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Home My Public Portal AboutBoard of Health -- 2020-08-19 Minutes \\\\\\\\\�\\\11111111t141111!!!llll/lllfii Town of Brewsterr ;,tm. ,- F �C ti°xw �+� �� BREWSTER9MASSACHUSET S 02631 - 1898 8 MAIN STETHealth Depinto artmen t ' t Q ;=4 0f '9� Fh2 s Amy L. von Hone, R. S . , C. H. O . OSx Director v � r %ft PHONE : 508 . 896 . 3701 EXT. 1120 Q K' FAX : 508 . 896. 4538 Sherrie McCullough, R. S . 1C " '� = +� •� brhealth@,brewster- ma. aov Assistant Director t QFC RPORA � ti �\`\ WWWBREWSTER-MA. GOV Tammi Mason alf,t1Igo I1}1t11„ \�D Senior Department Assistant Board of Health Meeting Wednesday August 19, 2020 at 7 :OOPM Remote Participation Meeting Board Members on remotely: Carmen Scherzo, DVM, Chair; Penny Hausser Holeman, MPH, MA, MS, Vice Chair; Annette Graczewski, MT (ASCP); Joe Ford and Jeannie Kampas Others present remotely: Amy von Hone, R. S ., C. H .O ., Health Director Dr. Scherzo stated that anyone listening to the meeting that had a question or comment could email them to healthboardmeeting@brewster- ma . gov 1 . Chairman 's comments Dr. Scherzo stated that Brewster will be holding a flu clinic on October 22, 2020 at Our Lady of the Cape Church . Vaccination against this year' s flu is highly recommended to avoid a co - infection with COVID - 19 . Please save the date . The Seymour Pond Cyanobacteria Advisory has been removed . After the heavy rain this weekend , Breakwater Beach and Little Breakwater Beach have elevated levels of bacteria ( Enterococcus) in the waters and are closed for swimming until testing indicates bacteria levels are safe . The beaches cans still be utilized, just not for swimming . Check the Town website for updates . Town meeting has been scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 10: OOAM outdoors at the baseball field behind the Stony Brook Elementary School , The Select Board has reduced the quorum to 20 instead of 200. Usually about 400 residents attend Town meeting when held indoors . Please save the date and make your voice heard . Tax revenue from legal recreation marijuana sales in Massachusetts passed $ 150 million dollars this week. 2 . Citizen ' forum None. I Dancing Spoons — Food Establishment permit application — 1273 Millstone Road Lisa Whelan, owner was present remotely. She is proposing to put in a prep kitchen for her food truck at 1273 Millstone Road . This kitchen will include a 6 burner gas stove, a triple sink, a mop sink, a prep and hand sink, 2 convection ovens and prep tables . Ms . Hausser Holeman asked where the prep was being done now. Ms. Whelan stated that it was being done in Eastham at the Chocolate Cafe . Mrs . Graczewski asked about the design flow of the building with regards to this new kitchen . Mrs. von Hone stated that the use that is being proposed doesn 't really fit into the Title 5 chart. John O' Reilly has explained in his letter how the flow of this proposal fits into Title 5 requirements. BOH 8/19/20 Minutes Page 2 Dr. Scherzo asked Ms. Whelan if the businesses near her food truck have given permission for her and her employees to use their restrooms. Ms. Whelan stated she had verbal not written permission from 2 businesses . Mrs . von Hone stated that she is not going to be operating her truck in Brewster so that part of the application doesn't come into play right now. Mrs . von Hone stated that Ms. Whelan still needs to hand in her finalized kitchen equipment listing and if she does move forward with a Mobile Food Permit application, she will need a local Hawker & Peddlers license from the Town, a restroom agreement and if she does do catering she will need to add the allergen awareness notice on her menu . Motion : Approve the Food Service Permit application Motion: Joe Ford Second: Annette Graczewski Vote: Penny Hausser Holeman — yes Action : Motion carried Joe Ford — yes Annette Graczewski — yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo - yes 4. COVID - 19 update Mrs. von Hone told the Board that as far as the numbers stand for Brewster, there are a total of 27 residents and a total of 95 staff and patients in long term care facilities (cumulative number) . There have been no new cases over the last 2 weeks . That trend is the same across Barnstable County. The numbers have been dropping for a few weeks . The long term care facilities are still testing on a weekly basis so a few cases may pop up, but most of the positive cases are asymptomatic. As of right now there are no active cases. Mrs . von Hone stated that included in the Board ' s packets was a copy of Governor Baker' s COVID - 19 Order #45, which explains and puts into place the travel advisory. As of August 1 , 2020, anyone traveling into Massachusetts from a high risk state (low risk states are : CT, ME, NH , VT, NY & NJ ) must fill out a travel advisory form on the DPH website. When they enter Massachusetts, they either have to quarantine for 14 days or have proof of a negative COVID - 19 test within 72 hours of their arrival . Also included in the packet was a copy of Governor Baker's COVID - 19 Order #46, which states that because of the increase in positive COVID - 19 cases across Massachusetts in general, the Governor has stepped back our phase III reopening and is now allowing 50 people in an outdoor setting or venue . The indoor maximum is 25 people or 8 people per 1000sf depending on the size of the venue . The other part that goes along with this is that these restrictions are now for public and private settings and can be enforced by the local BOH and State and local Police. Face coverings are now mandated at gatherings whether they are indoor or outdoor. If a group has more than 10 family members at a