Town Of Dover Publishes Coronavirus Update For December 18

Press release from the Town of Dover:

December 18, 2021

COVID-19 UPDATE: 12.18.2021

Massachusetts is in a COVID surge. At this time, the vast majority of cases are due to the highly contagious Delta variant, but the Omicron variant, which spreads even more readily, has arrived in Massachusetts. There is still much to learn about Omicron, but in South Africa and Denmark, the number of cases has doubled every 2-3 days. Public health officials in Massachusetts anticipate that we will soon see many more Omicron cases here.

It's not clear yet how severe Omicron infections will be in the United States. If the hospitalization rate is lower than that for Delta it will be good news, but because public health authorities anticipate very large numbers of cases, the number of people hospitalized could nonetheless be very high. That is a particular problem right now because hospitals are already so crowded and short-staffed all over the country, including in Massachusetts.

Preliminary data suggest that a booster dose of COVID vaccine may provide significantly more protection than primary vaccination without a booster. Masking, social distancing, testing, and ventilation are also very important preventive measures. All of these strategies help to slow the spread of COVID.

DOVER-SHERBORN SCHOOLS

There were ten cases in the schools during the week of 12/11-12/17 (five in the elementary schools, 1 at the middle school, 4 at the high school). There was no evidence of in-school transmission.

REDUCE THE RISK THAT YOU WILL BECOME INFECTED OR SPREAD COVID-19 TO OTHERS

• Wear a mask if you are indoors with people who are not members of your household
• Remember that outdoors is safer than indoors
• Use self-administered rapid antigen tests if you plan to socialize with people who aren't members of your own household
• Make sure that you are fully vaccinated, and obtain a booster dose if you are 16+ years old
• If you or your children have even mild symptoms that suggest COVID, stay away from others and get tested
• If you receive a call from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, answer the phone
• If you or your children develop COVID, follow isolation guidance to avoid infecting others
• If you or your children are close contacts of someone with COVID, follow quarantine guidance to avoid infecting others in the event that you develop COVID from your exposure
• Learn about MassNotify, a smartphone app that anonymously alerts users who may have been exposed to COVID-19

FOR DOVER COVID-19 OR OTHER TOWN ALERTS AT https://www.doverma.org/list.aspx

Please contact the Board of Health with questions or comments at 508-785-0032, extension 232.

Check out Dover's COVID-19 Communications page

This press release was produced by the Town of Dover. The views expressed are the author's own.