By Beth David, Editor
An Acushnet town employee who works in the Parting Ways Building tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, prompting the town to shut down the building for the weekend. The town was notified on Friday, 12/4, and closed the building for cleaning and disinfecting. The building reopened on Monday. The town had already closed all lobby hours due to the virus, so they are “confident that there was no direct contact with the public,” reads a statement on the town’s website.
“The Town of Acushnet has prided itself on being proactive with the COVID-19 pandemic,” reads the statement. “We have consistently provided free testing clinics to our residents and staff, and have put many precautionary measures in place inside our buildings to prevent the spread as much as possible. However, this proves that we are not completely immune. As cases continue to grow in Acushnet, we would like to use this opportunity to remind all residents to continue to practice social distancing, mask wearing and handwashing/sanitization to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
On Saturday, Fire Chief Kevin Gallagher posted a statement on the department’s Facebook page noting that the town’s positive case numbers are going up.
Statement from Achusnet Fire Chief Kevin Gallagher
Saturday, December 5, 2020:
“This past Wednesday we held a Covid 19 testing clinic in the parking lot of the town schools. A total of 356 individuals were tested. With 98% of the test results posted (as of 10:00 a.m. Saturday) we can report that 23 people tested positive. That is a positive percentage rate of 6.46%.
“We were warned that our numbers would increase after the Thanksgiving holiday. They did. We tested 530 individuals with the rapid test the day before Thanksgiving with 15 cases identified for a positive percentage of 2.8%.
“You won’t read about these new numbers until next Thursday, the day the state releases their weekly report. I spoke with the Acushnet Health Agent early this morning and we agreed to share this information to alert you as soon as possible that the fall surge is here, in force! We have to triple down on our personal protection practices (wear a mask, stay inside whenever possible, smartly distance and wash your hands often) to slow this spread.
“This was a rough week in Acushnet. Next week may be just as rough as the holiday exposures continue to mount. Too many Acushnet residents received a call from me yesterday and today that they didn’t want to get and I didn’t want to make.
“We need to simply focus on slowing the spread. Any actions you take toward this goal will be appreciated by your entire community.
“Thanks for your consideration.”
The town of Acushnet holds testing events often, but they aren ot on a set schedule. So find out when they are testing the public, visit the Acushet Fire & EMS Department’s Facebook page, or contact the fire department, 508-998-0250, to find out when they are testing next.
Free daily testing for all Mass. residents is available at the Whale’s Tooth Parking Lot, 532 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford, every day (no appointment necessary), 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; call 401-654-4679 with questions; for other sites in NB, visit https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/health-department/covid-19-resources-2/
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