Editor’s Note: Sunday’s case count from Bedford’s Covid-19 Task Force and Town Manager Sarah Stanton includes notes about the reopening of Parks, Fields, and Courts on Monday, May 25 although Playgrounds/Play Structures remain closed.
Click this link to read the Town’s full update for Sunday, May 24, 2020
The daily update is also available in the following places if you’d like to share with your friends:
- Website ~ www.BedfordMA.gov
- Facebook ~ @bedfordma
- Twitter ~ @BedfordMAGov
CURRENT CASES
As of today, May 24, 2020, there have been a total of one hundred ninety (190) positive cases of COVID-19 reported to the Town of Bedford Board of Health by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH) and thirty-seven (37) deaths of Bedford residents attributed to COVID-19. The total case number includes residents of the Town of Bedford, including but not limited to those in single-family homes, apartments, the VA campus, Hanscom Air Force Base, special needs group homes and any and all other larger assisted living/care facilities in Bedford as reported to us by the MA DPH.
As you may be aware, long term care facilities serving the elderly and congregate-care facilities, house susceptible populations with underlying conditions who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Increased testing occurs at these facilities which results in more positive cases being identified. As such, cities and towns with these facilities, like Bedford, experience elevated positive case counts and, unfortunately, deaths due to the vulnerability to COVID-19 of the populations within those facilities.
Fifty-three (53) of the total Bedford cases have already recovered and have come off of isolation and there may other Bedford residents who would be considered persons under investigation in that they are symptomatic, have undergone testing but have not yet received results. There are other individuals impacted by COVID-19 in the community who have not sought medical attention, and/or have not been tested and are isolating at home regardless. Those individuals do not appear on the surveillance reports the Town receives from the MA DPH.
IMPORTANT UPDATES
Parks, Fields, and Courts Open Monday, May 25, 2020 (Playgrounds/Play Structures Still Closed)
Massachusetts has begun the process of reopening and has relaxed the stay-at-home advisory. During the first phase of the state’s reopening plan, a variety of businesses and industries will start to reopen with limitations and certain restrictions in place.
Now, a new safer-at-home advisory is in place which still suggests only leaving home for work, grocery shopping, health care, religious and outdoor activities.
Beginning tomorrow, the second part of the state’s Phase 1 portion of the reopening plan will go into effect. In Bedford, this means that tennis courts, fields, and parks will be open with restrictions. The Town will post signage in these areas to ensure all have an understanding of these restrictions, which are consistent with the Governor’s 4-phase reopening plan.
In short, in all of these outdoor spaces social distancing and wearing face coverings still apply when you can’t keep 6 feet away from others. It is strongly encouraged that you wear a face-covering when in these areas but, at the very least, be prepared with a face covering in case you need it.
Tennis and pickleball courts will reopen and, again, people must keep social distance or wear masks when they are unable to comply with social distancing; only people from the same household are allowed on the court at one time for singles and doubles play; those waiting to play should wait outside the court’s gate and until previous players leave the court.
Although the courts and fields will be reopened, there can be no organized games, practices, or fitness classes/bootcamps at this time. The restrictions of gatherings of more than 10 people remain in place.
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