The Recorder – COVID-19 transmission remains high, masking recommended

Editor’s observe: The Greenfield Recorder plans to supply common updates on the chance stage of COVID-19 transmission as wastewater testing outcomes are acquired.

With well being officers seeing increased volumes of an infection in wastewater outcomes and an elevated % positivity final week, the chance for COVID-19 stays excessive within the 4 communities concerned within the Contact Tracing Collaborative.

Virus focus in Greenfield’s wastewater elevated from 392,863 copies of virus per liter of sewage (which accounts for dilution and different components) to 2.4 million copies between Oct. 12 and Oct. 19, based on the newest information from Biobot Analytics. In keeping with Well being Director Jennifer Hoffman, all 4 communities concerned within the collaborative have seen elevated charges of positivity, with Greenfield at 10.7%, Montague at 19%, Deerfield at 9.6% and Sunderland at 11.7%.

The 4 communities noticed three hospitalizations over the previous week, down from 5 within the earlier week, and cluster occasions (infections of three or extra folks at one web site) remained steady at six.

The Contact Tracing Collaborative created a visitors gentle alert system, outlining thresholds for low, average and excessive threat of COVID-19 transmission in an effort as an example case ranges and supply residents with steering for masking. Given these communities at the moment are within the pink zone with a excessive threat of COVID-19 transmission, masking is really useful.

Together with wastewater testing — folks with an energetic COVID-19 an infection excrete the virus of their stool, and samples from wastewater remedy crops may be analyzed to estimate group virus ranges — the 4 municipalities think about hospitalization numbers, positivity charges and case numbers to find out threat ranges. Well being officers additionally proceed to speak with nursing properties, companies and faculties to trace cluster infections.

The next three zones, outlined by the Contact Tracing Collaborative, are used to gauge threat ranges of COVID-19 transmission within the 4 communities. For the chance stage within the space to alter, at the very least two measures want to use.

Purple zone: Excessive COVID-19 threat

Masking really useful.

■Cluster infections (of three or extra folks at one web site): 5 or extra.

■P.c constructive exams out of whole exams carried out: larger than 10%.

■Hospitalizations: 5 or extra.

■Improve in case pattern.

■Will increase in wastewater pattern.

Yellow zone: Average COVID-19 threat

Masking inspired.

■■One to 4 cluster infections.

■Secure constructive testing.

■Fewer than 5 hospitalizations.

■Secure case incidence.

Inexperienced zone: Low to minimal COVID-19 threat

Masking non-obligatory.

■No cluster infections.

■Lower in constructive exams.

■Lower in hospitalizations.

■Lower in case incidence.

■Decreased virus copies in wastewater.