Public Venues Ramp-up Precautions

            On March 10, Old Rochester Regional School District Facilities Director Gene Jones spoke to the procedures taking place to disinfect public schools and other public spaces in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

            “We have the electrostatic spray equipment,” said Jones, who went on to describe disinfecting tablets that kill a wide spectrum of pathogens, including those that have been fully identified and those that are emerging via the use of a fine-mist spray. “That way our staff doesn’t have to wipe down everything, which can cause cross-contamination.”

            The electrostatic spray works by charging the mist particles or positively charging the mist, which allows the particles to cling to and coat the sprayed surface. The process allows the disinfectant in the mist to coat surfaces for a sufficient amount of time to kill the pathogens.

            Jones made it clear that the steps currently being taken are the same steps normally taken to ensure that the schools are as clean as possible especially during the flu seasons. “We are using the recommended methods and making sure all the hand-sanitizing stations are up and operational,” he said, adding that dispensers are filled with anti-bacterial soaps.

            “We are always ahead of things like this,” Jones stated. He went on to say that a second spraying will be taking place at Center and Old Hammondtown schools over the weekend. Mattapoisett’s Council on Aging, located in a wing of Center School, is included in the cleansing process, he said. Jones said that Old Rochester Junior and Senior high schools have both been cleaned, as well as Sippican and Rochester Memorial elementary schools.

            Karen Gregory, director of the Marion Council on Aging, said, “We are in the business of engaging our senior citizens, but the COVID-19 (virus) is making it difficult.” She said that, while socialization is a critical element to all the programs offered at the COA, helping transport people to and from doctor appointments and shopping centers is critical.

            “People still need to see their doctors and get their groceries – we don’t want them isolating themselves,” said Gregory. She said that if the center had to close, some services would have to continue to be provided.

            Gregory confirmed that the Marion COA building was scheduled to be electrostatically disinfected on March 11.

            Rochester’s Council on Aging Director Cheryl Randall-Mach said, “We have increased our sanitation processes including our transportation.” She said that some group activities had been canceled, “…out of an abundance of caution,” but that, “…people will still go places on their own.” She noted that the popular Boston Flower Show was one of the activities that was eliminated.

            The Ivy League men’s basketball tournament scheduled to be hosted by Harvard University was canceled; the league declared regular-season champion Yale University its lone participant in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

            Mattapoisett’s Public Library Director Susan Pizzolato said, “We closed down use of our Lego table.” She said it would simply be too difficult to clean. But she said that the library staff is cleaning surfaces much more frequently including the wiping of handrails and doorknobs. Printed documents on safe hygiene and proper handwashing practices have been posted and are available to patrons, and floors are being washed daily.

            “We’re taking extra precautions,” Pizzolato said.

            Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion, the Tri-Town area’s only nursing home, is managed by Whittier Health Network. The Wanderer reached out to the company seeking information on any established procedures to deal with potential coronavirus diagnoses or symptoms, and Whittier relayed a no-comment and was not available to discuss the matter.

COVID-19 Update

By Marilou Newell

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