Update: Town of Hanson Emergency Management Team Joint Statement
For immediate release – MARCH 20, 2020 AT 12:15PM
Hanson — The Town of Hanson would like to inform all residents of planned steps designed to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on the community. These steps are necessary to limit the potential spread of the virus. A local state of emergency continues to exist in the Town of Hanson and the Town has marshalled an Emergency Management Team to respond to this situation.
The Town’s Emergency Management Team and the Board of Health have been working closely and meeting frequently to discuss the latest guidance and determine the actions needed to keep our Town prepared. These measures are being taken out of an abundance of caution so that we all can minimize the spread of the virus. Your cooperation has been appreciated and continues to be appreciated.
The following measures are still in effect and will continue to be in effect for the foreseeable future in the Town of Hanson:
Town buildings, including Town Hall, Council on Aging Senior Center, Town Library, and Town schools are still closed to the public and will stay closed until further notice.
All public meetings except the March 24th Board of Selectmen’s meeting will be postponed indefinitely until the Town can ramp up its telephonic meeting capability. The Board of Selectmen’s March 24th meeting will be held via telephone and broadcast via cable TV. Residents will be able to listen to the meeting live by calling in to a toll free number and using an access code that will be published on the Town’s website. The Town’s website is www.hanson-ma.gov.
All Town parks and fields are still closed to organized groups until further notice. Any groups larger than ten or more are strongly discouraged from congregating in the Town’s parks and fields. Any surfaces or structures will not be sanitized or cleaned by Town staff for the foreseeable future.
All functions at Camp Kiwanee or Thomas Mill are still postponed indefinitely.
The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District has cancelled school and school activities until at least April 6, 2020. During this time, each School building will undergo deep cleaning and disinfecting. Whitman-Hanson students that need food services will be able to go to the High school beginning Monday March 16, 2020 daily from 11AM-1PM at the snack shack area which is in front of the Performing Arts center where grab and go breakfast and lunch meals will be available. Students will need to provide their student ID number and this program will be handled as it is during a regular day. This is the only time a school building will be open to any member of the public.
The Hanson Senior Center continues to provide Meals on Wheels to homebound residents Monday-Friday. If you are not currently receiving meals and would like to, please contact the Center 781-293-2683.
All Police and Fire services will continue as usual, however, we ask residents to call the department business lines for routine business and avoid coming into the police and fire stations to limit the spread of the virus.
The Fire Chief has issued a policy that allows outside burning until May 1st if the resident calls 781-618-8888 after 10AM each and every day that burning will occur and the resident follows the instructions given.
The Board of Health is still enforcing Governor Baker’s Order banning all on-premises consumption of food, drinks, and alcoholic beverages at the Town’s restaurants and bars effective until April 5, 2020 or such later date as the Governor determines. Any establishment that violates the Governor’s order will be subject to applicable license revocations by the Board of Selectmen. The Boards of Selectmen and the Board of Health thanks all of the Town’s establishments for their continued compliance with the Governor’s order.
The Police Department and the Board of Health are still enforcing Governor Baker’s Order banning all gatherings of 25 people or more until 11:59PM on April 5, 2020 or such later date as the Governor determines. All food establishments must implement a plan for social distancing during takeout food order operations and must apply rigorous sanitizing techniques. These actions will slow the spread of the virus.
The Transfer Station will remain open at this time.
Residents can log on to the Town’s website at www.hanson-ma.gov to get Town department phone numbers or e-mail addresses. The Town’s public servants stand ready to answer any questions that you may have or to give out more information as it becomes available. Please check the Town’s website frequently for updates as this situation is extremely fluid.
The Commonwealth has also set up the phone number 211 to answer questions that residents may have concerning this pandemic. The Commonwealth has also created a “Call2Talk” option on its 211 hotline to assist residents. The professionals present on the “Call2Talk” option may be able to answer your questions or address your concerns more fully.
Hanson’s Emergency Management Team, the Board of Selectmen, and the Board of Health are confident that together, working in concert with the community, we will be able to stem the spread of this virus.
Resources:
Town of Hanson website: www.hanson-ma.gov
Town of Hanson Board of Health phone number: 781-293-3138
Town of Hanson Board of Selectmen phone number: 781-293-2131
Commonwealth of MA COVID-19 phone hotline: 211
Commonwealth of MA COVID-19 “Call2Talk” contact number: 211, then “Call2Talk”
Commonwealth of MA Department of Public Health COVID-19 dedicated website: http://www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus
Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov