Inter-agency COVID-19 Local Boards of Health Webinar November 10, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Inter-agency COVID-19 Local Boards of Health Webinar

November 10, 2020

Veterans Day

November 11, 2020

Webinar Agenda

• Welcome and Introductions
• Reminders
• Agency Announcements and Updates
• DPH – Order No. 56, Updated Metrics and PrepMod
• DLS – Updates Regarding Recent Orders
• Presentation: Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) Rapid Rehousing Rental

Assistance

• Questions and Answers

Inter-agency Staff on the Webinar

• Jana Ferguson, Assistant Commissioner, DPH
• Ron O’Connor, Office of Local and Regional Health, DPH
• Dr. Catherine Brown, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, DPH
• Anne Gilligan, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
• Michael Flanagan, Mary Dozois, and Adam Kinney, Department of Labor Standards
• Alvina Brevard, Department of Housing and Community Development
• Cheryl Sbarra, Massachusetts Association of Health Boards

MEDIA AND RECORDING ADVISORY

• This webinar is intended for local boards of
• health. Any media who may have joined

should disconnect.

• Recording is not consented to and not

permitted.

LEGAL ISSUES ON WEBINARS

• DPH contracts with the Massachusetts Association of

Health Boards (MAHB) to provide answers and guidance to health departments and boards of health on a wide range of public health issues including COVID-19.

• MAHB produces documents and provides information on

these webinars for educational purposes only and are not to be construed as legal advice.

• For legal advice, please contact your city or town attorney.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS PROCESS

Please note that we will be unable to take questions by phone. Please use the webinar Q&A function for questions or comments. If you are having technical issues, email Erica Piedade, erica.m.piedade@mass.gov

Inter-Agency Updates

Department

• f Public

Health (DPH)

UPDATE

COVID-19 Order No. 56 Updated Metrics PrepMod Update

• Jana Ferguson
• Dr. Catherine Brown

COVID-19 Order No. 56

Order Revising Provisions for Phase III Re-openings in Municipalities with Reduced Incidence of COVID-19 Infection

• Advancement of Lower Risk Communities to Phase III, Step 2
• Requirement of Continuing Lower Risk Status
• COVID-19 Workplace Safety Rules for Step 2 of Phase III

Updated Metrics for Cities and Towns

Rationale

• Bring our metrics more in line with what other jurisdictions are doing
• Get kids in school

Calculation

• Average daily incidence calculation remains the same
• % positivity – requires information about total tests

Risk map and table

• Map is not being produced any more
• Will discuss including color in the % positivity column

PrepMod

• DPH has been in the process of procuring and customizing PrepMod for use by local

health departments (LHDs) and other public immunization providers this flu

• season. PrepMod system will not be ready for use by the majority of LHDs this flu

season.

• Challenges:
• Technical set up and customizations have been more complicated than originally anticipated
• Legal contracting and privacy issues that still need to be resolved
• DPH anticipates that PrepMod system to be fully live and operational by early

December in anticipation that it could still be pilot tested by some LHDs this fall.

Department

• f Labor

Standards (DLS)

UPDATE

Updates Regarding Recent Orders

Michael Flanagan

Order 55 – Face Coverings

effective 11/6/2020

DLS 11/10/2020

• Where
• All public locations, even if no one else is closer than 6ft NEW
• Carpool with non-household members NEW
• Public transportation and taxi/ridesharing
• All locations that host indoor/outdoor events or performances NEW in the order
• Note that any sector guidance that permits the removal of a face covering under certain circumstances still applies (e.g.

removing it at a restaurant while eating; removing it at a gym during strenuous fitness activity with appropriate distancing)

• Proof of medical exemption
• Employer can require documentation from employees who request an accommodation NEW
• School can require documentation from employees and students NEW
• Business cannot require documentation from customers
• Deny Entry
• A business can deny entry to someone who refuses to wear a face mask over nose and mouth for non-medical reasons
• Note: a business may determine that it is necessary for employee safety that customers are not confronted about
• masks. Business still needs signage and distance markings.

Town Committees and Boards

• Face covering is required by all in attendance, including committee members, and

even if persons are more than 6 feet apart.

• Audibility: Face covering may briefly be pulled down by a committee member who is

speaking, and audience has indicated difficulty understanding them. The face covering must be replaced immediately after the person has completed speaking. Barriers are recommended.

• Distancing is required. All persons in attendance must be at least 6 feet apart
• Occupancy:
• No more than 25 persons for Board and Committee meetings (Indoor Event Standard)
• Occupancy counts in all cases must include all attendees, but may exclude event staff or
• ther workers.
• Must be concluded and everyone dispersed by 9:30m.
• NOT APPLICABLE TO TOWN MEETING OR LEGISLATIVE BODY

DLS 11/10/2020

Order 53 – Mandatory Closing Period

effective 11/6/2020

MANDATORY closing period for certain businesses

• Close premises to public between 9:30pm-5am. Public must disperse by 9:30pm.
• May keep business open for employees only as long as customers and the public are not admitted.

