COMMISSIONER'S ORDER

PRIVATE SCHOOL NOTICE - TOWN OF BROOKLINE

(Private Schools include all non-public schools, Parochial and all Religious schools, and Colleges and Universities)

The Brookline Department of Public Health has been pleased with the level of compliance and cooperation from all Schools and Institutions during this COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. In order to better address Health and Safety concerns the Commissioner of Public Health issues the following notice:

Effective December 18, 2020 all Private Schools deemed essential under the State Order dated March 31. 2020 must follow the following requirements:

 All Private Schools must comply with the guidelines established and revised by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) COVID – 19 Guidance Documents, with exception to the stricter standards established by the Brookline Commissioner of Health as follows:

 All schools that provide sports activities and events must comply with the established standards of the Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) COVID-19 Guidance Documents and receive approval through Brookline Department of Public Health.

 A minimum of 6 feet distance is required for students and staff during classroom, transportation and group education and attendees of sports gatherings.

 Compliance Operational COVID- plans must be sent to the Commissioner of Health for review and approval.

Local Regulation Adoption and Enforcement will be under the Authority of the Governor’s Emergency Orders # 33,37, 38, 43, 44 and MGL 111 c 122, 123, MGL c 40 s 21D,

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

Massachusetts Testing Locator

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

NEW | Brookline Department of Public Health Invites Residents Over 18 to Complete Survey Related to Marijuana

Take the survey!

ODICR February Quiz

Celebrate Black History Month by testing your knowledge on Black History, researching and reading up on information that is new to you, and sharing this quiz with others! Take the quiz here:  https://www.brooklinema.gov/1514/Community-Quiz 

Your name will be entered to win a Raffle prize at the end of the year if you score a 10/10!

PHASE REOPENING GUIDES

CURRENT STATE: PHASE III, STEP 1 (effective December 13, 2020)

Effective December 26, Massachusetts has issued temporary limits on gatherings and business capacity to stop the spread of COVID-19 as cases and hospitalizations.

Effective December 13, all communities will roll back to Phase 3, Step 1 of Massachusetts’ re-opening plan, including the following restrictions:

• Outdoor gatherings at event venues will be limited to no more than 50 people
• Hosts of outdoor gatherings of greater than 25 people will be required to provide advance notice of the gathering their local board of health
• Indoor theaters and performance venues and higher contact indoor recreation businesses will be required to close to the public
• Outdoor theaters and performance venues will be limited to 25% capacity, and no more than 50 people

In all communities, capacity will be reduced from 50% to 40% for the following sectors:

• Arcades/Indoor and Outdoor Recreational Businesses
• Driving and Flight Schools
• Gyms/Health Clubs
• Libraries
• Museums
• Retail
• Offices
• Places of Worship
• Lodging (common areas)
• Golf facilities
• Movie Theaters (Maximum 50 people per theater)

This new capacity limit will not apply to sectors that do not currently have a percentage-based capacity limit, including restaurants, laboratories and close contact personal services.

Click here to read the revised gatherings order.

Click here to read the order rolling Massachusetts back to Phase III, Step 1.

Restaurants and Venues

The Administration also announced new guidelines for restaurants and other venues with seated dining, including:

• Patrons must wear masks at all times except when eating and drinking
• Restaurants must seat no more than six patrons per table
• Restaurants must impose a 90-minute time limit on tables
• Musical performances at restaurants will no longer be permitted
• Food court seating must be closed in malls

Customers are encouraged to dine only with members of the same household.

Offices and Gyms

The Administration announced new guidelines for workplaces and gyms, including:

• In offices, employees must wear masks at their place of work when not in their own workspace and alone
• Employers are encouraged to close or limit the use of break rooms
• Patrons must wear masks at all times in gyms

The Administration continues to encourage all employers to offer teleworking to their employees when possible.

 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)

Reopening Massachusetts 

General Business Guidance

Reopening: Mandatory Safety Standards for Workplaces

COVID-19 Travel Order