Sunderland is the only town in Franklin County in the state’s “red” or highest-risk category this week, reporting 30 new positive COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, and it appears that might be because of the recently surge of 552 positive cases at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
In Worcester County, Athol reported 36 new cases, placing it in the “yellow” category, while Phillipston reported seven cases and Petersham and Royalston each reported less than five cases, placing all three in the “gray.”
Many students who attend UMass live in the housing complexes in Sunderland, but it was not clear if that is the reason for the most recent rise in COVID-19 numbers. The town’s public health nurse could not be reached by press time.
Only two of the county’s towns are in the “yellow” or higher-risk category: Greenfield with 34 new positive COVID-19 cases reported over the past two weeks; and Montague with 23 new cases; while two others are in the “green” or lower-risk category with Deerfield reporting 14 new cases and Orange with 11 news cases.
The other 21 towns are in the “gray” or lowest-risk category with seven towns reporting zero cases and all others reporting less than five cases. The towns reporting zero are Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Heath, Monroe, Rowe and Shelburne.
Three nursing homes throughout Franklin County, along with Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol, reported no current COVID-19 positive cases among their residents or staff, who received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in January and have either received the second dose or will be very soon. Two facilities reported one positive each.
The nursing homes, with the exception of Farren Care Center in Montague City, were hit hard during the pandemic. Farren Care has reported that is has had between “1 and 10” cases since the pandemic began and there have been no COVID-related deaths, but there are currently no new cases.
Buckley HealthCare Center on Laurel Street in Greenfield reports a total of 26 deaths since March 2020 and there is currently one resident reported positive with COVID-19. Charlene Manor Extended Care on Colrain Road in Greenfield reports no positive cases as of Feb. 11 as does Poet’s Seat Health Care Center on High Street in Greenfield, but since the pandemic began, the two have reported 21 and 20 deaths, respectively.
Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol reported no positive cases or deaths until December, when it started to see its first cases. It currently reports that one staff members has tested positive. No residents are reported positive for COVID-19, but since late last year, the facility has reported 15 deaths.
All nursing homes are in COVID-19 compliance with the state.
The state is in the second of three vaccination phases, currently focusing on people who are 75 years old or older. Caregivers who accompany someone in that population are also eligible for a vaccine. Both must schedule an appointment at the clinic of their choice. More people will become eligible over the next few months.
There are many places to schedule a vaccine appointment, though vaccine supply is limited, but according to Franklin Regional Council of Governments, availability will increase over the upcoming weeks.
Anyone who is able to travel is encouraged to schedule an appointment at the larger vaccine sites like the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Eastfield Mall in Springfield. Pharmacies in Greenfield, like CVS and Big Y, are accepting appointments through their websites. Big Y recently opened its clinic in the former mattress store next to its supermarket on the Mohawk Trail.
Doctors’ offices and health centers are providing the vaccine to their eligible patients, though they are calling patients to schedule appointments as opposed to patients calling.
The City of Greenfield has reopened its clinic at the John Zon Community Center on Pleasant Street. Eligible people must have an appointment to be vaccinated. Other local clinics will alternate between Bernardston, Deerfield, Montague and Shelburne. Times, dates, locations and availability of appointments can be found on the state’s website at bit.ly/3agcrD2.
To register for a vaccine appointment in Greenfield, call 413-775-6411. All voicemails to the phone line will be answered. Leave your name and phone number. The clinic will be open Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Friday, Feb. 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the week ahead. To register online, visit bit.ly/3peKM9W and “click” on the date you wish to schedule an appointment next week.
A regularly updated message about vaccine availability will be available by calling FRCOG at 413-774-3167, ext. 153. For help scheduling an appointment, arranging transportation or if you are homebound, call LifePath at 413-829-9285.
Testing continues at the state’s Stop the Spread site at Greenfield Community College. Sign up for a self-administered test at bit.ly/2MgITMr.
Community Health Center of Franklin County is testing asymptomatic people on Tuesdays in Greenfield and Fridays in Orange. For more information, visit chcfc.org/testing.
Valley Medical Group in Greenfield offers testing by appointment only for its patients for any reason Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 413-774 6301 for an appointment.
Baystate Franklin Medical Center also does daily testing for people, symptomatic or asymptomatic, with a doctor’s referral. Visit bit.ly/36nfsPP or call 413-795-TEST (8378) to make an appointment.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s COVID-19 testing site is free for people who are asymptomatic. To sign up for a test, visit bit.ly/2MCCZVK.