Town of North Andover Updates on COVID-19 response

CONNECT WITH US: Text COVIDNA to 67283

December 15, 2020 UPDATE

Total case count: 1333

Active: 231

Recovered and out of isolation: 1050 

COVID-19 Related Deaths: 52

Active Merrimack cases (included in case count): 13  

Dear Neighbors,

As a reminder, at this time the Town of North Andover has been designated as a red/higher risk community.  As the number of COVID-19 transmissions across the state continue to rise, please protect your loved ones and use caution, avoid gatherings, wear a mask and practice social distancing.  Together, we can get safely through the holiday season.

For the safety of our employees and residents, non-essential town employees will be working remotely from December 21-January 4.  The library, town hall, and senior center will all be closed to the public during this time. The  library and youth center will be running limited programming.  Employees are available by phone and email to serve residents.  For information on individual department’s hours, please contact that office directly.   The COVID-19 hotline is still available at 978-208-6070 and covid19@northandoverma.gov.  

The CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued updated quarantine recommendations.  That new information can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-isolation-and-quarantine-information

The Police Department through its Cram-a-Cruiser drive event and Town Hall employees through their From Our Hearts to Your Homes drive are collecting food and other personal items to distribute to residents in need.  

ALL residents are eligible and can pick-up food and/or supplies at the Senior Center.  Hours of operation and contact information are below:

North Andover Senior Center

120R Main Street (behind Town Hall)

Mondays & Wednesday from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Special Pick-Up – Saturday, December 19, 2020 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

(978) 688-9560

New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine are now on the restricted state list.  If you travel to these states you will need to quarantine when you return to Massachusetts.  If you return from travel and need a COVID-19 test, more information about the Stop the Spread sites is available here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread

You can find updated information regarding the Governor’s travel order here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order

All of Governor Baker’s emergency orders can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-state-of-emergency

Technical Assistance for Small Businesses:  Through its partnership with the Lawrence Partnership, Essex County Community Foundation, the City of Lawrence, and the Town of Andover, the Town of North Andover is able to offer FREE opportunities for technical assistance (TA) to small businesses seeking help with how to operate during these challenging times.  There are a few TA service providers for businesses to select, some of which focus on specific types of businesses, like restaurants or salons/personal services businesses.  To learn more, visit: www.mvopenforbusiness.org

For more information on additional resources for small businesses and employers, Click Here.

As more and more businesses, restaurants and activities remain open, we continue to encourage the community to stay diligent in preventing the spread of COVID-19.  Many of the things that you can do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses such as the flu, include:

• Wear a face covering or mask whenever in public. 

• Physical or social distancing whenever in public and as much as possible.

• Avoid large gatherings especially as it gets colder and more events are being held inside.

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

• Clean things that are frequently touched (like doorknobs and countertops) with household cleaning spray or wipes.

• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands.

• Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with others.

Please join us in stressing this to your family, friends and neighbors.  

If you get a COVID-19 test for any reason, especially if you are not feeling well then please isolate until you receive your test results.  It is also important to isolate yourself from your family members if possible.  The majority of the transmission we are seeing is from household contacts.  Please be aware and protect your family.  These steps are of the utmost importance and reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Due to the volume of positive cases across the State of Massachusetts, the Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) was developed to aid Local Boards of Health in the tracing of close contacts in each community. By answering the call from the CTC, you can do your part in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.  Your caller ID will show the call is coming from 
MA COVID Team with area codes (833) or (857).

We understand that you may need to go to potentially crowded public places and stores so please follow our Tips to Shop Safely during COVID-19, found here.

The COVID-19 hotline is still available at 978-208-6070.  Messages left on this line are sent directly to Town staff and will be answered during regular business hours.  

The best source of guidance and recommendations is the DPH website:

www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus.

Questions about the town’s response or about the illness, in general, can be sent to covid19@northandoverma.gov.

We will continue to monitor this situation and will distribute necessary information and guidance.  

Best,

Melissa Rodrigues, Esq.

Town Manager