GREENFIELD – The city has received more protective equipment from individuals and businesses as well as the federal government and is already distributing some to the local hospital and other health care facilities.
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner’s Chief of Staff Danielle Letourneau said the city is in constant contact with the hospital and nursing homes and is providing what they need, if the city has it. She said city officials are listening to their requests and getting them what they can provide when they get them.
“We are also installing two hand-washing stations downtown,” Letourneau said. “One will be next to the Porta Potty and the other will be in the parking lot at City Hall.”
She said the reasons for the stations is to provide people who might be homeless or just out for a walk the opportunity to stop and wash their hands. She said so many businesses are now closed, so this is an option.
“We’re talking with social service agencies, as well, so that they can go out and talk with people and let them know about the stations so they can keep themselves as safe and clean as possible,” Letourneau said.
Officials are currently working out of the city’s COVID-19 Emergency Opertions Center in the John Zon Community Center on Pleasant Street. The center is not open to the public, but is running a hotline that residents can call with questions and comments and for any information they might need.
Fire Chief Robert Strahan is heading up the collaboration between all city departments, whose heads are meeting every morning at 8 and 9 a.m. with Wedegartner and Letourneau.
“Everyone is doing at least two jobs right now,” Strahan said earlier this week, but their first duty is to the public and answering its questions, as well as keeping all residents safe.
He said the city identified the need to have an operations center in place several weeks ago, so that everyone could work in one place and be ready to respond to whatever came its way.
Letourneau said the city is currently providing only the numbers that Baystate Health and the state are supplying because they are constantly changing as people get tested.
The COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center’s community hotline can be reached at 413-775-6411 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The EOC continues to accept donations of medical grade personal protective equipment for use by first responders and health professionals, according to a press release from the mayor’s office. The needed supplies include: masks, gloves, gowns, shoe coverings (booties) and hand sanitizer. No homemade items will be accepted. Everyone is advised to call 413-775-6411 before bringing donations. Items will need to be dropped off outside the John Zon Community Center but should not be dropped off after hours.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 5269, or afritz@recorder.com.