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Posted on: March 3, 2020

Board of Health Local Updates on Coronavirus

October 29, 2020, Update:

The Town of Mansfield continues its community update on our website with our up to date information and important tips for the public as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more complete information, please see the town coronavirus webpage.

As of today, please see the below chart that represents our communities COVID-19 relates cases:

*Mansfield Covid-19 Workflow*	#

Positive COVID-19 under isolation	17	(updated 10/29 08:00)
Positive Cases recovered	238

Total tested positive since beginning:	270

Mansfield Community Designation Level	Red	Red-higher risk Yellow- moderate risk Green- lower risk

Covid-19 Related Deaths	15	(updated 10/28 08:00) Last Covid death in Mansfield 10/06/20

Mansfield Risk Designation: Red

Every Thursday, the DPH releases a Community-Level Data Map which shows each Massachusetts city or town designated as a higher risk (red), moderate risk (yellow), or lower risk community(green or grey). Each risk level is based on the average daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, as indicated in the Weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report. Within Mansfield, based on our population, when there are 26 or more cases within a 2 week period, Mansfield designated as a higher risk “red” community.

During this most recent data collection time from October 11^th to October 24^th, a total of 32 residents tested positive. Looking at the data, there is no single point of transmission and no large outbreaks.

The town continues to remain in Step 2 of Phase 3. Step 2 allows the following:

Indoor performance venues are permitted to open with 50% capacity with a maximum of 250 people.
Outdoor performance venue capacity increase to 50% with a max of 250 people.
For arcades and indoor and outdoor recreation businesses, additional Step II activities like trampolines, obstacle courses, roller rinks and laser tag are also permitted to open and capacity will increase to 50%.
Fitting rooms are permitted to open in all types of retail stores.
Gyms, museums, libraries and driving and flight schools are also permitted to increase their capacity to 50%
In restaurants, the size of a party seated at a table cannot exceed 10 people and seating is allowed at the bar with restrictions.
The limit for indoor gatherings remains at a maximum of 25 people for all communities.
Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards will remain at a maximum of 50 people for all communities.
Outdoor gatherings at event venues and in public settings will have a limit of 100 people

A town reverts back to Step 1 of Phase 3 after being designated higher risk for 3 weeks in a row.

For information about the schools and COVID, please see their School Health and COIVD Information webpage.

Best Practices to stop the spread of COVID-19

Because there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person to person, including between people who are physically near each other (within about 6 feet). People who are infected but do not show symptoms can also spread the virus to others.

Mansfield residents need to avoid COVID fatigue and stay diligent in protecting ourselves and our community. This includes:

Wash your hands often
Avoid close contact
Minimize social interactions with people outside of your household
Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others
Cover coughs and sneezes
Clean and disinfect
Monitor Your Health Daily

There are many websites with an abundance of information:

Getting tested

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild, please contact your healthcare provider and a test site near you to schedule a test. You can also check your symptoms online.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and may include:

Fever, chills or shaking chills
Signs of a lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, lowered oxygen saturation)
Fatigue, sore throat, headache, body aches/myalgia, or new loss of sense of taste or smell
Other less common symptoms can include gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), rash, and inflammatory conditions such as “COVID toes”.
In elderly, chronically ill, or debilitated individuals such as residents of a long-term care facility, symptoms of COVID-19 may be subtle such as alterations in mental status or in blood glucose control

More information about testing can be found on the COVID-19 Testing webpage.

Close Contacts

If you have been in close contact with a COVID positive person, please get tested right away. You are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person if:

you were within 6 feet of them, for at least 10-15 minutes, while they were symptomatic or within the 48 hours before symptom onset
you were within 6 feet for at least 10-15 minutes of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the 48 hours before their test was taken or anytime in the 10 days after the test

No matter the test result, you must quarantine for 14 days.

Testing Positive

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you will be directed to self-isolate by separating yourself from others to keep your germs from spreading.

If you have questions about isolation or quarantine, you can call your Local Board of Health or the Department of Public Health’s On-call Epidemiologists at 617-983-6800.

Contact Tracing

Through contact tracing, local health departments and the state COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative are reaching out to everyone who tested positive and people who have been exposed. Contact tracing is your way to impact the lives of many in our state and beyond and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Community Tracing program focuses on reaching out to people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and the contacts they have been close to, When the MA COVID Team calls, you can do your part by answering the phone and providing helpful information that will help flatten and reduce the curve in Massachusetts.

When called, a MA COVID team member or representative from the Mansfield Health Department will ask you for a list of all of the people you were within six feet of during the two days before you had symptoms. If you don’t have symptoms, you’ll be asked about your activity during the two days before your diagnosis. You’ll also be asked for the phone numbers of anyone you tell us about, so they can be called and cared for.

You are encouraged to let your contacts know about your illness, but your information will not be shared with them. Your contacts will be called and notified they have been exposed so they can get tested, but they will not be told your name.

If you are staying at home during the isolation period, the MA COVID team member or local health department representative will also discuss any needs you may have and may connect you with a care resource coordinator who will help you get the support you need. Throughout your illness, a MA COVID team member or your local health department will check in to monitor your symptoms and needs.

Sign up for Town of Mansfield Alerts

The best way to protect yourself and those around you is to STAY INFORMED. The Town’s website allows you to receive alerts DIRECTLY FROM THE TOWN. See the link below for a helpful guide on how you can RECEIVE TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS as soon as the information is posted to the Town’s website.

https://www.mansfieldma.com/DocumentCenter/View/1830/