1/5/2022

Masking in Municipal Center:

This is going to be a bit long! The abridged version is that here and in Town offices signs will now say that All people are urged to wear masks (and required for the unvaccinated). Also, David is reminding us all not to make unnecessary trips into other departments and/or buildings. 

More details:

1. Attached our new signs and the Town's original sign. I mentioned to David that their sign (to me) made it sound like they were urging masks for everyone, but not requiring for unvaccinated. They are updating their wording.

2. David's message regarding visiting other departments is copied below.

3. I found this interview with Dr. Robert Wachter to be interesting; I pass it along in case you don't follow him. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/04/1070338045/the-case-for-covid-optimism-despite-sky-high-infection-rates 

4. NH DHHS is lagging behind the CDC for guidance at the moment. I am carefully looking at both and sharing with the Trustees. 

• CDC Data Tracker (can limit by county): https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type= 
• CDC Data Tracker (Rockingham County): https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=New+Hampshire&data-type=Risk&list_select_county=33015 
• COVID Act Now: Rockingham County https://www.covidactnow.org/us/new_hampshire-nh/county/rockingham_county/?s=27751665
• NH DHHS Case Summary: https://www.covid19.nh.gov/dashboard/case-summary Today, Stratham is listed as having 36 active cases. The rest of the dashboard tabs and links have detail also on hospitalizations, trends, etc.

5. We have more KN95 masks in the staff room so please help yourself. 

Thanks everyone, and let's all try to stay safe,

Lesley

Msg from David 1/4/2022:

Dear Staff in the Municipal Center,

Last evening, the Board revised its masking guidance for the Municipal Center to reflect the following: To Urge All Persons Both Vaccinated and Unvaccinated to Wear Masks.

This masking guidance reflects the CDC guidance that both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons where masks indoors.

Here are a few notes on how this affects us as a staff.

• As the pandemic has evolved to a new phase, increasing concern has been expressed on staff about masking procedures given the transmissibility of the latest variant, even to vaccinated people.  This urging to wear masks extends to all employees working in the building, especially in common areas.  Similar to the masking requirement in place in 2020, employees may or may not choose to wear masks at their personal workstations.
• One physical change that has occurred since the start of the pandemic is in the work space for Parks and Recreation.  No longer are Seth and Cantrece behind a window.  You will note they have placed a note on their door asking members of the public to knock so they can be met in the lobby.  If you are helping direct members of the public to Seth and Cantrece, please be mindful of this and help facilitate this approach.
• The Select Board understands that masks may be required for participants at certain activities, such as recreation programs due to the nature of those activities.

We will continue to evaluate this policy and appreciate your cooperation and courtesy shown to the public and one another.  If you have feedback on this policy, I encourage you to come speak to me.

Mask policies for the separate municipal buildings will continue to be led by the department heads in those buildings (see attached for sample signage to be posted at the MC today).

Thank you all of your cooperation and understanding.

David M.

Town Administrator

MSG from David today (1/5)

Dear All,

As we are all aware, COVID cases are increases significantly.  Handwashing, workstation cleaning, mask wearing and social distancing all remain effective and recommended approaches to avoiding contagion. 

I want to highlight one other piece of guidance that is important to our strategy of remaining healthy and ensuring our workforce remains at work.  Please do not visit Town buildings other than the one to which you are assigned. 

Even within our MC, I can do better about limiting my movement to personal workspaces that are not my own. Avoiding entering other Town buildings and mixing with other staff groups as much as possible will better ensure our first responders, our critical DPW staff and each one of us remains at our posts providing services during this challenging time.

Thank you for your cooperation.

David M.