BCC Updates COVID-19 Policies

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Adhering to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, effective Wednesday, August 18, 2021, masks are required in all indoor spaces at Berkshire Community College (BCC). 
 
This applies to any vaccination status.
 
All faculty, staff and students in the College's healthcare fields who will be working or learning in long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities and the state's two Soldiers' Homes, must be fully vaccinated (per local facility requirements and Governor Baker's Executive Order) against COVID-19 by Oct. 10, 2021. 
 
Additionally, anyone (including students, staff and faculty) working or learning in one of Berkshire Health Systems' (BHS) facilities must be vaccinated by Oct. 1, 2021, per a "Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination" memo sent on Aug. 6, 2021.
 
CDC guidelines issued on July 27, 2021, stated: "In response to the recent spread of the Delta variant, the CDC's updated guidance does recommend that even fully vaccinated persons wear masks or face coverings when indoors if other risk factors are present." 
 
In addition, "All people in Massachusetts (regardless of vaccination status) are required to continue wearing face coverings in certain settings, including transportation and health care facilities." 
 
Currently, Berkshire County is considered to be in a high transmission area, and per CDC guidelines: "To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission."
 
Vaccines in Berkshire County are administered at walk-in clinics located at BHS Urgent Care, 505 East Street, Pittsfield; COVID Testing Center, 98 Church Street, North Adams; and Fairview Hospital, 29 Lewis Avenue, Great Barrington. For hours and information, visit  https://getvaccinatedberkshires.org/locations.
 
For more information on COVID-19 protocol and vaccinations, visit www.mass.gov.

Tags: BCC,   COVID-19,   


More Coronavirus Updates

Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 news:


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Tickets On Sale for Berkshire Flyer

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Amtrak, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), announced tickets are now on sale for the Berkshire Flyer.
 
The Berkshire Flyer is a seasonal summer passenger rail service that operates between New York City from Moynihan Train Hall and Pittsfield. The service, which began as a successful pilot in 2022, is scheduled to resume on Friday, June 21 through Monday, Sept. 2 for Labor Day weekend. Trains depart New York City Friday nights and return at the end of the weekend, leaving Pittsfield Sunday afternoon.
 
In addition, for the first time this year, the Berkshire Flyer service now includes a train from New York City to Pittsfield on Sunday mornings.
 
"We're thrilled to announce this season's Berkshire Flyer service," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "The Berkshire Flyer makes visiting Western Massachusetts on weekends convenient, relaxing, and easy. We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation and CSX."
 
The Berkshire Flyer departs from Moynihan Train Hall at 3:16 p.m. on Fridays and arrives at Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center in Pittsfield at 7:27 p.m. The train will make all intermediate station stops as the scheduled Amtrak Empire Service train does in New York State on Fridays, which include Yonkers, Croton-Harmon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson, and Albany-Rensselaer Station. 
 
The Sunday return trip, making all the same station stops, will depart Pittsfield at 3:35 p.m. and arrive in New York at 7:55 p.m. The new Sunday Berkshire Flyer train from New York City to Pittsfield will depart Moynihan Train Hall at 10:50 a.m. and arrive in Pittsfield at 3:15 p.m.
 
The Berkshire Flyer is building upon two successful seasons where some of the Pittsfield-bound trains were sold out well in advance. Based on that experience, passengers planning a trip are encouraged to purchase tickets early by visiting Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories