TOWN POLICY ON REPORTING TOWN COUNT OF CORONAVIRUS CASES

 

TOWN POLICY ON REPORTING TOWN COUNT OF CORONAVIRUS CASES

April 8, 2020

 

The Town of Hull does not report the number of cases in the Town for several key reasons.  The only source of statics available to our Board of Health is provided from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH).  MADPH is reporting statistics on a county-by-county basis.  MADPH and is advising that Towns do not report on a Town-basis.  This is driven by the fact individual Town counts do not provide a complete picture of the number of cases in any Town.  The count only displays that number of individuals that have tested positive and are recorded in the MADPH data base. 

For instance, many people are contacting their medical providers and describing their symptoms.  In an abundance of caution their Doctor is likely advising them to consider themselves positive and to isolate themselves until their symptoms subside.  If their condition worsens their Doctor will send them for testing; Local Board’s of Health’s do not receive information on these types of cases.   We have no way of knowing the number of individuals in Town that may have the virus but are showing no symptoms.  We do not know how many individuals in town have come into contact with someone who has the virus.  In short the statistics that are available are incomplete and should not be used as way of determining your risk or Hull’s risk.  The Town does not think it is responsible to report incomplete data that will lead to a false sense of what is happening here in Hull. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic control efforts the two main sources of medical guidance for everyone remains the same, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and MADPH.  Even though there are some Towns reporting counts there are many that are not. We will continue to follow the guidance of MADPH and the CDC, and will not second guess these agencies on this issue or on their recommendations for best practices regarding how to address this pandemic in Hull. 

We continue to urge everyone to consider themselves at risk and to follow the advice that is being provided; maintain good social distancing practices and personal hygiene.  Until there is a change in that guidance everyone should assume they are at risk and that the risk is present here in Hull as it is everywhere else in the Country. 

Regards

Phil Lemnios
Town Manager