PLYMOUTH – Karen Keane’s 20-year-old son felt uncomfortable wearing a mask when the coronavirus pandemic began. He was healthy, strong and felt no symptoms. Why should he?
Keane’s elderly mother confronted her grandson. "Think about your grandma," she said. "You may think you’re healthy, but you could be passing the virus to me."
That’s all it took to convince him to wear a mask. Plymouth officials are hoping that approach will help others realize they need to protect their family and friends by wearing facial coverings and maintaining social distancing.
Now that the town has been deemed a high-risk community for COVID-19 infection by the state, officials met Thursday in an emergency meeting to brainstorm ideas on how to protect residents and visitors. Education is the primary goal right now, but enforcement, fines and even closings of certain venues may follow if people don’t get the message.
"This is a historic meeting," said Town Manager Melissa Arrighi during the virtual session Thursday afternoon. "We have the full select board and board of health, along with all department heads except the police chief, who had a previous commitment."
A spate of coronavirus infections pushed the town into the red on the state’s COVID-19 map. On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health placed Plymouth in the "red," or highest risk category, when its average daily incidence rate exceeded eight cases per 100,000 residents. The town had previously been a green community with a moderate risk of four daily cases per 100,000.
Town officials originally thought they would have to slow down the recovery effort here. However, state guidelines require a community to be in the "red" three weeks before it is officially designated as red. Plymouth can continue moving into Step 2 of Phase 3 as detailed in Gov. Charlie Baker’s plan to reopen the state’s economy during the pandemic.
Since Oct. 1, 59 residents have contracted the virus. Several of the confirmed cases are teenagers and young children. The vast majority of those reported ill are between the ages of 20 and 40. Earlier in the year, most of the coronavirus cases in Plymouth were of residents older than 60, the highest-risk category.
Just this week, an outbreak was detected at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center operated by the Massachusetts Department of Correction in Myles Standish State Forest. The facility was locked down after 39 inmates and staff were found to be infected. Those numbers are not included in the town’s total because that only includes permanent residents.
"We’re seeing younger age groups getting sick now," said Keane, the town’s Public Health director, at the meeting. "People in their 20s and 30s are attending events, going to dinner or carpooling – and they’re not wearing masks. We’re even seeing cases of people in the teens and younger getting sick now."
"We need to stay vigilant," added Barry Potvin, chair of the Board of Health. "It’s scary, but there is no need to panic. We just need to get back to what we were doing before."
To counter the surge, Plymouth plans to use more signs, including electric units, around town to remind people that wearing masks is mandatory. In addition, the town is working with PACTV and other groups to develop a social media campaign to residents and visitors to wear facial coverings and maintain physical distancing of at least six feet.
"We’re hoping to include the message ‘Do it for grandma’ in our communications," Arrighi said. "We need to convince people that this is important."
The town plans to use a "stick" approach in its messaging. Signage will inform people that certain venues, such as the skateboard park and basketball courts, will be closed if there is noncompliance.
"There is a segment of the population that just will not wear masks," Keane said. "They resent being told that they have to."
Health board member Ron Avraham stated Plymouth might have to take more drastic steps if people refuse to abide by regulations. Health officials and police may need stronger methods to enforce the law.
"We may have to consider penalties for people who won’t wear masks," he said. "It is the most effective way to reduce the transmission of the disease, but the enforcement isn’t there."
Consensus at the meeting was the hope that building awareness and repeating the messages of health and safety will turn the tide. All stressed the necessity of the community pulling together to protect each other and ensure the wellness of all residents by following the guidelines.
"We are concerned that our case numbers are on the rise and need every member of our community to do their part," Select Board Chair Ken Tavares said. "This is a door-to-door education effort."
David Kindy can be reached at dkindy@wickedlocal.com.
The Link LonkOctober 10, 2020 at 01:00AM
https://www.patriotledger.com/news/20201009/plymouth-officials-consider-fines-closing-parks-as-town-moves-into-red-from-coronavirus-cases
Plymouth officials consider fines, closing parks as town moves into red from coronavirus cases - The Patriot Ledger
https://news.google.com/search?q=Red&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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