UPDATE #2 (6:30 p.m.) Easton Officials Provide Important Information About Coronavirus

No Confirmed or Presumptive Cases in Easton

EASTON — The Easton Emergency Management Agency (EEMA) continues to monitor the current situation with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the recommendations coming out of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the state, and seeks to update its residents on any local preparedness efforts and changes.

There are currently 108 confirmed or presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency on March 10.

There are currently no confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Easton.

For the latest information presumptive and confirm positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, please visit the DPH’s COVID-19 website at www.mass.gov/covid19.

At this time, all Easton town offices and school buildings are open this week for regularly scheduled hours. All town buildings and schools continue to be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis.

Local actions are being undertaken in accordance with the latest guidelines from DPH and CDC. The following actions will be implemented in Easton as of today:

• Use of Town buildings by outside groups shall be stopped until further notice. (Use of Easton Public Schools buildings by outside groups will be discontinued on March 15)
• Town employee travel for conferences, seminars and other discretionary gathering are cancelled and restricted.
• Encourage the use of teleconferences for town business as much as possible.
• Cancellation of large gathering of over 250 people is encouraged, and review all planned large meeting and gathering the town has planned.
• Recommend that all gathering by town and outside organizations that serve high-risk populations, cancel gatherings of more than 10 people.

Other potential mitigation activities are being considered based on the daily information that is being received from federal and state officials.

The EEMA Leadership Team continues to meet on a regular basis and will continue to closely monitor regional, state and national developments with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

We encourage you to educate yourself on COVID-19. There is no current vaccine, no herd immunity, nor any effective antivirals. Social distancing is encouraged to avoid exposure, continued hand washing, and cough etiquette will help limit exposure and spread.

The Town of Easton will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available.

As always, if anyone displays symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough or shortness of breath, they should not come to work or school and they are advised to contact their primary care physician or local public health department.

The DPH recommends that residents continue with good hygiene practices including:

• Practice good hand hygiene! Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds including under your fingernails. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol content) can be used when soap and water are not available.
• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing with a tissue and discard it immediately. Cough into the sleeve over your elbow instead of your hand. Wash your hands often when coughing and sneezing.
• Stay away from people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
• Consider not attending social gatherings with large groups, particularly if you are over the age of 60, have underlying health conditions, a weakened immune system or are pregnant.

For more information, visit the DPH website by clicking here and the CDC’s website by clicking here.

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