 All right. So good afternoon. Welcome, everybody, to the Tuesday's community chat. We've got Julie Fetterman, Amherst Public Health Director with us today. And your town manager, Paul Bachmann. My name is Brianna Sunred, communications manager for the town. Okay. So just as a reminder, in order to ask a question during today's session, you could use the Q&A button in zoom. You can also raise your hand and zoom or press star nine if you're joining us from a telephone. We'd love to have some people come into the room and ask us questions. So if you feel comfortable with that, please do. All right. So before we launch into our questions, I'm going to give a chance for both Paul and Julie to provide some updates if they have them. Sure, I'll start. Thanks everybody for being here. So there are the it's everything's kind of changing it feels like as we start talking more and more about reopening. What does that look like? Are we safe enough to start reopening things? And I think this is a, we're in a sort of a pivotal moment as people start to look at May 18, which is in the expiration of the governor's last order. What happens after that? And, you know, these are all malleable situations where people have different views of things. And so our position right now is that we still think that it's really important to be observing social distance rules and that all of our decision making is based on that science that supports those social distancing things. So as you see us continue to work out decisions, they will be based on those on the science that this is still a pandemic. The disease is still there. And we want to continue to minimize the spread of the disease. And the best way to do that is to maintain that those six feet social distance. And you'll see some of the governor's orders coming out that talked about masks and or face, you know, covering your nose and mouth to minimize the spread if you can't properly social distance. Or if you're ever inside in a business for instance. So that's sort of the context. The other piece that we're working a lot on is dwelling on what does it look like when the town starts to think about its services and we have every have enabled everybody to work as remotely as possible as long as possible. And we are having those kind of internal discussions. And then on top of that layer on top of that is what does it look like for our budget going forward in terms of, you know, what are we going to do in FY 20, and where are we going to be going in FY 21. We will talk a lot more about that on Monday, May 11 at 530 the interim finance director. Sonia Aldridge and I will make a presentation to the school committee, the finance, the town council into board of library trustees. So that's sort of just opening statement for me. Julie, is there anything you want to throw in there. Yes, Paul. I have a couple of things. First of all, Mother's Day is coming up. I think that's always one of the harbingers of spring. And I know that some people have mothers that they want to celebrate. I think it's just a moment to remember that we also want to keep our mothers healthy along with all our other family members so I'm encouraging people to make a phone call and to not do a visit. We're still in this time where we're staying home and it's hard when there's celebrations and, you know, FaceTime, Zoom, phone calls, really encouraging people to do that instead of visits in person. Drive-bys with balloons. That's what I'm going to be doing. So happy Mother's Day. And then I thought I would talk about masks again, face coverings. I think that this continues to be an area where there's some questions and some confusion. So we do know that the governor passed an order that went into effect yesterday. And we're still getting questions about what that order really means. So again, as Paul was saying, what we're really looking at is that social distancing, staying home, staying six feet apart is really the best thing we can do to prevent transmission of the disease. On the other hand, we know that people have to go to the grocery store. We know some people are going to work. So in those situations, you should be wearing some type of face covering. It doesn't have to be a purchased mask. It can be anything preferably with two layers of fabric that covers your nose and your mouth and is, you know, flush with your cheeks, tight around your cheeks, because you don't want to be letting things escape around the edges of the mask. And that being said, when you leave the house, you should have a mask with you. It doesn't mean that the minute you go out the door, you have to put a mask on. It means that if you're out and about outside, you want to have a mask with you because if you're going to be within six feet of people, you've got to be able to put that mask on. And sometimes you're going out for walk, you're going for a hike and you're thinking, Well, I'll be able to keep six foot distance but the problem is sometimes you can't. You're on a sidewalk, you're on a trail, wherever you are, you've got to be able to, as you see folks approach if you can't do the six foot distance to put that on. We understand that when you're exercising or working really hard, it's really physically it's hard to use a mask. So again, if you're not able to use social distancing, you need to wear a mask so if you're out for a run really try to print plan it during a time and a place where you're not going to be passing people because even as you're passing people, especially the more the more hard you're breathing, you know, you're exhaling out to folks and so the idea is to be protecting people even if you're just passing them or passing them on the sidewalk. So, I just wanted to, to mention that again, because people have been a little confused about the governor's order, and just always remember it sits masks sit within that context of the social distancing which is really the primary way that you prevent prevent transmission master for the moments when you can't. So that was it for my update. So that's a great reminder Julie with with the current changes from the governor, and I'll take this quick opportunity to say that