Town of Easton Urges Residents to Remain Vigilant Against Spread of COVID-19

Town to Host Flu Shot Clinics For Residents

EASTON — Emergency Management Director Kevin Partridge, Director of Health and Community Services Kristin Kennedy and Town Administrator Connor Read urge residents to continue to follow COVID-19 prevention guidance to prevent the spread of the disease.

At this time, the town is designated as a “Green”, low risk community by the Commonwealth. According to data shared by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) on Wednesday, there have been 14 confirmed positive cases of the virus in Easton in the month of October. To date, the Town of Easton has had 370 positive cases of COVID-19.

“While our town is currently a lower risk community, we would still like to stress the importance of taking the necessary safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Chief Partridge said. “Any residents partaking in Halloween or fall activities should remain vigilant and continue to wear their masks and practice social distancing. We also encourage our residents to participate in our upcoming flu clinics to receive a flu shot.”

Flu Clinics

The Town of Easton has arranged for CVS to provide flu clinics at Frothingham Hall, 15 Barrows St., for residents age three years and older.

The town has scheduled two clinics for Easton residents with school-aged children who are required to obtain a seasonal flu vaccine prior to Jan. 1, 2021.

• Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 1-5 p.m.Click here to register
• Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 1-5 p.m. Click here to register

Additionally, the town has scheduled a clinic for any other Easton resident, three years of age and older, that wishes to receive a flu vaccine.

• Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 1-5 p.m.Click here to register

At the clinics, all residents are required to wear face coverings and they should wear short sleeves to make receiving the shot easier and faster.

The clinic is offered at no cost to Easton residents. Town officials ask that you bring your insurance information with you if you are insured.

For further information about the upcoming flu clinics, click here.

Halloween & COVID-19 Safety

Residents are asked to take the following precautions outline by the DPH and Town of Easton if they choose to trick-or-treat this year:

• Wear a face mask or face covering. For more information on face masks and face coverings, please see the state’s Mask Up MA webpage.
• Observe good hand hygiene, including hand washing and use of alcohol-based sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol. Carry hand sanitizer and use it often, especially after coming into contact with frequently touched surfaces and before eating candy.
• Refrain from touching your face.
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet of physical distance from all other participants who are not members of the same household.
• Instead of traditional trick or treating, opt for one-way trick-or-treating, with treats placed outside of the home for trick-or-treaters as a “grab and go” while keeping distance from others.

Stay home and refrain from Halloween activities, including handing out Halloween treats, if you feel unwell, you have tested positive for COVID-19, you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or you have traveled to or from a state that is not classified as lower risk within the last 14 days. For more information on lower risk states, please see the state’s COVID-19 Travel Order webpage. 

“The Town is issuing this guidance to help educate families on the risks of certain activities so they can make appropriate health decisions and take the right precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19,” Easton Board of Health Chair Lynne LeBlanc said. “Traditional trick-or-treating is considered a high risk activity by the CDC, but there are some lower risk activities that are festive which families can still enjoy.”

The following low-risk alternative Halloween activities are outlined by the CDC. 

Lower risk alternatives include:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them, or at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your home
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

General COVID-19 Safety & Prevention

The Town of Easton continues to share the following COVID-19 prevention tips from the DPH:

• Remember that an infected individual can spread COVID-19 before they have symptoms, which is why social distancing, maintaining a minimum of 6 feet from others, is critical. 
• Those who must go out are urged to:
  • Avoid gathering in groups
  • Maintain 6 feet from people outside your household
  • Do not shake hands or hug
  • Wash your hands often
• Those who are at a high risk for COVID-19, including those over the age of 65 and with underlying health conditions, are advised to stay home and avoid non-essential tasks and errands
• Wear a mask in indoor and outdoor spaces where social distancing from people outside your household is not possible. This does not apply to those under the age of two and with underlying health conditions. 
• Face coverings should:
  • Cover the nose and mouth
  • Fit snugly and comfortably against the side of the face
  • Be secured with either ties or ear loops
  • Permit breathing without difficulty
  • Be able to be washed and machine dried without damage. Face masks should be washed regularly depending on the amount of use. 

For more information about COVID-19 prevention and symptoms, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here and the DPH website here.

Stay Informed

The Town encourages everyone to stay informed regarding COVID-19. The following websites are recommended for the most updated information:

• Easton Department of Health and Community Services COVID-19 FAQ: Click here
• Town of Easton Official Website: www.easton.ma.us 
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health: www.mass.gov/covid-19 
• Massachusetts 2-1-1 general COVID-19 information: Click here or dial 2-1-1 (24/7)
• United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov

Residents can find information regarding the upcoming election and voting, municipal services and request limited services appointments here.

###