DLS 11/10/2020

• Restaurants (special rules)
• Arcade and Indoor/Outdoor Recreation
• Indoor/Outdoor Events
• Theaters, Performance Venues, Movie Theaters (Indoor

and Outdoor)

• Drive Ins
• Youth and Amateur Sports; Outdoor Recreation
• Golf
• Recreational Boating and Boating Businesses
• Outdoor Recreational Experiences and Educational

Activities

• Casino, Horse Racing tracks, and Simulcast Facilities
• Driving and Flight Schools
• Zoos, Botanical Gardens, Wildlife Reserves, and Nature

Centers

• Close Contact Personal Services
• Fitness Centers and Health Clubs
• Indoor and Outdoor Pools
• Museums/Cultural & Historical Facilities/Guided Tours

Retail Exception

• The Mandatory Closing Period DOES NOT APPLY to Retail
• The term “Essential Business” is not used anymore.
• The retail does not need to be a prior “Essential Business”
• They can sell anything to in-person customer (food, gas, clothes, furniture,

hardware, candles, candy, etc.) except for Alcohol or Cannabis.

DLS 11/10/2020

Religious Services and Activities

• Religious Services may occur during mandatory closing period.
• Gatherings: Religious support group meetings, religious study groups and
• ther related religious gatherings are allowed after 9:30pm, as long as they

qualify as a “religious service.” These meetings are limited to 25 people.

• Church conferences, fundraisers, private functions, wedding parties or wakes

after the ceremony, scout groups, or community groups that use or rent the premises are required to follow the Indoor/Outdoor Event Standard. These events are limited to 25 person gathering limit indoors, or 10 persons per 1000

• SF. These events must end by 9:30pm.

DLS 11/10/2020

Employees: 2nd and 3rd shift stays

• pen

The following examples are not covered by Mandatory Closing Order:

• Manufacturing
• Office
• Construction
• Cleaning, sanitation and housekeeping services
• Masspike reststops. But restaurants are take-out only after 9:30pm
• Transportation: public transit, taxi, rideshare
• Warehouse, such as Amazon
• Employees conducting work functions in the sectors that are required to close at 9:30pm as long as customers

are not allowed in-person into the premises

• The Stay at Home Advisory exempts people who need to go to/from work between the hours of 10pm and 5am

DLS 11/10/2020

Restaurants

Mandatory Closing Period Special Rules:

• Food and beverages cannot be served after 9:30pm, except takeout.
• In-person dining is not allowed between 9:30pm to 5am, indoor or outdoor.
• Patrons may not be admitted after 9:30, except for take-out.
• Patrons who are still present at 9:30pm may remain to finish any food and beverages they have ordered and been served prior to

9:30pm. They may not order any additional food or beverage after 9:30 and must leave no later than 10pm.

• Events, performances, and other activities must all be concluded and participants must disperse by 9:30pm.
• No restaurant may sell or provide alcohol of any kind during mandatory closing.
• Restaurants may permit employees to stay on premises during the mandatory closing period.

Restaurants Include:

• Restaurants, social clubs, college cafeteria, food courts (e.g. at malls) must close any seating areas
• Rest stops and drive through must close any seating areas, but can offer take-out food sales

DLS 11/10/2020

Alcohol or Cannabis Sales

Alcohol and Cannabis sales are not permitted from 9:30pm-5am.

• This is NOT a ban on all alcohol in the state. It’s a reduction of hours.
• Restaurant or retail does not have to close, just has to stop alcohol and cannabis sales.
• Sales are permitted as usual before 9:30pm under a license
• “Take-out” alcohol or cannabis is not allowed after 9:30pm.
• Delivery of alcohol is not allowed after 9:30pm.
• Medical marijuana sales may continue past 9:30pm

DLS 11/10/2020

Order No. 54 - Gatherings

DLS Interpretation 10/30/2020

Status of Municipality Event Venue Step 1 of Phase 3 Step 2 of Phase 3 Indoor Gatherings at Private Residences 10 persons 10 persons Indoor Gatherings at Event Venues and in Public Settings 25 persons 25 persons Outdoor Gatherings at Private Residences 25 persons 25 persons Outdoor Gatherings at Event Venues and in Public Settings 50 persons 100 persons

Order No. 54 - Gatherings

Members of same household, when assembled together with no other non-household members present, do not constitute a gathering and are not subject to the capacity limit. Workers and staff present to provide services to participants shall not count towards the capacity limits in the Gathering Order.