if you, or someone you know needs a mask in Amherst, and doesn't have one. Please get in touch with us we we have a form you can fill out online at Amherst MA dot gov slash get involved to request one, or to volunteer to make masks. If a web form is not your style you can call the town manager's office at 413-259-3002 and Jen or Angela will help you get a mask or help get your family members a mask. So we do have some questions here. I just wanted to talk about this one that just came in. The mask DPH data suggests that more than half of Amherst confirm COVID-19 cases are at the Center for extended care. Is that correct. And what is the town doing to limit such outbreaks. Thank you for the question. The Center for extended care does have approximately half of the cases that are attributed to Amherst. The fire department and our public health nurse and myself keeping close contact with the Center for for extended care. We also keep in contact with other congregate living sites for elders. I feel very lucky that the Center for extended care has been incredibly proactive in protecting their, their elders in putting infection control practices into place early on their early rounds of testing had shown no cases. I think that one of the realities is that once a disease enters a congregate living setting like this. It's very difficult, very difficult to control spread the Department of Public Health have been helping the Center for extended care. And as I said, we're in close contact with them. The fire department has been able to get them some supplies that they needed. The Center for extended care for public health has been able to help them with some extra staffing. So, the way that we prevent these outbreaks is by offering assistance to folks to administrators at senior living facilities, and making sure that all of the administration in these entities are really up to date on what they should do proactively to prevent disease entering their facilities and then preventing spread. So I just want to weigh in on that too because this is. So one of my best friends mother lived there and had died there too and it made it made it more personal and. And from their experience it was that you know they felt that really comfortable with the services that were being provided. But it's an insidious disease and I think even if you're doing everything right. This type of thing can happen and it's a highly contagious disease. So hearing, you know, seeing how quickly it can get into a congregate setting with Julie to support what Julie said, is that it's a it's a it's so dangerous in a congregate setting, which is why there's so much attention being placed on places where there are a lot of people living together. And, and just the insidious nature of it that it can insinuate itself, even if you're doing everything right. So, that's why I mean early early on, you know, we saw a lot of our senior housing folks taking proactive measures, you know, limiting visitor visitations and things like that just to protect the folks living there. But even with all that, these things can happen. So, great. Thank you. So we have another question here that's asking if you could explain a little bit about how contact tracing is now working. So, I think folks are hearing a lot about contact tracing contact tracing is something that's not new. It's what we've always done with communicable diseases. Now that we have this communicable disease that is worldwide. The population is learning about this. So we're really lucky in Massachusetts that there's a partnership between the state and partners in health to create a thousand person entity of contact tracers. The name for this entity is the CTC, the contact tracing collaborative collaborative. What's happening is this entity is going to be helping all the local health departments that normally do their own contact tracing. So in Amherst, we have our public health nurse Jennifer Brown and two school nurses helping us with contact tracing. What contact tracing is, is when someone has a communicable disease, we need to look at who else may have been exposed to that disease. So as we're seeing COVID-19 cases pick up, each one of those cases is contacted, a conversation is had with them and any contacts they may have had in the 48 hours before they were sick, get listed, and then they're contacted. The fact who those contacts came in contact with remains confidential. So it could have been a quick 15 minute contact with someone that they didn't know very well. So sometimes we're calling people and they're not expecting our call because they don't know that this person is sick and of course we're not saying who is sick. And then each one of those people, it is explained to them about the symptoms of COVID-19 and the importance of them going into quarantine for two weeks. We then keep in touch with them for two weeks, daily phone calls, sometimes texts if that's preferred by the person to monitor how they're doing to also see if they have needs while they're in quarantine. Because it's not easy to stay home for two weeks, not everyone has all the supports in place to get what they need during that time. So what the state has done recognizing that this will overwhelm our normal systems for tracking folks is they have all these volunteers. Well, some are volunteers, some are being paid actually, who will be reaching out and doing the contact tracing helping us in town. And so one of the reasons we wanted to bring this up today is, is because if you get a phone call from an 800 number, you should pick it up. You should answer the call because they are using 800 phone numbers to call people to do the contact tracing. Now, many of us have gotten in the habit of not picking up 800 calls because we think it's just going to be some kind of marketing answer the call. That's what we're trying to get across to people because it could be that you have come in contact with someone. And so they'll be reaching out to you to have a conversation about going into quarantine. One of the other things about the contact tracing collaborative is that there are people who speak many different languages. So if someone