Veterans Day November 11, 2020 Inter-agency COVID-19 Local Boards of Health Webinar November 10, 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
UPDATE COVID-19 Order No. 56 Department Updated Metrics of Public PrepMod Update Health (DPH) -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.
UPDATE Updates Regarding Department Recent Orders of Labor Standards Michael Flanagan (DLS)
Order 55 – Face Coverings effective 11/6/2020 • 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. DLS 11/10/2020
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 other 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. • • Restaurants (special rules) • Outdoor Recreational Experiences and Educational Activities • Arcade and Indoor/Outdoor Recreation • Casino, Horse Racing tracks, and Simulcast Facilities • Indoor/Outdoor Events • Driving and Flight Schools • Theaters, Performance Venues, Movie Theaters (Indoor and Outdoor) • Zoos, Botanical Gardens, Wildlife Reserves, and Nature Centers • Drive Ins • Close Contact Personal Services • Youth and Amateur Sports; Outdoor Recreation • Fitness Centers and Health Clubs • Golf • Indoor and Outdoor Pools • Recreational Boating and Boating Businesses • Museums/Cultural & Historical Facilities/Guided Tours DLS 11/10/2020
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 • other 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: 2 nd and 3 rd shift stays open 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
Recommend
More recommend
