COVID-19

  • Trust the Facts, Get the Vax
The Town of Sharon is committed to keeping the community informed as we all work together through this challenging public health crisis. This page is intended to provide information regarding municipal operations, federal and state actions and additional resources that will help our residents navigate this constantly evolving situation. Please take the time to view the resources available on the left side of this page and, as always, feel free to reach out to any department as we continue to provide services to the community. Please help us by distributing the message and resources here to anyone who may benefit from them.
New $75 million small business relief program launched by the Commonwealth
 
January 5, 2022 Health Department Update - Guidance on CDC Isolation & Quarantine Period Recommendations
December 27, 2021 Update from the Health Department:
COVID guidance as of 12/27/2021
December 23 Update from the Health Department:

The following information is answers to most frequently asked questions.

What and who is FULLY VACCINATED: A person is considered FULLY VACCINATED 14 days after they have received their SECOND DOSE of the COVID vaccine 

 

CLOSE CONTACT: 15 minutes total over the previous 24 hours within 6 feet- remember vehicles and sleeping arrangements count

Symptoms:

  • Fever (100.0 Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle aches or body aches
  • Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Headache when in combination with other symptoms
  • Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes such as allergies)

ALL CLOSE CONTACTS FROM 48 HOURS BEFORE SYMPTOMS STARTED OR POSITIVE TEST WAS TAKEN NEED TO BE NOTIFIED- THIS IS YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

WHAT TO DO:

IF exposed and fully vaccinated = NO TEST / NO QUARANTINE, MONITOR FOR SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS FOR 14 DAYS, IF YOU BECOME SYMPTOMATIC....GET PCR TESTED RIGHT AWAY. 

IF exposed and NOT fully vaccinated:

  • You need to isolate from others for 7 days with plans to return to normal activities on Day 8 from exposure, provided you have not developed symptoms and have had a negative PCR or monitored antigen test on Day 5 or later (THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SELF TESTS).
    • Please continue to monitor for 14 days for symptoms and if you develop symptoms- GET tested!  If you choose not to do a PCR or monitored antigen test, then you should isolate for 10 days, returning to normal activities on Day 11 (provided you have not developed symptoms. The last contact of exposure is considered Day Zero- count your days from there.

DPH Self-Testing Tips: 

  • Self-Tests are great in many ways and have lots of utility- but they are the responsibility of the person taking them.  They are NOT the responsibility of public health.
  • People with Self-Tests should notify their OWN contacts.
  • Self-Tests are NOT OFFICIAL TEST RESULTS for many scenarios, and people should consider that when determining which test type to perform. 
    • If someone has a positive self-test – they should act like they are positive and isolate.

Main Page for All things COVID-19 Testing:  https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-testing

***SHARON WILL NOT BE RECEIVING FREE COVID TESTS TO GIVE TO RESIDENTS- THESE TESTS WENT TO 106 IMPROVERISHED, UNDER-SERVED AND HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES

SHARON SCHOOLS INFORMATION

COVID Guidance for Caregivers Over 2021-2022 BREAK: 

DESE and our school department are encouraging our nurses to also take a break December 24, 2021-January 2, 2022.  Our nurses will not be answering their phone nor responding to their email during this time.  To ensure a SAFE AND ORDERLY RE-ENTRY FOR ALL TO IN-PERSON LEARNING ON MONDAY, 1/3/22 the following is a guide for your reference. Our COVID resources are available at anytime via our website: https://www.sharonschools.net/en-US/covid-19-sps-protocols-beaad379, 

If you have a pressing concern related to Covid-19, contact your primary care provider, and/or the Sharon Board of Health at 781-784-1500 X1141. School nurses will be checking their emails periodically but will not respond until January 3, 2021.  We are asking that you continue to email the nurses so that we may ensure DESE protocols are being followed. 

CURRENT SPS PROTOCOL

What and who is FULLY VACCINATED: A person is considered FULLY VACCINATED 14 days after they have received their SECOND DOSE of the COVID vaccine 

IF exposed and fully vaccinated = NO TEST / NO QUARANTINE, MONITOR FOR SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS FOR 14 DAYS, IF STUDENT BECOMES SYMPTOMATIC....GET PCR TESTED RIGHT AWAY. 

IF there is a positive case in the home: Please send an email to your school nurse of any positive cases within the household and specific information about when the person tested positive. This will help us determine when your student can safely return to school. 

IF your student is symptomatic, tests positive, or is identified as a close contact, please be AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE, with the information provided in your email to us regarding their symptoms, date of onset, date of exposure if there was one, and date of the PCR-TYPE tests with a copy of the results attached. Specific information will help us get the correct information to you about your student’s return to school. 

*If your student develops symptoms on or after December 24, 2021, a negative PCR-TYPE COVID TEST is needed to return to school. The alternative is a 10 day quarantine from the onset of symptoms which will run past our return date of January 3, 2022* 

If you are unsure if your student can attend school, please DO NOT send them in until they have been cleared by the school nurse. 

