WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington Health Department has given out more than 4,000 masks since March, according to Health Director Shelly Newhouse.
The Health Department held a mask giveaway event last Wednesday in the Town Hall parking lot. Drivers stayed in their vehicles and were given 5 masks each. Kid and adult masks were available.
“They went so fast. We gave out 500 masks in 45 minutes,” Newhouse told the Board of Health at their meeting on Tuesday night.
Newhouse plans on running another mask giveaway event in the Town Hall parking lot very soon, possibly as soon as this Friday or Saturday. Keep checking the Health Department’s Facebook page for update.
“I’ll keep doing [these giveaway events] as long I keep getting the PPE and there’s a need,” she added.
Nursing Home Updates
Newhouse also updated the Board of Health on COVID-19 cases in the town’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities:
- AdviniaCare currently has no cases amongst its regular long-term residents. The facility does remain a COVID-19 recovery hospital, however, and is accepting recovering patients from hospitals.
- CareOne at Wilmington has 30 positives.
- Windsor Place has 16 positives.
Newhouse hopes the town will receive reports on the three facilities after the state health officials completes 28-point inspections of all nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Massachusetts.
News & Notes
Newhouse stressed that residents should answer the phone if “Mass COVID” appears on the Caller ID.
“That’s not a scam,” said Newhouse. “It’s the tracing collaborative. They may be notifying you that you’ve come in contact with someone who is positive.”
The Board of Health also took a vote to make the town’s police officers “agents of the Board of Health,” giving them the ability to enforce the governor’s mask & face coverings order.
Board of Health Chairwoman Elizabeth Sabounjian praised Shelly Newhouse and her team for their performance during the COVID-19 crisis, noting that they’re continuing to fulfill their normal responsibilities (e.g., spring inspections) while dealing with a pandemic.
(NOTE: Cover photo is from Airgoz Aerial Photography.)
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