News Flash

COVID-19 Data

• The Hingham Health Department is urging residents to remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19 as the community remains at a high risk for the disease.
• According to public health data from the MA Department of Public Health (DPH) released last week, the Town’s designation remains at “red,” indicating a “high risk” of spread in the community. The average daily incidence rate for the Town of Hingham is 70.8 per 100,000 residents, up from 58.6 the prior week.
• According to DPH, there have been 238 new cases of COVID-19 in the community over the past 14 days. There have been a total of 1,133 cases in Hingham since the start of the pandemic.
• As of yesterday, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts had climbed to 451,535.
• Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid high risk activities, especially indoor social gatherings, and all Massachusetts residents are under orders from the Governor to wear masks at all times while in public. 
• Residents are reminded to always take the following precautions to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the community:
  1. Remember that an infected individual can spread COVID-19 before they have symptoms, which is why social distancing -- maintaining a minimum of 6 feet from others -- is critical.
  2. Those who must go out are urged to:
     • Avoid gathering in groups
     • Maintain 6 feet from people outside your household
     • Do not shake hands or hug
     • Wash your hands often
  3. Those who are at a high risk for COVID-19, including those over the age of 65 and with underlying health conditions, are advised to stay home and avoid non-essential tasks and errands
  4. Wear a mask in indoor and outdoor spaces at all times.
  5. Face coverings should:
     • Cover the nose and mouth
     • Fit snugly and comfortably against the side of the face
     • Be secured with either ties or ear loops
     • Permit breathing without difficulty
     • Be able to be washed and machine dried without damage. Face masks should be washed regularly depending on the amount of use.

Vaccine Rollout

• Vaccine distribution continues across Massachusetts as the state works through its three-phase vaccine rollout plan.
• We were pleased to announce last week that first responders in the Town of Hingham received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.  On Tuesday and Thursday, Jan. 12 and 14, Hingham paramedics administered the Moderna vaccine to members of the Hingham Police Department, Hingham Fire Department, and regional 911 dispatchers during clinics held at the Hingham Senior Center.
• The Hingham Health Department is one of approximately 115 organizations statewide approved to distribute vaccinations to public safety personnel as part of Phase 1 of the state's COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan.
• The COVID-19 vaccination is not available to the general public at this time.  However, our Vaccine Planning Group is applying for state authorization to allow the Town to operate a clinical site for additional groups in Phase 1 of the state’s rollout plan, such as health care workers providing non-COVID-facing care.
• We are also following the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency’s Incident Management framework to expand our Vaccine Planning Group and bring in additional trained staff to plan and coordinate larger-scale vaccine clinics, should we be authorized by the state to move forward. 
• As more information becomes available, we will continue to share it with the community.  
• Please refer to the state’s When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine? website for the most up-to-date vaccine information.  This page can be found by visiting mass.gov, clicking on the COVID-19 link, and then clicking "When can I get the vaccine?".