speaks another language, part of that will be trying to be determined before the phone call is made, but even once the phone call is made, if someone picks up, and, and they're not an English speaker that will be determined and someone to call back who speaks the language of the person being contacted. So we really want to enforce with folks that we want you to answer the call, and you'll be seeing this talked about in the news. And if you know someone who's that you can share this information with we'd really appreciate that. One other thing I've heard people say is they will not ask you for your social security number. So someone calls you and ask you for your social security number. Don't give it. That's not legit they will never ask you but you've heard the governor say please answer your phone this is the most vital point of the most important thing we can be doing right now is members of the public. Right, you know if they'll leave a message if you don't pick up. That is a good question. I actually don't know the answer to that. I will have to look into that. I, I don't know. Okay, so we've got a question here and I've gotten this a couple of times in the past few weeks. When will we know about summer programs, such as LSE summer camps pools sports leagues. Do you think, when do you think we'll have more information about those. That's a very good question. We're getting that question a lot. Those of us who work in public health are on twice weekly phone calls with the state, asking for guidance around this because people really would like to know what we're hearing is that we won't really have answers to that to that question, until very close to 2018. It's being looked at each one of these sectors camps pools, you know what can open safely, what, what is necessary to the economy as it starts to open up. And how do we keep people safe, if some of these things are opened up and Paul I don't know if you have anything to add to that. No, I think, you know, our staff are asking the same questions to about what is, what is the right timing of it so this is as soon as we can get the word out to folks. They love our programs wouldn't happen wouldn't begin until the end of June anyway, but people like to plan. And we just don't have the answers at this moment we are, as Julie said everybody's driving to that may 18th deadline at this point in time. So this question's kind of related. This person heard the governor might be allowing golf courses to open. And they're wondering if that means the golf courses in Amherst will also open. So the governor I think just a few minutes ago actually announced that golf courses would are able to reopen. And that means that the golf course at the town owns which is cherry hill golf course will reopen probably not until Tuesday. It will be with that May 12, because they have to get some things set up, there will not be allowed, there will not be allowed to utilize golf carts. There'll be 15 minutes in between each group goes out on the golf course. And again, all these things may change over time but that's those are the opening guidance for our, our folks. We have been maintaining the cherry hill golf course so that it's in good shape ready for people to play this weekend is supposed to be terrible weather. So we're not too worried about losing the weekend, but they fully expect to be able to open up on May 12 for those who like to golf, and that might be the only outlet for a lot of folks and maybe there'll be more people who want to take up the sport. As for as far as Amherst golf we have not talked with them I assume that the Amherst golf club will be following the same guidance they and they had opened at one point and then had to close once the requirement to close came out. Hickory Ridge, as you know is I think they've pretty much closed up permanently. And so they I don't anticipate that they will be open but I just don't know that. Great. I'm going to take this quick chance to remind our attendees to feel free to pop a question into the Q&A button or raise your hand and zoom so we can acknowledge your your question. We have we have another comment here that this person sees a lot of paving going on which they're happy to see, but they worry how safe. How the crews can do this work safely in regards to face coverings and distancing and whatnot. Yeah so that so we're really happy to see the paving going on there's so much paving need in the in the town. They're paving Pellum Road paving yesterday they probably are paving today to Southeast Street is another major paving project and then we're getting other paving lined up with funds that we have it's it is a job that can be done outside and with proper social distancing. Our police officers will be wearing the people the police officers who are working details will be wearing masks they weren't official initially but the chief has issued an order that they will all be wearing face coverings to, to make sure that they stay safe because our frontline people are really important for us to stay healthy. The paving is actually done by private contractors, they are aware of what the rules are in terms of what construction, how construction has to be properly socially distance and so we make sure that they understand that they're, they're responsible for maintaining that social distance for their employees. So anything Julie you want to add about that. No, I think that working outside is a great environment and people who work outside in the hot weather especially will be using their judgment I think when there's when they're more than six feet apart from each other it won't be unusual to see them, pulling their masks down or not wearing them, but when they are coming close together then they, they will be wearing masks to protect themselves. But I think again it is okay if people are not six feet within six feet for people to not be wearing a mask, and you know you can just imagine what it's like out there doing this really hot work. If you see people who are spaced out along a line and they're not wearing masks that's okay. So just, just to let people know that because I know we're all concerned. When we see