The Amherst Health Department continues to monitor the global outbreak of COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus. We are in close communication with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), our local institutions of higher education and the Amherst Regional Public Schools (ARPS).
First, we’re on it!
The Town has systems in place to address just this type of situation. We have experienced experts who are actively monitoring and managing the situation in the Town.
The Amherst Public Health Department is the local end of a chain that starts with the Federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and goes through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Hampshire Public Health Preparedness Coalition (HPHPC). The Town is the local point of contact and source for local information for residents and businesses of Amherst.
At every level, emergency response plans – plans that have been set-up, reviewed, and updated regularly for years - and are being reviewed for this particular situation.
We are in continuous contact with the CDC and DPH, with our local institutions of higher education, with our local hospital and we are working very closely with the Amherst Regional Public Schools (ARPS).
What do we know now?
Planning for and preventing the spread of communicable disease is an ongoing process at all levels of government. We in Amherst are part of a robust system of planning, communication and response to disease outbreaks. Amherst healthcare providers, our local hospitals, and Emergency Medical Systems are in communication with DPH regarding the virus and potential cases.
As of March 4, 2020, the risk of infection in our area is low and there is no “community-level spread” of the virus. There is one confirmed case in Massachusetts and one “presumptive positive” case identified, which is still pending confirmation by the CDC. We can’t predict the spread of the virus and it’s possible that we’ll see cases of COVID-19 in our community.
The good news is we are prepared and have time to get ready. Click here to visit our COVID-19/Coronavirus web page.
Stay Connected
Updated on 3/5/2020 | This post will continue to be updated as new information is made available.