DLS 11/10/2020

House Rental Parties

• Indoor Gathering at a private residence, hotel room or Air BnB rental is limited to a maximum of 10 people.1
• In addition, all participants must maintain at least 6 feet distance from every other participant, except where the participants

are members of the same household. The gathering violates Order 54 if it is not reasonably possible for all participants to maintain distancing.2

• Rental of lodging is not restricted to persons from the same household.3
• Operators of unstaffed individual lodging units are required to comply with hygiene standards of the “Operators of Lodging”

standard.3

DLS 11/10/2020

Order 54- Gatherings

Indoor Max of 25 persons does not apply to any sector with its own capacity limit, including the following.1 Use 50% or 10 persons per 1000 SF.

• Manufacturing
• Office
• Movie Theater, Performance Venue
• Warehouse, such as Amazon
• Place of Worship
• Restaurant seating (but an event held at restaurant is limited to 25)
• Indoor recreation (bowling, arcade, darts, etc)

Note 1: Order 54 §1

DLS 11/10/2020

Contact Tracing – Businesses must comply with LBOH instructions

If an event host or event venue is notified that an event attendee or event worker has tested positive for COVID-19, the event host or event venue must immediately notify the Local Board of Health in the city or town where the event took place. Hosts and event venues must assist the Department of Public Health and Local Boards of Health with contact tracing and case investigations. The term “Essential Business” does not apply anymore. The Sector Specific Standards were developed to provide COVID safety protocols for all workers. A business cannot claim that their employee is an essential worker and does not need to quarantine. A business cannot claim that “close contacts” are too essential for quarantine.

DLS 11/10/2020

Other Updates

Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) Rapid Rehousing Rental

Assistance

Alvina Brevard, Acting Associate Director DHCD/Division of Housing Stabilization

Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) Rapid Rehousing Rental Assistance

Rental Assistance Funding Sources

• Residential Assistance for Family in Transition (RAFT)
• Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA)
• Strategic Prevention Initiative (SPI)
• Massachusetts Emergency Transitional Assistance Reserve

(METAR)

• HomeBASE

Where to get help

• EDI Public Information Campaign

Materials: https://www.mass.gov/lists/eviction-diversion-initiative-public- information-campaign-materials#additional-resources-

• Informational flyers translated into seven (7) languages.
• Social Media content and samples translated into seven (7) languages.
• An information video in English and Spanish.
• Additional FAQ documents and information for residents regarding a Notice to Quit.

EDI Community Information Campaign

• Legal Resource Finder: http://www.masslrf.org/
• Serving: All Massachusetts residents, all incomes. Legal Resource Finder search results will

give you contact information for legal aid programs, nonprofits, government agencies and court programs that may be able to help you with your legal issue for free or at a low cost. It will also give you links to legal information and self-help materials.

• Regional Administering Agencies (RAA): To find the RAA that serves your community
• https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/raa.aspx
• Massachusetts 211

Website: https://mass211.org/about/

Isolation & Recovery

• Individuals can access Isolation & Recovery sites by

calling 617-367-5150 between the hours of 7am and 7pm.

• Transportation is provided free of charge, and covers

transportation to the nearest site and back to the individuals home community.

• MEMA is exploring additional sites across the state where demand

presents.

Shelter Capacity & Social Distancing

• DHCD is working closely with MEMA, municipalities, and shelter

providers to stand up additional shelter regionally.

• Daily calls with the Command Center to leverage state government

leadership with increasing shelter capacity in communities.

Q & A's

Q: Will there be testing available at shelter sites? A: The state does not provide on-site testing at shelter sites, though some local boards of health do provide on- site testing. Q: How do LPH/LBOH access services for homeless individuals and families or if they have urgent questions? A: 211 is currently the best resource for general questions about housing and homelessness, and can help connect callers with the appropriate resources.

• Families experiencing homelessness, refer directly to DHCD for Emergency Shelter intake line at (866)-584-

0653.

Question submitted by e-mail before the webinar

Please note that we select questions that are of general interest and for which we have a response today. Please send questions in advance of the webinar to

Mike Coughlin at michael.j.coughlin@mass.gov

Q&A.1

Questions Submitted Before the Webinar

“Our school staff is asking about the new Active Cluster by Exposure report in the weekly public health report (page 38). It lists 18 School clusters. Staff are concerned. Was this all in school transmission? Was it just among staff? Were students involved? What district, etc.?”

Next Webinar Friday, November 13th at 9:00 a.m.

Please send questions in advance to

Mike Coughlin at michael.j.coughlin@mass.gov

Thank You!

We welcome your feedback on the webinar format and suggestions for future topics.

Next Webinar: Friday, November 13th, 3:00 p.m.