City Of Framingham: Weekly COVID Data Posted; COVID-Related Resources Available To Residents

Press release from the City of Framingham:

February 2, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/2/2022

For further information, contact:

Susan Nicholl

snicholl@framinghamma.gov                                     

Tel (508) 532-5428, M (508) 864-2724

Weekly COVID Data Posted; COVID-related Resources Available to Residents

Framingham, MA--As of February 2, 2022, the Framingham Public Health Department will no longer be reporting the number of COVID-19 cases in Framingham because the City receives results only of PCR tests. The large number of Rapid Antigen tests administered in private homes are not reported to the state data system, which informs portions of Framingham’s COVID-19 Weekly Data Report.  

However, a revised COVID-19 Weekly Data Report will continue to be posted directly to the Framingham Public Health Department’s website every Wednesday.  It may be accessed at: https://www.framinghamma.gov/290/Public-Health

The report will continue to include vaccination rates and new information about Booster doses.  

For more information on COVID-19 testing and confirmed cases that have been reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, please see the following resources: 

Because the Framingham Health Department does not receive the results from Rapid Antigen home tests, residents who test positive may not receive a letter or phone call from the Health Department Nurse at this time.  Follow the isolation and quarantine guidelines here:  https://www.framinghamma.gov/290/Public-Health

To continue efforts to decrease the surge of the COVID Omicron variant, a Joint Order of the Mayor and Board of Health remains in effect.  Executive Order #EO2022-001  requires mandatory wearing of masks by staff and customers aged two (2) and over in all public indoor establishments in the City of Framingham.

Excluded from the Executive Order are private residences and private workplaces that are not visited by the public.

The homepage of the City of Framingham website includes information and resources related to the mask mandate, including a copy of Executive Order #EO2022-001, Frequently Asked Questions and Answers, and Mask Advisory Notices in English, Spanish and Portuguese that can be printed and posted at businesses.

Additional resources include:

•  Massachusetts digital vaccine card:  Massachusetts may have a record of vaccinations that Commonwealth residents have received. This may include COVID-19, influenza, and many others.  The My Vax Records tool can be used to access one’s COVID-19 digital vaccine card and vaccination history in the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS).  Clink on this link to get started: https://myvaxrecords.mass.gov/

1. Boosters: Everyone age 12+ who lives, works, or studies in Massachusetts should get a COVID-19 booster.  12- 17-year-olds can get a Pfizer booster. People 18+ can get any booster.  Find a vaccine provider here:  https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/

1. Vaccine Equity Initiative: The total number of vaccine doses provided by the Framingham Public Health Nursing Office between March 24, 2021 and January 29, 2022:  9419 (includes first, second and booster doses).  Brand of the vaccines administered includes Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen.

The Framingham Office of Public Health Nursing hours are:

• Monday – Thursday 1-4 pm: Rapid Antigen Testing. Appointments required 508-532-5667 Framingham Residents Only.  Please note: The Public Health Nursing Office does not have any home test kits to distribute at this time.  
• Monday – Thursday 4-7pm: COVID vaccinations, childhood and adult vaccinations, lead screening, TB testing (TB Testing Monday and Tuesday only) 

1. Home Visits for COVID-19 vaccination: At this time, the Public Health Nursing Office is only able to book appointments for Homebound residents we previously vaccinated to receive their COVID-19 booster vaccination. Additional residents who need a home visit for vaccination can contact the State Home Vaccination Program. The In-Home Vaccination Central Intake Line is (833) 983-0485. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Representatives are available in both English and Spanish, and also have access to translators for over 100 languages.

1. Biden Administration program to increase access to home tests: Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free, rapid antigen COVID-19 at-home tests from USPS.com.  There is a limit of one order per residential address; orders will ship free. Place orders here: https://special.usps.com/testkits

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This press release was produced by the City of Framingham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.