Big Y Distributing Free N95 Masks

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Big Y will soon offer free N95 masks to communities across Massachusetts and Connecticut. 
 
Big Y is actively working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to distribute more than 230,000 high-quality face coverings to shoppers. Masks will be available in all of the markets, Table & Vine and Big Y Express Gas & Convenience locations on Saturday, Feb. 19.
 
There will be employee-staffed tables set up between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to distribute up to three masks to each customer, while supplies last.
 
In mid-January, the federal government announced an initiative to distribute 400 million N95 face coverings through retailers around the country, intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. Big Y's membership in the Topco buying cooperative's aggregation capabilities are helping to meet the government's requirements. Big Y Foods and other participating Topco members were able to partner to acquire free masks to distribute.
 
Big Y Pharmacy and Wellness Centers have also worked with HHS and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on other COVID-19 support entities, including testing and vaccinations.

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Dalton Board of Health Approves Green Burial Verbiage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Board of Health approved wording for the green burial guidelines during its meeting on Wednesday. 
 
The guideline stipulates that "Ebola or any other diseases that the CDC or Massachusetts Department of Public Health deem unsuitable for green burials can not be approved by the town Board of Health." 
 
The board has been navigating how to include communicable diseases in its guidelines to prevent them from spreading.  
 
Town Health Agent Agnes Witkowski has been working to clarify the state's guidelines regarding infectious diseases and green burials. 
 
She attended a presentation on green burials and consulted with people from various organizations, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where it was determined that the state is behind in developing guidelines for green burials.
 
Currently, the only disease that would prevent someone from being able to have a green burial is ebola, board member Amanda Staples-Opperman said. Bugs would take care of anything else. 
 
The town running into situations surrounding an unknown disease would be a very rare occurrence, board members said. 
 
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