GREENFIELD — The city will open a COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center in the John Zon Community Center early next week that will be manned by emergency management staff and run by Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Robert Strahan.
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner said Friday that Greenfield is following the guidelines of the state commissioner of public health “during this time of the escalating health emergency, and the city’s emergency management staff is maintaining the confidentiality of those in the community who are suspected or presumed to have COVID-19.”
Wedegartner said there are “confirmed cases” out of a “nursing facility” in Greenfield, but would not elaborate because of privacy issues.
“We want you to know we are in constant communication with all local health care facilities, including nursing homes, and we are appropriately briefed on confirmed or presumptive cases via our liaison, Jennifer Hoffman,” the mayor said. Hoffman is a public health agent in Greenfield.
As of Friday morning, the Baystate Health system had tested 377 people for COVID-19. Among them, 17 people tested positive, 147 tested negative and 213 tests were still pending.
Wedegartner said the Emergency Operations Center, which will not be open to the public, will be a “clearinghouse of information to help us respond to the pandemic.” Emergency personnel will focus on streamlining all communication and requests to local, state and federal pandemic responders, will coordinate the needs for supplies and resources; will collaborate with neighboring communities; and will stay connected to a statewide network tracking the virus. She said the city will also pay attention to the state’s response to the pandemic.
Greenfield will have a COVID-19 information hotline operational by early next week, Wedegartner said, which will be staffed by volunteers and city staff supported by the Health Department. The focus of the hotline will be to answer all questions that people and agencies have specific to COVID-19 and what services are available.
“We’ve been fielding these questions and concerns at City Hall, the Health Department and other city departments, so now we will be able to have one number for citizens to call,” she said. The phone number will be revealed next week.
Wedegartner said anyone experiencing serious or life-threatening symptoms should call 911 and/or their doctor and head to the hospital when directed to do so. She said everyone should practice social distancing, wash their hands often and clean surfaces. She suggests everyone visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Public Health websites often.
“We sound like a broken record, but this is what we have to do to get through this,” she said. “The people of Greenfield are in good hands. We have wonderful people running our departments.”
Wedegartner said she has no thoughts, at this time, about people needing to shelter in place. She said she will take her coronavirus cue from the governor when it comes to that action.
Strahan said the city will coordinate its resources and its overall response.
“We are in a state of emergency,” he said. “We will be working with other towns, the state and the federal government throughout and for the recovery after.”
He said first responders are following protocols and he is keeping an eye on supplies so the city doesn’t run out.
“It’s business as normal for responders,” he said.
Wedegartner said she is in constant contact with legislators, including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, state Sen. Jo Comerford, Rep. Paul Mark and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey.
“They’re doing all they can to push for resources for us,” she noted. “I’m grateful for their help.”
Information about COVID-19 and the city’s response can be found at: greenfield-ma.gov.
The city of Greenfield, in its efforts to ease the financial burden of its residents due to COVID-19, is extending the due date on excise taxes from March 23 to April 6, allowing people more time to get payments in the mail or dropbox, or to pay online before they start accruing interest.
The city will not add demand fees to any bills (excise, water/sewer, real estate and personal property) until “this period of crisis” ends.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 269 or afritz@recorder.com.