Adams Gets Another Shipment of COVID Tests, PPE

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

ADAMS, Mass. — The town has received another shipment of COVID tests and personal protective equipment.

The Board of Health discussed the shipment, which arrived at the Council on Aging for storage prior to distribution, at its meeting on Tuesday. Board Chair David Rhoads said the town received 23 boxes with 90 test kits each, which will be distributed and made available throughout town by the board, the Council on Aging, town emergency responders and others.  

"[COA Director] Sarah [Fontaine] was in the process of divvying them up and organizing. She anticipated being able to distribute them throughout town how some point this week," said Code Enforcement Officer Sarah Lesure.

Rhoads and Vice Chair Board Amy Oberlin said they distributed some tests at Ramblefest over the weekend. Several event-goers, they said, were interested.

"Amy and I passed out several dozen at Ramblefest," he said. "... They gave us a few more boxes this time around. So that's why I felt I could grab one myself that we just passed out and have for the Board of Health."  

The board also briefly discussed its coronavirus messaging on the town website. Rhoads said he added the Berkshire Public Health Alliance's vaccination clinic list.


Oberlin suggested adding the CDC vaccination location website as well.

"There is a CDC link on here but it just links to their website, so I was thinking, if you can if we can put a link up there that goes directly to their vaccine search, their vaccine provider search," she said, noting she had trouble herself finding a vaccine appointment.

In other business, Rhoads updated the board on ongoing work by the Northern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District for mattress recycling program agreement with Dalton. He said changes to mattress recycling regulations, which require specific disposal methods, necessitated the change.

"They dispose of it in the appropriate way. So more to come on that," he said.  

Rhoads said he is in the process of sending the board's sanitary code regulations to the central Department Environmental Protection Registry.

"I investigated and, indeed yes, the DEP does have a registry. So all of our regulations regarding the environmental code, sanitary code, are supposed to be sent to the central register," he said, noting he was waiting on the approved minutes from that night to send the letter to the registry.


Tags: 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.

Elevated Sodium Levels in Adams Well Water Sample

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — A recent routine test of the town's well water revealed elevated sodium levels, prompting officials to urge at-risk residents to take precautions while further testing is conducted to determine the cause.
 
The point-of-entry sample measured 40.7 milligrams per liter of sodium in the combined flow from all three wells; double the state Department of Environmental Protection's guideline for high risk individuals. 
 
Point-of–entry samples of sodium are required to be taken every three years, Water Department Superintendent John Barrett said.
 
"Sodium is naturally occurring, but not at that kind of level," he said. 
 
While sodium is an essential mineral for normal body function, elevated levels may pose risks for individuals with certain medical conditions, including kidney and heart disease.
 
It is not regulated under the state's maximum contaminant level standards, but the DEP requires that all suppliers inform the state and local Board of Health when levels are elevated above 20 milligrams per liter to ensure anyone on a sodium-restricted diet are informed. 
 
During the Prudential Committee meeting on Monday, Board of Health Chair Kathy Hynes emphasized the need to inform residents even though there are no strict guidelines by the state Environmental Protection Agency. 
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories