June 5, 2020
Franklin County Multi-Agency Coordination Center
Common Operating Picture
Friday June 5, 2020
Please note that this document is intended For Official Use Only to further cooperation and coordination across Franklin County towns.

From the FC-MACC Manager:

This will be our last situation report until another surge of COVID cases occurs (which we hope, of course, will not be the case). From here on out, we will maintain the dashboard , but not issue any further reports. The Council of Governments will continue to issue newsletters for municipal leaders containing items of interest on recovery topics, such as funding reimbursement, getting ready for town meetings, and the phased approach to reopening. Those newsletters are issued to the same mailing list as these MACC reports, so we are consolidating the number of emails you receive from us.


ABOUT THE MACC
The primary goal of the MACC is to create a common operating picture across the 26 towns in Franklin County and the healthcare facilities that serve us all, as information sharing is so critical.

PLEASE NOTE: The MACC does not have any personal protective equipment on hand.

If you need further assistance feel free to send us an email at FranklinCountyMACC@frcog.org or call us at (413) 768-7518 or (413) 768-4127. Visit our webpage at https://tinyurl.com/FCMACC .
Reopening Massachusetts

On May 18th the Baker-Polito Administration released Reopening Massachusetts, the Reopening Advisory Board’s report , which details a four-phased strategy to responsibly reopen businesses and activities while continuing to fight COVID-19. The Administration also released a new “Safer At Home” Advisory, which instructs residents to stay at home unless engaging with newly opened activities, as a way to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19. 

Click Here to get the latest information on the current guidance.
PPE for Reopening Program 

The FRCOG has been working with the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce , Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) , and Franklin County Community Development Corporation (CDC) to coordinate bulk purchases of personal protective equipment for local businesses and municipalities to reopen their doors. The FRCOG and Chamber are fronting funds to make the bulk purchase and asking participants to repay us within 30 days. The first round of purchasing, limited to organizations that were deemed “essential” or eligible to open during Phase I of the Governor’s Reopening Plan , occurred last week and we are working to get another order ready for those eligible to open in Phase II next week. For more information, please visit our new COVID-19 Procurement webpage .
Joint Statement on Law Enforcement Operations 

The following statement was disseminated on May 29, 2020 regarding sharing independent, unsolicited guidance on law enforcement operations or administration regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Office of the Attorney General, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Department of Public Health, the Municipal Police Training Committee and the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association is requesting that during the pendency of this pandemic, law enforcement instructors/trainers not offer any independent, unsolicited guidance on law enforcement operations or administration regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidance has been, and will be, provided by these State agencies/associations, where needed. Of course, agencies should continue to consult their local counsel regarding these issues.

As law enforcement instructors and trainers, many of you have offered well-intentioned, unsolicited guidance on this ever-evolving situation. For those of you offering your assistance, your generosity is applauded.  
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed countless new challenges to law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts. Our public safety agencies will be judged in the days, months and years following the pandemic for the actions they take today. For that reason, it is absolutely imperative that agencies act in uniformity, to the extent practicable, and consistent with the guidance issued by our State agencies and associations. This guidance is carefully vetted through several State stakeholders and partners to ensure the most appropriate, unified law enforcement response to the challenges posed by COVID-19. Through this coordinated approach, our agencies will be placed in a better position to defeat this virus, care for their communities, and continue to cultivate the trust of our citizens.
Town Information
Emergency Management | Public Health | Police | Fire
Latest City and Town EOC information

The entries in grey are from last week's request.
Financial Matters

We have been fielding questions lately about the many financial resources that are here, or are coming, to help with COVID expenses. For a brief description of each program and how you can find more information on each , click here.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office

In the past week, the House of Correction had three new bookings that each tested positive for COVID-19. These three detainees are in good health and have been isolated during their entire detention with the facility. The FCSO reports that they have sufficient PPE for the agency, and no other changes to their operating status or employee health status.

