CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Health and Human Services Committee Meeting | Tuesday, April 28, 2020 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:32 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:28 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Sarai Rivera | | Vice Chairperson George J Russell | | Councilor Gary Rosen |
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Virtual Meeting: Esther Howland Chamber - 415-655-0001 (Access Code: 735751404#) | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Sarai Rivera
Councilor George J Russell
Councilor Gary Rosen | | | | | Also: | Medical Director Michael Hirsh
Commissioner of Health and Human Services Matilde Castiel
Director of Public Health Karyn Clark
Deputy City Clerk Stephen A.J. Pottle, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 1a. | Order- That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Health and Human Services hereby approves the minutes of the Public Health and Human Services Committee meeting on March 17, 2020. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays. | |
| 2. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 2a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic.
# 8.17A CM March 17, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and took the item up collectively with #2b.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, who provided an overview of the city’s efforts to combat COVID-19, including but not limited to public service announcements in multiple languages, an equity task force and education around healthcare options available to residents.
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services then spoke to homelessness outreach efforts, including locations that were used to house homeless individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Medical Director who provided an overview of the city’s effort to combat COVID-19, including clarification on the requirement to wear face cloths.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Director of Public Health, who spoke to reassigning the entire Public Health Division to work on COVID-19 related efforts, including staffing the EOC. She then thanked the City Manager, City Council and administration for their hard work.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Russell, who spoke to a possibility of a great number of individuals, including those of the homeless population, being asymptomatic, which was discussed with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Medical Director.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera put forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager consider performing random sample testing for COVID-19 to help determine what percentage of the city’s population is positive for the virus.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Rosen, who spoke with the Medical Director concerning the number of individuals who were tested for COVID-19, how accurate the test were and the need for better testing to be developed.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera moved for a roll call vote to adopt the Chairman’s Order and recommend #2a and #2b be placed on file.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager consider performing random sample testing for COVID-19 to help determine what percentage of the city’s population is positive for the virus. | |
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| | | 2b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to an update on the City's homelessness outreach efforts.
# 8.17A CM February 25, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See #2a) | |
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| | | 2c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the results from the Worcester Senior Center Participant Survey.
# 9.18A CM May 8, 2018
In Committee December 12, 2018 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and recognized Councilor Rosen, who spoke to the difficulties associated with reopening institutions such as the Worcester Senior Center, due to the vulnerability of the population.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, who explained it would likely be some time before seniors would be able to return to the Worcester Senior Center.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 2d. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a mechanism for community input to improve the Worcester Senior Center.
# 9.18C CM May 8, 2018
In Committee December 12, 2018 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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