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National Public Health Week | April 5 - 11
April 6, 2021 | LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL - STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES FOR THE TRANSITION AHEAD
A special parent and caregiver presentation on how we can manage anxiety, optimize resilience, and keep our families in balance as COVID-19 restrictions relax, kids go back to school, and we resume some level of normalcy.
Please register for attendance tracking and follow-up material:
Click here for event flyer (PDF)
April 7, 2021 | GET THE FACTS/GET THE VAX: VACCINE HESITANCY & MYTHS
Prominent public health clinicians, both Brookline residents, J.Jacques Carter, MD, physician, Beth Israel/Deaconess and Julia Lee, NP, nurse practitioner, Tufts Medical Center, bring their many years of clinical experience to give you facts and answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Erik von Hahn, MD, Developmental-Behavioral pediatrician, Tufts Medical School: Medical Consultant, Brookline schools, moderates.
Click here for event flyer (PDF)
TAKE ACTION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE CLIMATE
Mothers Out Front welcomes everyone – not just mons– to join our fight for a livable climate. We meet monthly for Zoom Brunch and weekly for drop-in coffees to take action. Join us! Visit us at https://www.mothersoutfront.org/brookline or email: info.ma.brookline@mothersoutfront.org
Climate Action Brookline's campaign to DOUBLE the number of Brookline residents choosing the Town of Brookline’s “100% Clean, Renewable Electricity” is underway. Signing on is a powerful way to fight climate change. Go to climateactionbrookline.org. and switch to Brookline Green Electricity, the town's alternate electricity program.
FRIENDS OF BROOKLINE PUBLIC HEALTH
Public Health in Brookline is much more than a one-week celebration. Support local public health, get involved - join the Friends of Brookline Public Health.
Contact us, we'll send you a membership application.
Email Lynne Karsten: lkarsten@brooklinema.gov
PHASE REOPENING GUIDES
CURRENT STATE: PHASE IV, STEP 1
(effective March 22,2021)
Phase IV, Step 1 and Gathering Changes:
On March 1, Massachusetts loosened capacity restrictions for several industries and advanced to Step 2 of Phase III of the reopening plan. Since then, hospitalizations dropped by 20% and deaths dropped by 24%. The seven day average of new cases in long-term care facilities dropped by 53%. The positive test rate remains below 2% and has been for several weeks now. The seven day average of new cases is also down over this time by 7%.
Effective Monday, March 22, all communities in Massachusetts will move into Step 1 of Phase IV of the state’s reopening plan. This will open a range of previously closed business sectors under tight capacity restrictions that are expected to be adjusted over time if favorable trends in the public health data continue. Effective on the planned advancement to Step 1 of Phase IV, the following large capacity sports and entertainment venues will be permitted to operate at a strict 12% capacity limit after submitting a plan to the Department of Public Health (DPH):
- Indoor and outdoor stadiums
- Arenas
- Ballparks
Also effective on March 22, gathering limits for event venues and in public settings will increase to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards will remain at a maximum of 25 people, with indoor house gatherings remaining at 10 people.
Additionally, dance floors will be permitted at weddings and other events only, and overnight summer camps will be allowed to operate this coming summer. Exhibition and convention halls may also begin to operate, following gatherings limits and event protocols. Other Phase IV sectors must continue to remain closed.
Travel Order:
Effective Monday, March 22, the Massachusetts Travel Order will be replaced with a Travel Advisory.
The new travel advisory will urge all persons entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, are advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival if they have been out of the state for 24 hours or more.
The advisory does not apply to anyone in the following categories:
- Anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after an absence of fewer than 24 hours.
- Travelers who have a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts.
- Workers who enter Massachusetts to perform critical infrastructure functions (as specified by the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) while they are commuting to or from or while at work.
- Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago and who do not have symptoms).
Travelers are additionally encouraged to consult and follow the CDC’s guidelines and requirements for travel.
Source:mass.gov
Phase III Step I Revised Restaurant Notice (PDF)
Town of Brookline Phase 1-4 Business Reopening Packet (PDF)
Town of Brookline Business Reopening Packet for Restaurants (PDF)
Town of Brookline Business Reopening Packet for Restaurants (Step 2) (PDF)
COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION
VACCINE FAQ
MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE TIME OF COVID-19
COMMISSIONER'S ORDER
PRIVATE SCHOOL NOTICE - TOWN OF BROOKLINE
Commissioner's Order: Private School Notice (PDF)
SIGNAGE FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
Mandatory Face Covering Sign for Buildings (PDF)
Mandatory Face Covering Sign for Building - Elevator (PDF)
Q&A: BU CONTACT TRACING SYSTEM EXPLAINED
Read the full article here, regarding the contact tracing protocols that the University has implemented. The article explains how contact tracing works, what it means for classroom time, and what happens when an individual is identified as a close contact.
COVID-19 TESTING SITES
Stop the Spread: Baker-Polito Administration Launches Targeted, Free COVID-19 Testing Sites. ""While these sites are being launched in certain communities, the sites are open to all residents of the Commonwealth. MA residents may visit www.mass.gov/stopthespread to find testing locations & schedule an appointment."
The Stop the Spread program is intended to provide low barrier, free, and easy to access testing to all Massachusetts residents.
- Open to all Massachusetts residents
- Testing is not restricted to residents of the cities where sites are located
- You don’t need to have any symptom(s)
- No cost to you
- Out-of-state residents are not eligible for free testing under the Stop the Spread program
Source: Mass.gov
COVID SAFE PRACTICES CONCERN FORM
You should submit this form if you would like to report possible concerns about non-compliance with the Commonwealth’s travel advisory quarantine, face covering, gathering, or other public health rules. Thank you for taking the time to complete this form.
COVID Safe Practices Concern Form
Source: Mass.gov
HEALTH ALERT: MARIJUANA, VAPING & COVID-19
With Phase 1 of Massachusetts’ reopening of businesses and services, recreational marijuana stores are being allowed to open. This could mean greater access for teens, who may not realize that even occasional marijuana smoking and vaping can compromise lungs and increase susceptibility and complications from COVID. Vaping has been especially problematic during the closure, which has caused an upswing in black market cartridges, which can be especially dangerous due to unregulated chemicals. At least one Brookline teen has gone to the hospital with a very severe reaction from vaping.
CNN has done a recent informative piece - https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/10/health/smoking-weed-coronavirus-wellness/index.html
PLEASE VISIT BROOKLINECOVID19.COM
Population Health
Greetings!
I’ve been asked many times what population health is. Wikipedia defines it as “the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group." It is in essence, a strategic plan to improve the health of the entire population.
Health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO, 1998) Public Health is “What we, as a society, do collectively to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy." (IOM 1988).
Public Health
- Prevents epidemics and the spread of disease
- Prevents injuries
- Promotes and encourages healthy behavior
- Responds to disasters
- Assures the quality and accessibility of Health Services
“Population health is public health”
- A medical model saves lives one person at a time
- Public Health saves lives millions at a time.
Through public health achievements life expectancy in the United States has increased from 47.3 years in 1900 to 78.1 years in 1996. That’s a 25+ years of life improvement.
Additional Information
Dr. Swannie Jett, Health Commissioner of Public Health, asks that you contact the Brookline Health Department at 617-730-2300 with any questions or requests for additional information.