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Town COVID-19 Status Updates
Town of Sandwich COVID-19 Current Status
Town of Sandwich, MA- Town of Sandwich convened numerous meeting of the COVID 19 Command Team to discuss operations. The Command Team is comprised of the Fire Chief, Police Chief, Emergency Management Director, Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, School Superintendent, Director of Health and Public Health Nurse. See below for Recent News & Regional Coronavirus Info.
January 2021
Town of Sandwich, MA- Thank you to everyone in our community for patience, calm and continued commitment to social distancing.
Town of Sandwich Identified as a Provider of COVID-19 Vaccines
Last week the CDC through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) approved the provider agreement which allows Sandwich to patriciate in the CDC COVID -19 Vaccination Program. The agreement was reviewed and submitted through Public Health Nurse, Joanne Geake, and Town Physician, Dr. Ryan Bemis, MD allowing the Town to receive refrigerated or frozen vaccines. We do not have any further definitive information about the brand or quantity of vaccine the Town will receive or how we will be advised to distribute vaccines. For more information about the CDC Vaccination Recommendations please follow this link. We are incredibly encouraged that the CDC has identified our small community for early distribution and we are working hard to prepare our distribution strategy which is likely to be very similar to our flu clinics held this fall though our strategy will depend on the number of vaccines we receive and guidance received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts DPH and the CDC. Our Public Health Nurse is very busy following our growing number of COVID-19 cases and related contacts and we ask that you continue to check the Town’s COVID-19 page for more information and do not call for an appointment until you are advised.
2020 Influenza Prevention: Over the age of 65 Recommendations
If you are over the age of 65 either the high dose vaccine (Fluzone) and Flublok are highly effective and strongly recommended. High dose supplies are limited.
2020 Influenza Prevention is critically important for the 2020/2021 Influenza seasons. You may have read about limited supplies of the High Dose Flu vaccine this year. Director of Public Health, Dave Mason and Public Health Nurse, Joanne Geake, advise that this is not your only option. We have observed patients declining a vaccination if they cannot receive the high dose vaccine manufactured for patients over the age of 65. We encourage anyone over 18 to alternatively take the highly effective Flublok vaccine. Do not wait for high dose vaccine, it may be too late.
Town of Sandwich COVID-19 PSA Videos
The Town of Sandwich COVID-19 Command Team and Town Departments have produced a number of informational Public Service Announcement Videos (PSAs) to assist in conveying the status of the Town and other health information. Please see the most recent PSA below and visit our Sandwich COVID-19 PSA Videos Page to view all PSAs.
Town Modified Operations Update:
On Tuesday May 26, 2020 the Town of Sandwich began a modified opening of Town Departments. The Town Hall, Town Hall Annex, Public Works Administration and Jan Sebastian Drive Offices offer limited public service. Public Safety buildings will be open for limited public service. All other Town Buildings remain closed to the public. Please make every effort to conduct your business electronically and check our electronic or mail service options prior to considering in person service. Visit our Sandwich Online Town Services page for options. Your continued support and patience is sincerely appreciated.
PSA #9 (Second Wave) – With sixty-two (62) positive cases reported in less than one (1) week the Town of Sandwich remains in the Yellow.
Director of Public Health, David Mason and Chief John Burke talk with Deputy Director of Emergency Preparedness, Chip Reilly about winter storm and emergency preparedness with a special focus on our vulnerable populations. We are finding more seasonal residents in Sandwich this winter year due to travel limitations and preference for our more rural environment and we encourage these residents to be prepared for the vagary of our Cape Cod climate. Chief Burke also reports on the Town’s preparation as a Phase 1 provider or emergency responder vaccinations early next week. Chief Burke cautions that this program is scheduled for Upper Cape municipal emergency response personnel only and will be tightly secured for safety. For more information about the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution plan please check here. Click here to watch PSA #9 on YouTube.