Wrentham Town Administrator

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Town of Wrentham Urges Residents to Follow COVID-19 Prevention Guidance Following Town’s Designation as ‘High Risk’ For COVID-19

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Town Administrator and Emergency Management Director Kevin Sweet, Wrentham Public Health officials, King Philip Regional School District Superintendent Paul Zinni and Wrentham Public Schools Superintendent Allan Cameron report that the Town of Wrentham has seen a rise in positive COVID-19 cases recently, leading to the town’s designation as “high risk” for COVID-19 according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The Town of Wrentham was designated a “Red” high risk community in the DPH’s weekly health report released Thursday, Oct. 22. According to the data, the average daily incidence rate for the Town of Wrentham per 100,000 residents is 12.7. Any number over 8 leads to a “Red” designation.

Town health officials confirm that none of the positive cases reported in town are from students in the King Philip Regional School District or Wrentham Public Schools. At the recommendation of Wrentham Public Health officials, there will be no change to the current hybrid learning model at any of the schools in the two districts. 

There will also be no change to after-school athletics at any of the schools.

“After consulting with local and state health officials, we feel confident in continuing with our hybrid model of education and continuing with our sports programs at this time,” Superintendent Zinni said. “As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and remain in close contact with Wrentham Public Health officials, and will act accordingly should the situation change in any way.”

The Town of Wrentham was designated a “Red” high risk community by DPH on Sept. 16, and again on Sept. 23. Town officials confirmed that the positive cases during this time belonged to one “cluster” of cases tied to a single nursing home facility in town.

This most recent designation, however, is believed to be due to general community spread.

As always, health officials are urging all residents to be vigilant in combating COVID-19.

“One of the most important things you can do is to stay home if you feel sick,” Town Administrator Sweet said. “We have seen cases rise not just in Wrentham but in communities throughout the region and the state, and we must all do our part to reduce the spread of the virus as best we can.”

Prevention Methods

Wrentham Public Health officials, King Philip Regional School District and Wrentham Public Schools all urge residents to review the following COVID-19 prevention tips from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health:

  • Remember that an infected individual can spread COVID-19 before they have symptoms, which is why social distancing, maintaining a minimum of six feet from others, is critical. 
  • Those who must go out are urged to:
    • Avoid gathering in groups
    • Maintain six feet from people outside your household
    • Do not shake hands or hug
    • Wash your hands often
  • Those who are at a high risk for COVID-19, including those over the age of 65 and with underlying health conditions, are advised to stay home and avoid non-essential tasks and errands
  • Wear a mask in indoor and outdoor spaces where social distancing from people outside your household is not possible. This does not apply to those under the age of two and with underlying health conditions. 
  • Face coverings should:
    • Cover the nose and mouth
    • Fit snugly and comfortably against the side of the face
    • Be secured with either ties or ear loops
    • Permit breathing without difficulty
    • Be able to be washed and machine dried without damage. Face masks should be washed regularly depending on the amount of use. 

Stay Informed

For more information about COVID-19 prevention and symptoms, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website here.

Wrentham residents can stay up-to-date on COVID-19 news as it relates to the Town by visiting wrentham.ma.us or by visiting the Town’s Public Heath and Emergency Management blog by visiting wrenthamcovid19.com.

Town of Wrentham Urges Residents to Remain Vigilant Against Spread of COVID-19 Following Rise to Yellow ‘Medium Risk’ Status

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WRENTHAM — Town Administrator and Emergency Management Director Kevin Sweet is urging the community to follow COVID-19 prevention guidance following another rise in positive COVID-19 cases recently.

The Town of Wrentham was designated a “Red” high risk community on Sept. 16 and Sept. 23 according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s weekly report. The Town’s designation dropped to a “Yellow” medium risk community on Sept. 30 and to a “Green” low risk community last week, Oct. 7.

According to the public health data released on Wednesday, Oct. 14, the Town’s designation is once again a “Yellow” medium risk community. The average daily incidence rate for the Town of Wrentham per 100,000 residents has risen to 7.6, up from last week’s rate of 3.2.

According to Wednesday’s data, there have been 12 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Wrentham over the past two weeks. Town officials believe that the increase is primarily due to a cluster at a single facility in town. 