If you have a PENDING PCR-TYPE TEST RESULT, for ANY REASON, DO NOT send your student to school until negative test results have been received and sent to the school nurse. 

We cannot accept home tests for clearance to return to school for any reason.

September 30 Covid-19 update from the Health Department:
 

We are moving the needle with our efforts here in Norfolk County in regard to COVID community transmission! We have gone from HIGH risk (like the rest of the Commonwealth except Martha’s Vineyard) to SUBSTANTIAL risk over the past week. A step toward returning to a more normal life!!

  • Please continue to be vigilant.
  • Stay home if you don’t feel well.
  • Get tested if you have symptoms.
  • Wear a mask out in public or when with others you don’t live with.
  • Get vaccinated if you are able.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Continue to monitor our progress at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view
Health Department Update - September 14
 
COVID-19 Cases
  • Breakdown of cases since 8/1/2021- 9/5/2021 (5 weeks):  89 POSITIVE cases investigated (figures do not include any contact tracing, unless they too became positive)
    • Under age 12/no vaccine available to age group: 10 (11%)
    • Not vaccinated: 28 (31%)
    • Fully vaccinated: Pfizer: 30 (34%)
      • Moderna: 19 (21%)
      • Janssen: 2 (2%)
These are the actual individually counted numbers for our public schools as of 9/9/2021 9am for grade 7 and higher from sources reported in health information for students/staff and MIIS (Massachusetts Immunization Information System, where vaccines are reported by providers). All COVID case information is based on a case by case breakdown from all information entered into state reporting (which should be inclusive of all positive testing) with regard to COVID cases.
 
Sharon Mask Mandate
  • Town buildings mask mandate: 8/5/2021
  • Town wide indoor mask mandate: 8/23/2021
  • Norfolk County has moved from “substantial” to “high” risk under Levels of Community Transmission from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sharon Public Schools
  • Sharon Public Schools returned 8/30/2021 with masks/ social distancing/ layered environmental modifications
  • Presently 63% SMS students fully vaccinated, 72% SHS fully vaccinated, 73% SPS staff fully vaccinate
  • Test and stay in place with protocols from DESE
    • No COVID + or symptomatic children/staff remain at school
    • Parents are notified of close contact exposure to make monitoring plan with school
    • Close contacts (who have no symptoms) may remain at school and test daily
    • Students with exposures outside of school are not eligible for test and stay
    • School sponsored activities (ex. sports/drama) are included in test and stay
  • SPS pool testing only 30% students/staff have enrolled
    • Easy enrollment, free, requires no confirmatory retesting
Masks Required for All Indoor Settings within the Town of Sharon, effective August 23
MASKS REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE IN TOWN BUILDINGS, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 5
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its mask-wearing guidance, suggesting that vaccinated individuals wear masks indoors where community transmission levels are classified as high or substantial (unvaccinated individuals were to be wearing masks all along).
 
According to data collected from July 27 to August 2 and released today, Norfolk County has been designated as having “substantial” COVID-19 transmission rates.
 
Therefore, effective Thursday, August 5, 2021, all visitors to town buildings must wear face masks or coverings, regardless of vaccination status.
 
This requirement will remain in effect until further notice.
July 1 Covid-19 update from Leandra McLean RN, BSN, Sharon Public Health Nurse/ Administrator:

This week the World Health Organization (WHO) issued recommendations about mask wearing, especially indoors and for immunocompromised individuals in light of the spread of COVID variants. The WHO needs to encompass recommendations for the entire planet, at all levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the regulatory/guiding body for the United States, remains unchanged in guidance with respect to COVID. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Mass DPH) is making no changes to masking recommendations for the Commonwealth.

The biggest concern worldwide, remains the unvaccinated populations. ALL of the vaccines have proven highly effective in preventing morbidity and mortality- including for the Delta Variant. The statistics are showing the Delta Variant is the most easily spread form of the COVID virus- now accounting for 26% of cases in the US.

Over the past month, many of the governing boards of medicine (pediatrics, adult medicine, cardiology, critical care and many others) have met to discuss concerns about increased prevalence of myocarditis and pericarditis post vaccine, and ALL have agreed that the benefits of the vaccine FAR outweigh the potential risk.

Resources:

Town Building Hours - Effective June 1

Trust the Facts. Get the Vax.


The COVID-19 vaccine saves lives. It's the best way to protect yourself, your family, and our community. Learn more about vaccine safety, how it was developed, and how it works here.

People age 12 and older who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can get vaccinated against COVID-19. People ages 12-17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine. People age 18 and older can get any vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective. You don't need an ID or insurance to get it. Visit www.mass.gov/COVIDvaccine.

Local Assistance
 
  • For food pantry requests, click here. For general assistance, click here. For those who cannot complete either of these forms, please call the Fire Department's non-emergency line at 781-784-1522 or email jwright@townofsharon.org.
  • For those that want to help their fellow Sharon neighbors, please click here to donate. If you prefer to donate by check, please make the check payable to Sharon Fire Department, add COVID-19 Donation in the memo line, and mail it to 211 South Main Street, Sharon, MA 02067.
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