Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken Provides COVID-19 Update Following Uptick in Positive Cases

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken wishes to provide residents with an update regarding the City’s COVID-19 situation after an uptick in positive cases over the past week.

As of this afternoon, the status of positive COVID-19 cases in the City of Gloucester were as follows: 24 active cases; 368 overall cases (321 confirmed and 47 probable); 318 recovered; and 26 COVID-19 related deaths. Last week, the City had 9 active positive cases.

The newly positive cases are largely tied to large gatherings/social events in the community.

City officials are working proactively with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to get a two-day community testing site set up in Gloucester later this week. As soon as details are available residents will be notified.

As of last week, the City was considered to be a Green “low risk” community with a 2.5 Average Daily Incidence Rate Per 100,000 People. However, with the increase in positive cases, that designation is likely to change when the new data is released by the state on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

“While certainly disappointing, the increase in active cases is not entirely unexpected based on public health forecasts for the fall and winter seasons,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “It should serve as a very important reminder that we all must remain vigilant and continue taking steps to mitigate the spread of the virus in order to protect each other and our friends and loved ones.”

The City’s contact tracing team has been working hard to identify close contacts, which is a crucial step in how to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. City officials have also been proactive by working with the Gloucester Health Department, Massachusetts Department of Public Health and local businesses to gather the latest information and encourage testing.

“Together, for months, we made excellent progress in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 in Gloucester,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “I want to thank you for all your help in making that happen. We are working very hard to keep our local economy and schools open. In order to do that we must keep our community transmission low. I also want to personally thank Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders for their continued support and always being a call away when help is needed.”

Residents are urged to continue to practice social distancing, wearing facemasks whenever out in public, practicing proper hygiene and avoiding gathering in large groups.

Prevention Tips

The City of Gloucester would like to share the following tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect yourself and others from contracting COVID-19:

• Wash your hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap and water. Hand washing is especially important after visiting a public place, before eating or preparing food, before touching your face, after using the restroom, handling your cloth face covering, after changing a diaper, after caring for someone sick, after touching animals or pets and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• When soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• When someone in your household is sick, try to avoid close contact and maintain six feet of distance from that person.
• Maintain six feet of distance from people who don’t live in your household when in public. Keep in mind that those without symptoms, including yourself, may still be spreading the virus. It is especially important to maintain distance from people at a higher risk of getting sick.
• Wearing a mask will protect other people in the event you have COVID-19. Everyone is advised to wear a cloth face covering in public and around those who don’t live in your household, especially when social distancing is difficult.
• Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, or use your elbow.
• Used tissues should be thrown in the trash. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after throwing away a tissue.
• Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected daily, including tables, doorknobs, light switches, counter tops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks. If a surface is visibly dirty, be sure to clean it using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfecting.
• Everyone should continue to monitor their health daily, which includes watching for symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, and fever. For additional symptoms that may be indicative of a COVID-19 infection, click here.
  • If you feel ill or are exhibiting symptoms, stay home.
  • If symptoms develop, take your temperature. Wait to do so until 30 minutes after exercising or taking medications that could lower your temperature.
  • Click here for additional guidance from the CDC, should symptoms develop.

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