folks without a mask. We have a question here that that asks if so if someone witnesses more than 10 people in a gathering or at a certain location or witnesses people that should have masks but don't. Can they call someone. What should they do. I guess I'm answering that one. So yeah this is going to become more and more frequent I think because we do want to educate people about utilizing masks when they're when they can't achieve the six foot social distance. This goes for public places and. So if you see someone if someone's having a gathering at their home and their private residents, and there's more than 10 people there, probably not something that we're going to be able to do anything about. You know, people around a fire pit in their backyard and there's more than 10 people on private land, probably not something we're going to be able to do anything about. If it's noise, a noise issue or a nuisance. That's when you call 911 and our police department will respond to that and address the nuisance issue that is too loud or there's something like that. In general, people on their private property is basically different rules is more people in public settings and on in businesses where we'll be focusing our attention. And when police do respond they're not going to have a ticket book that issues a $300 fine they are police force has been educated to help educate the public as well about what's why face coverings are important and how they can achieve it. And there's no excuse for someone not to have a face if face covering if you have a T shirt at home you can achieve face covering so there are lots of different ways to achieve that goal. So you don't say I don't have a mask. There's lots of ways to make that happen. Great. I'm going to, we're getting close to the end of our time so I want to remind our attendees who are alive with us. Now is your chance to put your question in the q amp a box or to raise your hand. I got one last question here that was submitted. Or an observation rather that they've noticed more traffic downtown and they see more businesses reopening. And just is that the sense is that the trend with businesses in downtown Amherst right now. Yeah, it's really interesting because I'm downtown every day so I'm in town hall right now. And there's a handful of people in town hall and that's typically how the day works there's only a couple people on every floor. Because we really work to maintain our social distance but the business of the town continues and there's a lot of work to be done. It's actually business of the town has gone up in a lot of ways. But just in the last week or so I've noticed a lot more cars downtown the parking lots have a few more cars in them. I think the warm weather brings people out they may park here and then go for for a walk. I think businesses initially had envisioned a short closing. And now as they see that this is might be extending for the foreseeable future for weeks months. They're trying to figure out okay how are we going to maintain ourselves unless how do we start to offer more things I noticed some Amherst coffee is now offering services, not, not beverages necessarily but they they can offer food that for take out or for pickup. And, you know, it's amazing the adaptability of many of our businesses on how they're going to compete in this new environment. So they're everybody's, you know, a lot of the restaurants are coming up with new ways and figuring out ways to pivot. And so a lot of restaurants you can go to the chamber and the bid websites and they can they list what's open. And a lot of restaurants are up and running so you can get take out from a lot of places and I, you can see them when you're downtown standing socially distance outside the business waiting to pick out pick up their bag of food that they had pre ordered paid for in advance, and then they put it on a table outside the restaurant you just pick it up and go. So, have you noticed that Julie have you have you been out much. No I don't go out much. I've been home for about two months feels. I do go out in the car occasionally folks in town hall are really nice to come up to my car window and hand me things if I need them. And I like to take a cruise through Tennessee what's going on so yes I've noticed that also. And I'm really, you know, because infection controls my jam. I'm pretty excited about the way restaurants have come up with really safe ways to continue to allow people to get take out. I think take out for folks who can afford it is, you know, it's a little bit of comfort of there's a little bit of normality because you can't go out many places you can't do things. So I see people looking pretty happy with their, their bags of take out or their bubble tea. I think it, it helps to provide a little normalcy. Yeah, and I think, you know, after the initial shock and all the fear and all the losses. A lot of our businesses are starting to say okay, I'm going to try and operate in this different way and I think it's great because we want to, we want our businesses to be able to survive and I think they've really done a great job and helping to keep people safe while they do provide the takeouts. Yeah, the second grade word of the week for my daughter was adapt. So I, so she learned that word this week and I think we all are and I think the business is to so very appropriate. Unless there's anything else coming from our live attendees I don't see that that's all we're going to have time for today. So thank you both for joining us and for all the updates. We will be back next Tuesday and Thursday at noon same link, same phone number to join. And if you have any follow up questions from today or in general, please email us at info at Amherst MA.gov or call the town manager's office at 413-259-3002. Any, any parting last words. Thanks Brianna. Thank you so much for all the organization do for all these things we do. This is a lot more stuff than we normally do, but we think it's really important. Thanks for organizing it. Yes, my pleasure. Thank you. Thank you everyone it will eventually get one again. And happy mother's day you're right for both of you. Thank you.