Service changes include: 
  • Behavioral health groups within the jail have stopped due to social distancing 
  • Incarcerated clients are completing individual work on their recovery with workbooks which are reviewed by staff 
  • Post-release reentry support occurs over the phone 
  • Staff continue to support clients in navigating resources and finding shelter 
  • Regional lockup is on hold 
  • House of Correction is accepting new inmates through courts only
  • A trailer, outfitted with electricity, HVAC, and Internet access, was set up on the grounds of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, 160 Elm Street, Greenfield as of May 1. Judges, court clerks, lawyers, and defendants will have a safe and confidential space to process these cases quickly until it is deemed for the courts to safely re-open to the public.
Franklin County MACC - COVID-19 Dashboard
The FC-MACC Dashboard, created by FRCOG, is meant to provide important information at your fingertips. It contains a map of COVID-19 cases in the County and other COVID statistics. It is updated throughout the week so check back for updated information .

In the corner of each square there are buttons to add or remove the layers of data you are interested in and one to see the legend. You can also click directly on the map to get information about any particular community.
COVID-19 Case Reporting
Amazing work flattening the curve, Franklin County! According to the updated definitions shared by the state, Franklin County has had a cumulative total of 335 cases, and 47 deaths attributed to COVID-19. In the last week there have only been a few new cases in the entire region. Local testing by Baystate and the Community Health Center has found that approximately 0.4% of those tested have tested positive.

Long Term Care data shared by the state reports that two of Franklin County’s nursing homes have had no cases – Farren Care Center and Labelle’s Rest Home. Buckley and Poet’s Seat have had over 30 cases each, and Charlene Manor has had between 11 and 30. In total, 39 Franklin County nursing home residents have lost their lives to COVID-19 since the pandemic began. This does not include those local people who are residents of facilities outside the county, like the Holyoke Soldiers Home. The Arbors assisted living facility has also had no reported cases.

For a great deal of information on COVID-19 cases in MA, visit the data dashboard at  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting#covid-19-cases-in-massachusetts-

*please note many of the tests reported as Shelburne residents were likely residents of the Shelburne Falls part of Buckland, and so neither rate is likely accurate. FRCOG does not have access to the data so could not correct it as we do for the COVID-19 diagnosis data.
Healthcare
Franklin County’s healthcare sector is slowly re-opening. Primary care practices are beginning to bring more patients in for regular care, prioritizing the most urgent needs, as well as pediatric vaccinations.

Oral healthcare is an urgent need in our region. Dental offices are opening as well. The Community Health Center of Franklin County is the region’s sole provider of dental care for adults on MassHealth, and is working diligently to make adjustments to their physical space and dental procedures to open back up safely. The CHCFC dental facility at the hospital is under renovation and remains closed, but both Orange and Greenfield are seeing patients again.
Hospitals have not received the go-ahead from the Governor for elective procedures yet but are ready.

All facilities are planning for appropriate spacing in waiting rooms, scheduling that minimizes interactions between potentially symptomatic patients and the general population and in the hospitals, testing of all patients undergoing aerosolized procedures preoperatively.

The general trend for COVID positive patients admitted to a hospital has been trending down. Since the beginning of the regional pandemic surge, nearly 80% of the Baystate system’s COVID-19 confirmed cases have either been discharged to home, discharged to skilled nursing facilities, or never needed hospitalization. The vast majority of those who have passed away were elderly and had multiple, underlying medical conditions. Most had advanced directives that limited the care they wished to receive.
PPE

Urgently needed this week:

The CHCFC reported that they have an urgent need for 2xl and 5xl gowns, with less than a week’s worth on hand.
Testing Information

Drive-through testing is available every Friday at the Community Health Center of Franklin County’s 450 West River Street site in Orange to anyone, regardless of insurance status or primary care provider, however, you must pre-register. The CHC does have a limited ability to test people onsite in Greenfield as well, and that may expand in the coming weeks. Click here to pre-register . Note that this currently the only testing available to people without symptoms.

The Baystate Franklin Medical Center drive-through site is available to anyone (including children) who has symptoms, from any medical practice, including first responders. Tests must be ordered by medical practices first. Click here for more information. Overall, as testing has increased, the percent of positive diagnoses in the Baystate system has gone down, from 24.4% to 14%, which is good news for our region.

