UMass Amherst COVID-19 Cluster Grows Swiftly To 35 Active Cases
photo: dhs.wisconsin.gov
Editor’s note: This email was sent by Town Manager Paul Bockelman to members of Amherst Town Council at 11:43 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30.
From: Bockelman, Paul <bockelmanp@amherstma.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2020 11:43 AM
To: Town Council Members <towncouncil@amherstma.gov>
Subject: COVID-19 Update
The number of cases connected to the cluster at the University continues to grow. As of this morning, there are 35 active cases in Town and our running total is at 181 cases. This compares to the numbers we presented to the Town Council at your Monday, September 21st meeting as 8 cases and a running total of 149 cases. This increase in cases – now at 32 – is significant for the Town and has broader implications. Significantly, the School Superintendent is about to announce that schools will NOT reopen tomorrow, October 1st, as planned. They will continue to work with the Town’s Health Director to determine what might be a good timeframe for them to reopen. This, I’m sure, will be a grave disappointment for many of our students and their families. We are meeting with the University and the Reopening Committee tomorrow and will seek a better understanding of this cluster and how it is being managed. We are working with the City of Northampton to establish a testing site in our area, noting the significant increase in cases in our community. More as things develop …
Paul
Paul Bockelman Town Manager
Town of Amherst
I am really hoping that UMass officials and the off-campus students who partied without masks or social distancing are made aware of the results of their actions. I wonder whether they can imagine the impact upon families with homeless or special needs or kindergarten kids — families that have been pacing themselves, often under great strain, for Oct. 1.
The continued refusal to respond to parties in real time, to isolate the partygoers until tested and holding them accountable with meaningful consequences will only mean more the same. This was preventable.