MDS officials initiate steps to prevent illness

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Officials from the 66th Medical Squadron here have recently taken steps to prevent the spread of the COVID virus.

Earlier this month the clinic reinstated a masking policy where all healthcare professionals will wear masks for face-to-face encounters with patients. Patients are encouraged, though not required, to also wear masks.

“This decision stems from rising COVID rates and ‘Very High’ flu activity in Massachusetts,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Gough, 66 MDS public health emergency officer.

While there's been an overall increase in recent weeks, according to Gough, the trend appears to be stabilizing.

“In Middlesex County, the COVID hospital admission rate has reached 14.5 per 100,000 people, placing it in the ‘Moderate’ risk category,” said Gough.

The clinic offers COVID boosters, effective against the latest variants, by appointment at the Immunization Clinic Monday through Friday for individuals aged 3 and older. Vaccine appointments can be made by calling the clinic appointment line at 781-225-6789.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommend a five-day isolation for those diagnosed with COVID, followed by an additional five days of mask-wearing.

Asymptomatic individuals exposed to a COVID-positive person, testing negative, can continue working but should wear masks for 10 days from exposure, according to Gough.

For further information on COVID, visit https://www.mass.gov/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19.