Farmworker Testing: As the agricultural season kicks into high gear, our region welcomes a number of essential farmworkers to the region. The Big E has a testing site available to any farmworker -- Individuals who want to get tested can call the Call Center directly and make an appointment at 1-855-563-7510. Closer to home, the Community Health Center of Franklin County has a farmworker health program that can get farmworkers tested. Contact Cameron.carey@chcfc.org if interested.
Human Services
Prepared by Debra L. McLaughlin, Coordinator, Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region

Summary of Themes
Below is a summary of key themes based on the above meetings and other outreach OTF has been a part of these past two weeks during the period of May 21 – June 3, 2020

1) Increased distribution of Narcan to first responders by Tapestry in collaboration with the Opioid Task Force.
Email narcan@opioidtaskforce.org to obtain Narcan. Calls or texts can also be made to Tapestry’s Mobile Outreach Line at 413-221-7722 between 10 AM - 2 PM, Monday through Friday.
 
2) Temporary quarters for Emergency Court Hearings at the FCSO grounds; courts closed until July 1, 2020 except for emergency hearings.
 
3) The RECOVER Project and the North Quabbin Recovery Center to reopen in June.
They are following the Governor’s and/or the MA Department of Health’s BSAS guidance for re-opening. Please consult their respective Facebook pages for more up-to-date information on how their peer recovery support services can be accessed online until they are open to the public. The technology gap remains.
o  The RECOVER Project: https://www.facebook.com/TheRECOVERProject/ .
o  The North Quabbin Recovery Center: https://www.facebook.com/NorthQuabbinRECOVERYcenter/ .
 
4) Tapestry is making plans to safely reopen using the guidance from Governor Baker’s office and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. They are open M-F, 8:30 AM – 4 PM now.
Please refer to their Facebook Page for further details regarding their available services. https://www.facebook.com/pg/TapestryWMass/posts/ .
 
5) Homeless shelters at capacity; waiting list exists for the Wells Street Shelter.
The Northampton Shelter, located at the Northampton High School, is closed. The Grove Street Shelter is full in Northampton, and there is a waiting list for the Wells Street Shelter.
 
6) Food insecurity remains an issue.
The Stone Soup Café served 375 meals on May 30. They are seeking additional volunteer drivers, which involve contactless delivery. Please email Kirsten Levitt, the Executive Director at kirstenlevitt413@gmail.com for more information or to offer help.
 
7) Uptick in domestic violence calls, including the severity of calls, per the NWDA’s Office.
The NWDA has High-Risk Team, which gauges the likelihood of an individual getting killed by their intimate partner. They assess access to weapons, threats, suicidal ideation, restraining order violations, seeing an escalation in violence, violence during pregnancy, child abuse, the offender being unemployed, animal abuse, mental health issues, and non-fatal strangulation, among other factors.
 
8) Continued reports of fatal and non-fatal opioid and other drug overdoses in the region, especially in the North Quabbin remains a significant concern.
 
9) Continued reports of deaths by suicide and suicide attempts.
 
10) Continued reports of individuals in mental health crisis. Crisis services calls are down but have capacity to respond to calls.
 
11) Access to services for the most vulnerable and those who are unhoused continues to be a challenge across the region, especially in Greenfield where a minimum of 40 individuals are seen by Tapestry’s mobile outreach team.
NOTE: OTF has sharps containers in our office, with their inserts, that we could distribute for free to any municipality. 
 
11) Uneven access to PPE, telephonic and telehealth services due to lack of phones, SIM cards, other technology (e.g. computers) and Wi-Fi for program participants and patients remain an issue.
  • OTF created a resource sheet of available public Wi-Fi hotspots to share broadly in the community, which can be found here. The digital divide remains a big issue, including digital literacy, devices, and connectivity.
  • OTF is in the process of securing PPE for distribution, via a process, to community-based entities.
 
12) Detoxes, residential treatment, and supportive sober housing facilities remain generally open, with increased COVID-19 screening procedures for staff and residents. Separate areas are being set-aside to isolate individuals, as needed.
 
13) DCF continues to report the removal of children due to opioid and substance misuse and overdoses.
 
14) Coalitions/family resource centers serving families report increased family stress, especially for parents in early recovery.


CLICK HERE for the full OTF report.


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