ATHOL — Deb Vondal spent her day Wednesday relaying forms back and forth between area residents seeking a test for COVID-19 and the Cataldo Ambulance employees administering and logging those tests. The Athol Health Agent ended up getting quite a workout between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“I’m a little bit tired this morning,” Vondal said Thursday. “I can feel it my legs. I had my Fitbit on; I put on approximately 23,000 steps. I got my exercise yesterday.”
By the end of the day, she said, more than 350 people had taken advantage of the free tests, which were administered by Cataldo in cooperation with the state Department of Public Health and the Athol Health Department. The event was conducted in the parking lot at North Quabbin Commons.
“I really think that’s good for this area,” said Cataldo. “A lot were from Athol and Orange, but there was a smattering from Petersham, New Salem, Phillipston — so, we caught some from the smaller towns, and that was great.
“I think it went very smoothly. Many people were really appreciative of the opportunity to receive a COVID test. We may now catch some people who are asymptomatic, then they can be put in isolation and their contacts contacted.”
Vondal said people who test positive for the virus will be receiving a phone call; those who test negative will be contacted via email. Registration forms containing contact information were handed back to those who were tested in case they have any questions or experience a delay in receiving their results.
Asked if another testing clinic could occur again after the first of the year, Vondal said, “I think it all depends on the trend in the virus. There have been additional test sites that have been set up. I’m not sure about the dates, but one has been scheduled for Greenfield and there will be one, I think, in Amherst.”
Vondal also told the Athol Daily News Thursday morning that her department is updating the latest state guidelines and mandates as the Commonwealth moves back to Step 1 of Phase 3.
“There’s a change in the quarantine guidance,” she said. “Still, the ultimate is 14 days. Even if somebody (who was exposed or exhibited symptoms) received a negative test, they still had to remain in quarantine for the full 14 days.
“Now there can be a 10-day quarantine, and that’s if you have not experienced any symptoms up to that point. Then you have to essentially monitor yourself up to day 14. And there’s no test necessary.”
She then explained that a seven-day quarantine is possible if an individual gets a test on day five and exhibit no symptoms, you can back to normal on day seven.
In addition, a number of restrictions will be back in place as of Sunday, Dec. 13.
“Now, for restaurants, they can only have six per table versus 10. And those customers should all be from the same household. There’s also a 90-minute time limit on tables, and people have to wear masks at all times, except when they’re eating and drinking. So, basically, once you’ve placed your order you can’t take your mask off until your meal arrives. When you’re finished, you need to put it back on.”
She said there’s no capacity on restaurants as long as tables remain six feet apart.
“But a lot of our places are smaller,” she added, “and we don’t have as many places in Athol that are actually doing indoor dining. But we’ll be making phone calls today to those that do.”
However, the capacity has dropped from 50 to 40 percent for some other businesses. These include — but not limited to — gyms, health clubs, libraries, retail, offices, places of worship, and movie theatres.
“I would say a majority of businesses and people in Athol are doing the right thing, and that’s what the Commonwealth is looking for, what the governor is looking for. You can never get 100 percent, so it it’s a majority of the businesses and people are doing the right thing, we’re doing OK.”
In conclusion, Vondal had praise for the cooperation shown in bringing Cataldo to Athol on Wednesday.
“Yesterday was truly a collaborative effort,” she said, “starting at the MPHN (Montachusett Public Health Network level, then the several lead towns reaching out to the state and asking for these extra one-day testing sites. The town manager reaching out to DeMoulas and having DeMoulas say, ‘Yes, you can use that site.’ There was the Athol fire, police, DPW, public health department, Cataldo. Even everyone that came was so patient, too, and they were very grateful of the opportunity to be tested.
“So, it just all came together. It truly was a collaborative effort that went very well.”