Editor’s note: The Greenfield Recorder has been providing regular updates on the risk level of COVID-19 transmission as wastewater testing results are received.
With the volume of virus copies in the area similar to last week, the risk for COVID-19 remains “moderate” in the four communities involved in the Contact Tracing Collaborative, which consists of Greenfield, Deerfield, Montague and Sunderland.
Virus concentration in Greenfield’s wastewater remained fairly consistent. Approximately 1.2 million copies of virus per liter of sewage (which accounts for dilution and other factors) were recorded between Oct. 19 and Oct. 26, compared to Biobot Analytics’ most recent data that shows 1.3 million copies per liter between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2. Currently, there are four people hospitalized with COVID-19 and seven cluster events (infections of three or more people at one site), according to Greenfield Health Director Jennifer Hoffman.
As a result, the Contract Tracing Collaborative communities remain in the yellow zone with a moderate risk of COVID-19 transmission, with masking encouraged.
At the same time, she said, there is a significant amount of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu.
“Everything is kind of mimicking each other,” Hoffman said. “Respiratory viruses are going to present like a respiratory virus — fever, coughing, shortness of breath, congestion.”
There are four people with the flu who are hospitalized at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, one of whom is in critical care, according to Hoffman. The Greenfield Health Department is aware of 15 documented flu cases in the last two weeks.
“In years past, it’s about on par to a flu season,” she said. “But last year, and for 20 months, we had only one flu case.”
The schools in the four-town collaborative area are also seeing cases of RSV.
“We just want everyone to be safe and protect themselves,” Hoffman said. “If you’re sick, stay home.”
In combination with wastewater testing — people with an active COVID-19 infection excrete the virus in their stool, and samples from wastewater treatment plants can be analyzed to estimate community virus levels — the four municipalities factor in hospitalization numbers, positivity rates and case numbers to determine risk levels. Health officials also continue to talk with nursing homes, businesses and schools to track cluster infections.
The following three zones, defined by the Contact Tracing Collaborative, are used to gauge risk levels of COVID-19 transmission in the four communities. For the risk level in the area to change, at least two measures need to apply.
Masking recommended.
■Cluster infections (of three or more people at one site): five or more.
■Percent positive tests out of total tests performed: greater than 10%.
■Hospitalizations: five or more.
■Increase in case trend.
■Increases in wastewater trend.
Masking encouraged.
■One to four cluster infections.
■Stable positive testing.
■Fewer than five hospitalizations.
■Stable case incidence.
■Stable wastewater.
Masking optional.
■No cluster infections.
■Decrease in positive tests.
■Decrease in hospitalizations.
■Decrease in case incidence.
■Decreased virus copies in wastewater.
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.