Mont Vernon Health Department

01/20/2022

CDC recently published new guidance on types of masks, including which masks offer the most protection. Cloth masks provide the least protection from the Omicron varient and are little more than face decoration. N95s are the most protective and paper surgical masks are in-between. KN95s are also in-between unless they are cheap knock-offs like 60% of the ones tested. Poor fitting masks with gaps around the sides offer little protection.

To reduce the potential to contract the disease, wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.

In related news, the federal government will be providing free N95s. Three free masks per person can be picked up at local pharmacies in early February.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html?ACSTrackingID=USCDC_2067-DM73679&ACSTrackingLabel=Types%20of%20Masks%20and%20Respirators%20%20%7C%20COVID-19&deliveryName=USCDC_2067-DM73679

Choosing a Mask or Respirator for Different Situations

01/18/2022

Free Covid home tests kits are now available by mail from the federal government. Simply go to https://www.covidtests.gov/ and enter your address to order 4 test kits. Shipping is expected in late January

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

01/13/2022

Town Mask Requirements

With Covid-19 cases again on the rise, the Town of Mont Vernon would like to remind townspeople of the following requirements at town facilities:

1. All townspeople and visitors, including children older than 2, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks at indoor Town facilities, including:
• Daland Memorial Library
• Town Hall
• Clerk’s Office
• Police Station
• Fire Station Community Room

2. Keep at least 6-feet of distance from others at all town facilities.

3. While outdoor at the Transfer Station, masks are encouraged but not required. Please keep 6-feet of distance to all townspeople and employees.

4. Masks are required at the Village School MPR for the upcoming Town meeting on the Municipal Budget and Warrant articles on February 1st.

Masks must cover your mouth and nose.

The very best way to protect yourself and your family from getting Covid is by getting the vaccine and booster. Vaccines and boosters are available for free at all local pharmacies and Wal Mart. You can book an appointment by calling the pharmacy or online at vaccines.gov.

If you have any questions on Covid, please call the Mont Vernon Health Officer, Rich Masters, at 603/320-8656 or email mvhealthofficer@gmail.com.

01/01/2022

01/01/2022

Covid Resources
With so much misinformation circulating about the virus its important to stay informed on the facts from reliable, science-based sources. Below are links to useful information on the state of the pandemic and how to protect yourself and reduce the potential to spread the virus.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

New Hampshire Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
https://www.covid19.nh.gov/

New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) Coronavirus Coverage
https://www.nhpr.org/coronavirus-coverage

Johns Hopkins University Covid Trends
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases-50-states/new-hampshire

Harvard Medical School
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/if-youve-been-exposed-to-the-coronavirus

...

12/14/2021

12/14/2021

10/16/2021

A number of townspeople asked me about the vaccine van scheduled to come to town. Unfortunately, anti-vax protesters disrupted the state Executive Council meeting causing a postponement of the vote to accept federal funding of the program. Last week the funding was approved, so we hope to reschedule it. The van was solidly booked so we may have missed the opportunity. More to follow.

03/23/2021

New Hampshire has moved to Phase 2B of the vaccine distribution plan for residents age 50 or with certain medical conditions. If you or someone in your household is eligible, please consider arranging for an appointment. You can register on the state’s website, https://sonh-community.force.com/providers/s/ . You can also register by calling 2-1-1. This phone is staffed from 6 am to 10 pm and calls early in the day normally have no little or no wait time.

It is great to have hope for the end of this pandemic, but we all need to remain vigilant to protect ourselves from contracting the disease and passing it on to others.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Form is only compatible with the most current stable version of Edge, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari.

04/04/2020

In addition to storing your recyclables at home until the transfer station reopens the rolloffs, another potential workaround is to bring your recyclables to your or someone in your family's workplace, assuming of course that your company recycles and you are able to transport them on your commute.

