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EMERGENCY PLANNING > REPC Situational Reports > Coordinated Effort Continues in Barnstable County as COVID-19 Cases Stabilize

Coordinated Effort Continues in Barnstable County as COVID-19 Cases Stabilize

Published on: May 22, 2020

BARNSTABLE COUNTY

REGIONAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE

SUPERIOR COURT HOUSE

POST OFFICE BOX 427

BARNSTABLE, MA 02630

BCREPC Media Release  

Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee

Media Release 012 – COVID-19

May

 

For Immediate Release

Coordinated Effort Continues in Barnstable County as COVID-19 Cases Stabilize

 

BARNSTABLE (MA) May 22, 2020 – The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) held a conference call on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. to review the current COVID-19 conditions and discussed updates to response efforts in the county. Individuals present on the call included over 80 representatives from agencies across Cape Cod’s 15 towns and Nantucket, including elected officials, representatives from Cape Cod Healthcare, Town Health Agents, and several nonprofits engaged in responding to COVID-19.

Updates and guidance

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported a total of 1,202 positive cases of COVID-19 and 99 fatalities in Barnstable County at the time of this call. Hospitalizations are decreasing and positive case numbers seem to be steadying.

BCREPC Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) continues to operate as a limited activation in response to COVID-19 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. The MACC remains focused on its efforts to assist with resource requests from various agencies across Cape Cod, especially for personal protective equipment (PPE). This past week the MACC delivered 7,400 K95 masks to Police and Fire Departments on Cape Cod, and 4,800 cloth masks were distributed to all town employees. A second shipment of cloth masks is expected and will be delivered to Police Departments. All PPE requests continue to be evaluated for critical need and volume requested. Requests will only be processed for a seven-day supply of product.

The MACC also continues to support and handle resource requests at the COVID-19 test site at Cape Cod Community College.  Since testing began on March 17, 2020 at the Cape Cod Community College test site, approximately 3,412 vehicles have driven through with patients scheduled for testing.

The Cape Cod and the Islands Regional Network on Homelessness reported that the hotel program is at a low census, averaging 1-2 clients.  Universal testing continues for staff and residents at homeless shelters.  The shower and breakfast programs for the homeless are on-going.  Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps continues to assist with the breakfast program.

Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro, provided updates on the Cape Cod Reopening Task Force. Aligning with guidelines set forth by the Massachusetts Reopening Advisory Board on Monday, May 18, the Task Force continues to coordinate leadership across Cape Cod for a unified approach to reopening locally. A website is expected to be unveiled to the public on Monday, May 25th, including updated guidance to seasonal residents and workers.

Judy Walden Scarafile, Managing Director of the Major Crisis Relief Fund (MCRF), reported that $1.1 million in funds have been raised to help the community during the pandemic. Ms. Walden encourages residents who need financial assistance with lost income, food, rent, and more due to COVID-19, to contact them at majorcrisisrelieffund.org.

The BCREPC reminds the public that social distancing is effective in slowing the spread of the coronavirus. They ask the public to continue to help slow the spread by limiting movement outside of their homes beyond what is necessary to take care of essentials. The BCREPC encourages all citizens to wear a mask, maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet, and wash hands for at least 20 seconds. For more information, visit www.barnstablecountyhealth.org/

 

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Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC)

The BCREPC was founded in September 2002 to assist the communities on Cape Cod and the Town of Nantucket with addressing hazardous materials emergency planning and response as required by the federal government. Today, the BCREPC has expanded its scope to include “All Hazard” emergency planning issues such as storm response, sheltering and grants management. The BCREPC is a coalition of emergency management, law enforcement, fire service, health care, public health, public works, EMS, military, and numerous other affiliated agencies as outlined by the Massachusetts State Emergency Response Committee (SERC). It represents the towns of Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, and Yarmouth in Barnstable County, and the town of Nantucket in Nantucket County. The REPC is coordinated by the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment. Visit www.bcrepc.org