gathering then face covering are required . The ABCC is involved with the latest order also . Bars are still not allowed to be open . Any bars that are open, must provide food as their primary offering . All patrons must be seated, tables must be 6 feet apart and a maximum of 6 people per table is allowed . Mrs . von Hone also included in the packet, a basic explanation about the COVID - 19 testing from the FDA. It explains the different types of tests that are offered . There are 3 tests available. The PCR Molecular, which tests for the virus itself (this is the test that is accepted by DPH as the test that should be used to confirm a positive case) . There is an Antigen test which looks for the protein that is found in COVID- 19 . This isn 't as reliable as the PCR test, DPH recommends a PCR test if the Antigen test is positive . This test has become more popular because it can be done as a rapid response test. The third test is an Antibody test. These are determined by a serum or blood test. This is also a rapid response test. The problem with this one is that it is not accepted by DPH as a valid result because it won't confirm if a person is actively infectious with COVID- 19 . Lastly, included in the packet was a list of facilities on Cape Cod that provide testing . This is also on the Town 's website. { I a I { i i I i i i BOH 8/19/2020 Minutes Page 3 Dr. Scherzo spoke about the saliva direct test which has a 95 % agreement with the molecular PCR test. It is supposed to be a lot less expensive and simpler to do . It might be something we should look forward to as another test that will help identify people who are contagious. Dr. Scherzo stated that he had read something from Peter Lombardi, Town Administrator about a report from VT that stated people are most infectious when they first show symptoms and shortly thereafter and by the time you have antibodies you are a lot less infectious. The prime time to spread COVID- 19 is in the early stages . Mrs . von Hone gave the Board an update on the school reopening . She stated that the start date would be September 16, 2020 . The schools final plans for the reopening were due at the Department of Early and Secondary Education at the State level last week for review. Ultimately, the individual School Committees will be the ones that approve the final plans. As of right now the majority of parents of Pre - K through grade 8 students have chosen to have their children attend school in person . Grades 9 - 12 will do a hybrid version, which is 2 days in person and 3 days remote learning . The younger children will be social distancing and will try to maintain the 6' separation but will be allowed to go down to 3 ' if necessary. Part of the reasoning for that is because studies have shown that the younger age group are not as conducive to contracting COVID - 19 . Masks will be required with frequent breaks . Mrs. von Hone stated that the local Health Directors have been meeting with the school nurses to discuss what protocols will be in place if there is a positive student or staff member. DPH sent out a press release today that states all students must be vaccinated for influenza by December 31 , 2020 . Mrs. Kampas asked about COVID - 19 testing at the schools . Mrs. von Hone stated that is was discussed at the Health Agents meeting this morning and the intent is to have something set up ahead of time. 5 . Review and approve minutes from 5/6/20, 5/20/20 (2) , 6/3/20, 6/ 17/20, 7/ 1 /20, 7/ 15/20 and 8/5/20 meetings Motion: Approve minutes from 5/6/20 Motion : Joe Ford Second : Annette Graczewski vote: Penny Hausser Holeman — yes Action : Motion carried Annette Graczewski — yes Joe Ford — yes Jeannie Kampas — abstain Carmen Scherzo — yes Ms . Hausser Holeman questioned a few statements in the minutes of 5/20/20 . The Board asked that Mrs . Mason review the tape and make a correction if needed . Motion : Approve minutes from 5/20/20 as corrected Motion : Joe Ford Second: Annette Graczewski Vote: Penny Hausser Holeman — yes Action : Motion carried Annette Graczewski — yes Joe Ford — yes Jeannie Kampas — abstain Carmen Scherzo — yes Ms . Hausser Holeman questioned a few items in the minutes of 6/3/2020 . Motion: Approve minutes from 6/3/20 as corrected Motion: Annette Graczewski Second: Penny Hausser Holeman Vote: Penny Hausser Holeman — yes Action : Motion carried Joe Ford — yes Annette Graczewski —yes Jeannie Kampas — abstain Carmen Scherzo —yes I I l BOH 8/9/2020 Minutes Page 4 Motion : Approve minutes from 6/17/2020 Motion : Annette Graczewski Second : Penny Hausser Holeman Vote: Penny Hausser Holeman —yes Action : Motion carried Joe Ford — yes Annette Graczewski —yes Jeannie Kampas — abstain Carmen Scherzo — yes There are few corrections made to the 7/ 1 /20 minutes Motion : Approve minutes from 7/ 1 /20 as corrected Motion : Annette Graczewski Second: Joe Ford Vote: Penny Hausser Holeman — yes Action : Motion carried Joe Ford — yes Annette Graczewski —yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo — yes Motion : Approve minutes from 7/ 15/20 Motion : Joe Ford Second: Annette Graczewski Vote: Penny Hausser Holeman — yes Action : Motion carried Joe Ford — yes Annette Graczewski —yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo -yes i Motion : Approve minutes from 8/5/20 Motion : Annette Graczewski Second : Penny Hausser Holeman — yes Vote: Penny Hausser Holeman —yes Action : Motion carried Joe Ford — abstain Annette Graczewski —yes Jeanne Kampas — yes I Carmen Scherzo -yes i 6. Topics the Chair did not anticipate Mrs. Graczewski thanked Mrs . von Hone for her first year on the job . 1 r Informational items were noted . i Meeting adjourned at 8:05PM I i i i i i i i I i i I