. For the hearing-impaired, the SafeLink TTY number is (877) 521-2601. SafeLink is also available through the 211 line.
"If you are experiencing violence within your home or are concerned about a loved one who may be experiencing violence, please call the SafeLink hotline for support and resources," said Mayo. "Anyone in immediate danger should call 911."
Mental health resources available
Mental health resources providing emotional support were also offered. "During this stressful time, it’s important to take to care of your mental health and to help others do the same," Mayo said.
Hingham Health Department’s licensed Social Worker, Cheryl West. Cheryl is another resource to talk things through or just to listen. She can be reached at (781) 804-2370 or by email at westc@hingham-ma.gov.
Additional mental health resources are posted on the COVID-19 link of the town's webpage, hingham-ma.gov, and also on Facebook.
Assistant Town Adminstrator Michelle Monsegur provided an update about the now-closed transfer station scale.
"New England Recycling in Taunton is one option for residents to bring bulky waste/construction materials," she said. Call (508) 822-4345 ahead of time to verify fees and drop-off times.
The Swap Shop remains closed, but the transfer station is open regular hours.
The South Shore Recycling Cooperative website is another resource, offering information about a number of recycling and trash options.
Support for seniors
The town is also caring for its seniors. "With the help of the Senior Center staff and staff from other town departments, approximately 200 individual phone calls are made each week," Monsegur said. "Most seniors receiving the calls are very appreciative of the personal contact and eager to talk. At the end of this week, almost 1,000 total calls will have been made."
The South Shore Elder Services Meals on Wheels program continues to make daily deliveries from the Senior Center.
To help keep seniors active during this time of social distancing, three fitness instructors who normally offer classes at the Senior Center have taken their classes online via Zoom, as well as two discussion groups. "Recordings of some fitness classes were also submitted to Harbor Media for viewing on cable," Monsegur said.
Pre-recorded phone calls are sent out weekly to Hingham seniors, providing resource information and important updates. The next call will feature information about how to get in touch with the library’s tech team for help with technology questions and connecting to digital library resources.
As always, social distancing and other safety measures are recommended for all citizens.