You may know that under normal circumstances the recyclable plastics allowed at our transfer station are only those marked with a 1, 2, or 3 in the triangle. Most other plastic materials CAN be recycled. Items like the ubiquitous plastic shopping bags, plastic wrap, Amazon plastic mailers, and thousands of other common items are excellent post-consumer materials, but cannot be combined with the 1-2-3 plastics since they are of different chemical origin. The good news is that recycling collection areas for these plastics are all around us: grocery stores, Walmart, Lowes and many other retailers. Look for the boxes inside the entrances of these establishments. Our family hangs a bag near our recycling containers and stuffs it with other bags and the like and takes it to the grocery store routinely.

Healthy Planet Healthy Life

03/26/2020

In other news,

Yesterday's snowstorm notwithstanding, we had the 2nd warmest winter on record. Public Service Announcement: It's spring, and THEY'RE OUT! Time to bring your birdfeeders in!

03/21/2020

For anyone going to the Transfer Station today, you will be asked to maintain a 6-foot social distance from the town employees and your neighbors, and to bring everything to the trash compactor. No recycling. This is an unfortunate, but necessary, consequence of our extraordinary time.

Please consider storing your recyclable materials at home until recycling resumes at the dump. You should rinse any item that contained food or beverage so it does not attract bugs or animals. Thank you!

As always, feel free to contact me with any Health related matters: mvhealthofficer@gmail.com or 320-8656.

Rich Masters

03/15/2020

Below is some basic information on the COVID-19 virus and links to authoritative sources.

1. To protect yourself and others:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home if you’re sick
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

2. The following symptoms are associated with COVID-19, as well as some other viral infections such as the flu:
• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

3. If you experience these symptoms and suspect you are infected with the COVID-19 virus:
• Stay home except to get medical care. People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness and recover without a medical visit, like a mild case of the flu.
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor. If you have the above symptoms and they become severe, the first thing you should do is contact your doctor by phone. Do not go to a hospital, Urgent Care facility, or your doctor’s office without calling in advance so that precautions can be made before your arrival. Your Primary Care Provider should be your first point of contact and will give you instructions on where to go for testing and where to seek medical care, if needed.

4. As of Saturday March 14 there are currently 7 cases of COVID-19 infection in New Hampshire.

5. From the Governor’s Executive Order issued Friday, visits to nursing homes and assisted living facilities are prohibited.

6. All travelers from Europe now need to self-quarantine at home for 14 days from the last day of their travel.

7. The best sources of information on COVID-19 are from the State [https://www.nh.gov/covid19/] and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html]

8. More information on the Federal response is expected Sunday night

If you have any questions on COVID-19, you can contact me at 320-8656 or send me an email at mvheathofficer@gmail.com

If you are experiencing financial difficulties from a layoff or need assistance with groceries or bills, contact Neighbor 2 Neighbor Mont Vernon at n2n.montvernon@gmail.com or the town Welfare Officer at town hall (673-6080).

While we have all been inundated with information on the coronavirus, unfortunately, there is some misinformation and many unfounded rumors out there. Disinformation about COVID-19 not only generates fear and panic, but it can make the situation worse by spreading bad advice or unsupported speculation. Many social experts recommend limiting your exposure to the media onslaught and taking a deep breath before sharing information.

Thanks,
Rich Masters

All Information on the Coronavirus Covid-19 in New Hampshire

02/29/2020

If you are interested in the science behind transmission of the corona virus, here is an interesting short video:
https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/videos/what-actually-happens-if-you-get-coronavirus-331164 #.XllCvyA2xJd.facebook

What is the coronavirus and what does it actually do in your body?

02/28/2020

02/26/2020

Below is a link to an update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the coronavirus. As you know, this outbreak has been the top news story for many days now. While most of the reporting is good and factual, there are a lot of misconceptions. Please rely on science-based information, such as that presented by the CDC and the NHDHHS.

As noted previously, this virus will undoubtable result in far fewer illnesses and deaths than a common virus, influenza, or the flu, has ANNUALLY. The best way to prevent getting the flu is to get a flu shot.
Rich

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6785529-mm6908e1-H.html

Source document contributed to DocumentCloud by Dan Vergano (BuzzFeed).