Latest August 14th DPH COVID-19 Guidance from DPH

The August 14, 2020, Friday 9:00AM DPH call with local public health heard from officials regarding updates on a number of COVID-19 guidance’s including travel exceptions, flu clinics, the preparedness management software PrepMod,, school reopenings, workforce mental health (CMG services), School reopening metrics were reviewed expanding upon comments given during the August 11, 2020 DPH – LBOH call. Youth and adult amateur sports, for-hire charter vessels, new sports “question” portal were also discussed.

Dear Local Public Health Colleagues,

This update contains information and links of interest to local boards of health. Most of the items will be discussed on tomorrow’s conference call—please review before the call.

Air Quality in Schools (repaired link from Update #58)—EPA Supports Healthy Indoor Environments in Schools During COVID-19 Pandemic

Travel Order Updates

Commissioner-designated Exceptions
Travel Order FAQ (new questions and answers with #18)

Executive of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Updates to the Youth and Adult Amateur Sports Guidance and For-Hire and Charter Vessels are posted on the EEA Guidance website.
Updated sports guidance has new checklists for Facility Operators as well as Activity Organizers, a Sports Activity Level Assessment Framework, and a Sports Compliance Attestation.
Portal was created for individuals, leagues, schools, boards of health, etc. to submit questions and comments on the sports guidance. This link is specific to sports guidance only.

Flu Clinics

The MDPH Immunization Division, in conjunction with Commonwealth Medicine, is excited to announce that we will be providing all Local Health Departments (LHDs) and other public immunization providers in Massachusetts access to PrepMod. It is an online, paperless system that Local Health Departments can use at their immunization clinics to schedule, screen, bill and report to the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS).

PrepMod, which also includes Clinic Wizard and ReadiConsent, are HIPAA-compliant, companion technologies that automate registration, planning, implementation, evaluation, recording, and reporting for mass vaccination and preparedness efforts. Paper-based billing will also be available this year through Commonwealth Medicine for those Local Health Departments that choose not to use PrepMod.

There will be more information forthcoming on Massachusetts’ use of PrepMod, how it will be rolled out to Local Health, and training that will be provided, but we wanted to let you know ASAP that it is in the works. You can find out more information on PrepMod, Clinic Wizard and ReadiConsent at: https://multistatep4p.com, however please direct questions about how it will be implemented in Massachusetts to vaccine@umassmed.edu .

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education— Guidance on COVID-19 Metrics

Support for Local Health Department Staff and Board of Health Members

The Department of Public Health (DPH) has contracted with CMG Associates (a psychological consulting firm in Newton) to support local health department staff and members of boards of health (BOH) in addressing challenges associated with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As documented in experiences reported in Massachusetts and in national media stories, staff and BOH members are often confronted by residents and/or business owners with angry rhetoric and threats associated with enforcement of COVID-19 reopening orders and standards. CMG Associates will provide one-to-one support as requested and professional development opportunities on stress and change management. This free and confidential support will be particularly valuable in cities and towns in which employee assistance programs and similar supports are not available. Please contact Bruce Cedar, EdD at bcedar@cmgassociates.com for more information and to access services.

Webinar: Safer Cleaning and Disinfection for Schools

UMass Lowell is hosting a school cleaning webinar on Friday, August 14 at 10am. Registration is free. Some of the presenters were involved in the K-12 reopening committee. Click here to register.

Find updates on COVID-19 Information for Local Boards of Health.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to keep people safe and save lives.

Jana Ferguson

Assistant Commissioner

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Jana.ferguson@mass.gov

Ron O’Connor, MPH

Director, Office of Local and Regional Health
Phone: 617.938.4437

ron.oconnor@mass.gov

COVID-19 Information for Local Boards of Health – https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-information-for-local-boards-of-health

24/7 DPH Epi Line for COVID-19 Case Support

COVID-19 web site: www.mass.gov/covid19