Community Designated as “Lowest Risk” By New State Metrics
AVON — Town Administrator Gregory S. Enos and Health Agent Kathleen Waldron report that the Town of Avon is now designated as a “grey” or lowest risk community by the state. The confirmed positive case numbers in Avon have not changed, but the metrics the state has updated now takes into consideration the community’s population of less than 10,000 residents.
This new status comes as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has updated how risk designations are calculated to better reflect COVID-19 caseload in relation to population. Prior to this week, Avon had been designated as a high risk or “red” community. Avon is now “grey”, meaning less than 10 total cases in the past 14 days. Instead of five positive cases making the community red, it will now take more than 25 positive cases. This metrics give a more accurate representation of COVID-19 in Avon.
According to public health data released on Friday, Nov. 6, there have been five new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Avon over the past two weeks. Avon’s average daily incidence rate, which the state uses to calculate risk determinations, has decreased to 8.2 per 100,000 residents, down from 11.4 last week.
“Avon residents have done a great job at reducing the number of positive cases in Town, but we are aware of the rise in cases throughout the region and the state, and we urge all residents to remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19,” Health Agent Waldron said. “It is important to follow the advice of local and state public health officials, not just for your health and safety, but for those in your household and for the community as a whole.”
Avon public health officials are urging residents to continue the public health practices that have helped to reduce the spread of the virus in town all year, including the practice of social distancing, wearing a mask in public and frequent hand washing.
Avon residents are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 if they have any symptoms (abdominal pain, chills, cough, headaches, fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite, loss of taste/smell, muscle aches/pains, shortness of breath, sore throat or vomiting) or if they have been a close contact of a positive case. It is important to stay home while waiting for test results. The closest Stop the Spread testing sites are located in Brockton and Randolph. For information about testing availability nearby through the Stop the Spread initiative, click here.
Any resident with questions or concerns is asked to contact the Avon Board of Health at 508-588-0414 ext. 1016, or email kwaldron@avon-ma.gov. To view video updates on Avon’s public health data, visit the Town’s YouTube page by clicking here.
For additional tips from the CDC, click here, and from the Massachusetts DPH, click here.
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