Public Health Forums

Latest Event

25th Annual Public Health Policy Forum | Advancing Equity: Health & Wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Youth | November 15, 2021

Advancing Equity: Health & Wellbeing for LGBTQ+ Youth | Digital Program

Past Events

Get the Facts/Get the Vax: Vaccine Hesitancy & Myths | April 7, 2021 

Adult Mental Health in the time of COVID-19 | March 24, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine: Brookline Update | February 2, 2021

COVID-19: A conversation about COVID-19 | June 22, 2020

THANKSGIVING SAFETY TIPS

The Acting Commissioner of Public Health, Patrick Maloney, would like Brookline residents to have a healthy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. As we transition to a new normal, he offers these safety tips from BDPH, Public Health Communications Collaborative and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please take a moment to review these tips to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19.

Recipe for a Safe Thanksgiving (PDF)

Lets Talk Turkey | Food Safety Guidance for Turkeys (USDA)

Food Safety for the Holidays (CDC)

Food Safety Tips for your Holiday Turkey (CDC)

Autumn & Winter Festival and Event Guidance

 The State of Massachusetts and the Town of Brookline have lifted all COVID-19-related restrictions on outdoor events. However, Brookline remains vigilant and continues to require masking indoors, regardless of vaccination status. 

 The Brookline Department of Public Health (BDPH) recommends the following to help curb the spread of COVID-19 during indoor and outdoor events within our community:

• Event staff and attendees should stay home if they feel unwell, have COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting COVID-19 test results, have been issued an Order to Quarantine, or have tested positive for COVID-19
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), being in a large gathering and in close contact for a prolonged period of time poses the highest risk of COVID-19 spread if you are unvaccinated; thus, the BDPH is recommending face coverings for all unvaccinated attendees.
• Event organizers must ensure sanitizers are available and conspicuously stationed. 
• All COVID-19 recommendations must be posted at entry points and in publicity and emails for the events.
• A temporary food permit may be required from the BDPH for all food to be served and sold. 
• All food handlers must wear face coverings and gloves.

 *Please be advised that If COVID-19 cases escalate significantly at the level of Public Health concern, all indoor and outdoor events may be subject to cancelation or restriction by the Brookline Department of Public Health. 

Public Health Guidance for Autumn & Winter Events and Festivals

SAFE FOOD PREPARATION

Take Steps to Prevent Food Poisoning

As you prepare and handle food, follow these four steps to help prevent foodborne illness (also called food poisoning):

• Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often when you cook.
• Separate: Raw meat, chicken, turkey, seafood, and eggs can spread germs. Separate them from cooked food and fresh produce.
• Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure foods are cooked to an internal temperature that kills germs.
• Chill: Refrigerate perishable foodsexternal icon (foods likely to spoil or go bad quickly) and leftovers within 2 hours, or within 1 hour if the food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F (like a hot car or summer picnic).

Anyone can get sick from food poisoning. But some groups of people are more likely to get sick and to have a more serious illness:

• Adults aged 65 and older
• Children younger than 5
• People with weakened immune systems (for example, people with diabetes, liver or kidney disease, alcoholism, or HIV, or people who receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy)
• Pregnant people

Source: cdc.gov

More About Marijuana” Campaign Highlights Risks of Consuming Illicit Vaping Products

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