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EMERGENCY PLANNING > REPC Situational Reports > Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Reports Some Changes to Emergency Response as COVID-19 Cases Decline

Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Reports Some Changes to Emergency Response as COVID-19 Cases Decline

Published on: May 29, 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 013 – COVID-19

May

 

For Immediate Release

Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Reports Some Changes to Emergency Response

as COVID-19 Cases Decline

BARNSTABLE (MA) May 28, 2020 – The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) held a conference call on Thursday, May 28, 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 1,295 positive cases of COVID-19 and 115 fatalities in Barnstable County at the time of this call. Hospitalizations are low, continue to decrease, and positive cases seem to be concentrated in long-term care facilities. Current cases and figures can be viewed at https://www.barnstablecountyhealth.org/case-numbers-and-figures. The surge sites at Joint Base Cape Cod and the Wingate Nursing Home in Brewster are now closed. The Royal Falmouth Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is on standby if needed.

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 assisting with resource requests from various agencies across Cape Cod, especially for personal protective equipment (PPE). The MACC also continues to support and handle resource requests at the COVID-19 test site at Cape Cod Community College.  Approximately 400 orders of PPE have been delivered to agencies across Cape Cod and the Islands since its activation. Agencies and organizations are now being encouraged to order supplies through their regular supply chain. They will be required to show proof of an attempt to order from these distributors before a resource request can be processed.

The Cape Cod and the Islands Regional Network on Homelessness reported that 44 clients isolated at the hotel program to date; five were tested positive with COVID-19. Universal testing continues for staff and residents at homeless shelters, and 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 an update on the work being done by the Cape Cod Reopening Task Force and announced the completion of a dedicated website, www.reopeningcapecod.org that provides updated guidance to seasonal residents and workers on Cape Cod. The site also offers guidance and updates for businesses and resources for municipal stakeholders, including a toolkit developed by the Cape Cod Commission containing strategies for municipalities to support local businesses and accommodate new operational standards.

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