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Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Continues to Work Together as Reopening Plans Advance

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 014 – COVID-19

June

For Immediate Release

 

Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Continues to Work Together as Reopening Plans Advance

BARNSTABLE (MA) June 5, 2020 – The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) held a conference call on Thursday, June 4, 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 1,443 positive cases of COVID-19 and 121 fatalities in Barnstable County at the time of this call. Current cases and figures can be viewed at https://www.barnstablecountyhealth.org/case-numbers-and-figures.

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), although some agencies are beginning to source their own supplies.

The Cape Cod and the Islands Regional Network on Homelessness reported finishing the second contract period with Cape Cod Healthcare on the Hotel Program.  They are transitioning to a new model that encompasses on-site COVID-19 testing at homeless shelters and providing medical clearance to facilitate an individual’s admission to a program. 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 reported on work being done by the Cape Cod Reopening Task Force. Situational Reports published by the Task Force are available on http://www.reopeningcapecod.org The state is currently in Phase 1 of the 4-Phase Reopening Approach, with Phase 2 Reopening details being released on Saturday, June 6.  Phase 2 is likely to have several subphases. Details will be posted on the Reopening Cape Cod website.

The Towns Boards of Health continue to focus on keeping up to date with the guidance and recommendations coming from the Commonwealth.

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