“While Wednesday’s heightened risk classification is disappointing with the progress we’ve made over the past few weeks, we do believe that a majority of positive cases are tied to a single cluster in one facility in town,” Town Administrator Sweet said. “However, this designation serves as another reminder of the importance of continuing to follow public health guidelines to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”

Prevention Tips

The Town of Wrentham continues to share the following tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect yourself and others from contracting COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap and water. Hand washing is especially important after visiting a public place, before eating or preparing food, before touching your face, after using the restroom, handling your cloth face covering, after changing a diaper, after caring for someone sick, after touching animals or pets and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • When soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used.
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • When someone in your household is sick, try to avoid close contact and maintain six feet of distance from that person.
  • Maintain six feet of distance from people who don’t live in your household when in public. Keep in mind that those without symptoms, including yourself, may still be spreading the virus. It is especially important to maintain distance from people at a higher risk of getting sick.
  • Wearing a mask will protect other people in the event you have COVID-19. Everyone is advised to wear a cloth face covering in public and around those who don’t live in your household, especially when social distancing is difficult.
  • Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, or use your elbow.
  • Used tissues should be thrown in the trash. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after throwing away a tissue.
  • Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected daily, including tables, doorknobs, light switches, counter tops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks. If a surface is visibly dirty, be sure to clean it using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfecting.
  • Everyone should continue to monitor their health daily, which includes watching for symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, and fever. For additional symptoms that may be indicative of a COVID-19 infection, click here.
    • If you feel ill or are exhibiting symptoms, stay home.
    • If symptoms develop, take your temperature. Wait to do so until 30 minutes after exercising or taking medications that could lower your temperature.
    • Click here for additional guidance from the CDC, should symptoms develop.

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Town of Wrentham Urges Continued Vigilance as Wrentham Drops to Green ‘Low Risk’ Status for COVID-19 

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WRENTHAM — Town Administrator and Emergency Management Director Kevin Sweet is pleased to share that the town of Wrentham is now designated “Green,” indicating its rate of positive COVID-19 tests has fallen over the past few weeks.

The Town of Wrentham was designated a “Red” high risk community on Sept. 16 by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s weekly report, and again on Sept. 23. The Town’s designation dropped to a “Yellow” medium risk community according to the Sept. 30 data.

According to the public health data released on Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Town’s designation is a “Green” lower risk community. The average daily incidence rate for the Town of Wrentham per 100,000 residents has dropped to 3.2. 

Town officials confirmed last month that the 15 current positive cases that brought the town into its “Red” designation belonged to one cluster of cases tied to a single nursing home.

“We are very pleased to see our numbers dropping in the way that they have over the past few weeks, leading to our ‘low risk’ status,” Town Administrator Sweet said. “But we are aware of the increase in positive cases in neighboring communities and throughout the Commonwealth, and we urge all residents to continue to be vigilant in their fight against COVID-19.”

Prevention Tips

The Town of Wrentham continues to share the following tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect yourself and others from contracting COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap and water. Hand washing is especially important after visiting a public place, before eating or preparing food, before touching your face, after using the restroom, handling your cloth face covering, after changing a diaper, after caring for someone sick, after touching animals or pets and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • When soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used.
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • When someone in your household is sick, try to avoid close contact and maintain six feet of distance from that person.
  • Maintain six feet of distance from people who don’t live in your household when in public. Keep in mind that those without symptoms, including yourself, may still be spreading the virus. It is especially important to maintain distance from people at a higher risk of getting sick.
  • Wearing a mask will protect other people in the event you have COVID-19. Everyone is advised to wear a cloth face covering in public and around those who don’t live in your household, especially when social distancing is difficult.
  • Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, or use your elbow.
  • Used tissues should be thrown in the trash. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after throwing away a tissue.
  • Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected daily, including tables, doorknobs, light switches, counter tops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks. If a surface is visibly dirty, be sure to clean it using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfecting.
  • Everyone should continue to monitor their health daily, which includes watching for symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, and fever. For additional symptoms that may be indicative of a COVID-19 infection, click here.
    • If you feel ill or are exhibiting symptoms, stay home.
    • If symptoms develop, take your temperature. Wait to do so until 30 minutes after exercising or taking medications that could lower your temperature.
    • Click here for additional guidance from the CDC, should symptoms develop.

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