Mayor Koch reviewed that the City of Quincy has committed CARES Act funding totaling close to $6 million to date: $3.1 million for Chromebooks and educator laptops plus $1 million of infrastructure enhancements, over $400,000 for PPE, and $25,000 funding for the QPS Summer program staffing.
City of Quincy Health Commissioner Ruth Jones reviewed that Quincy has had 1549 confirmed cases total, 1340 recoveries, no recent deaths, active cases (probable and confirmed) total 20. Numbers have been solidly in the green for the last 2+ weeks.
Mr. Santoro asked Commissioner Jones to review the theory behind the phased-in approach to opening the Quincy Public Schools. Commissioner Jones said that the three weeks between groups allows for monitoring the cohorts and analyzing the data and safely progressing.
Mr. Bregoli said that the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education guidelines allow for Quincy Public Schools to have hybrid learning for all grades. Commissioner Jones said that when the plan was approved, Quincy was yellow, and moved to green the next week. Commissioner Jones supports the phased-in approach, cautiously increasing the number of students and staff and optimistic that the tentative plan can be rolled out, depending on the data and trends.
Mr. Bregoli said that the Centers for Disease Control released information that 94% of COVID deaths also had underlying health conditions. Commissioner Jones said there is a lot of controversy about those numbers, a person might have diabetes, but they died of COVID-19.
Mr. Bregoli asked about recent cases for school-age children; Commissioner Jones said that in the last few months, there have been no more than three cases at a given time. Mr. Bregoli noted that the Quincy Recreation Department is concluding their summer programming this week, successfully managed so that there were no cases among children or staff.
Mr. Bregoli asked for prediction on when the 6-foot distancing might be reduced. Commissioner Jones said that while 3 feet is acceptable, 6 feet is better; she cannot make a prediction for when this might happen. Commissioner Jones said the metrics are important, these will be an ongoing discussion with School Committee and the data will dictate any changes in the plan.
Mr. Gutro asked about the upcoming Labor Day weekend and advice for families and staff. Commissioner Jones noted that there was an uptick in Quincy following the July 4 holiday, which also coincided with the beginning of Phase 3 statewide. The state Department of Public Health is advising against large events, encouraging keeping safe distancing and mask wearing when with members outside the household.
Mr. Gutro asked if a child or adult tests positive after Labor Day, what is the reporting process. Commissioner Jones reviewed the process for contact tracing and notification. If a student or staff member living in Quincy tests positive, the Health Department will notify the school. The Health Department clears cases and contacts from quarantine and isolation. Staff members who live in other towns will be tracked by the city/town they live in. Household contacts of positive cases are quarantined for 14 days following the 10-day isolation of the positive case.
Mr. Bregoli asked for clarification on COVID-19, it is a droplet infection, where particles travel a distance and fall to the ground. This is different than an airborne infection such as measles. Commissioner Jones said that if COVID-19 was airborne, there would be many more cases.
Mayor Koch asked Public Buildings Department Mechanical Engineer David Scott to give an overview of his work on analyzing school building ventilation. Teams of technicians including outside electrical contractors and engineers have performed surveys in each building, eighteen have been completed in terms of surveying and repairs/replacements and the last two will be completed before September 16. The work includes assessment of air flow and exchange and efficiency settings are adjusted for occupancy and pre-purge and post-purge ventilation scheduled. Mr. Scott said that there has been inquiry around air exchange rates, these are calculated for full occupancy, recent samples are between 2.3 and 3.3 air exchanges per hour. In some buildings, inoperable windows are being replaced to increase ventilation, particularly in basement spaces.
Mayor Koch reiterated that while we strive for energy efficiency, that is secondary to the air exchange at this point.
Mr. Bregoli asked about COVID-19 droplets in air exchange systems. Mr. Scott said the building occupants wearing masks limits the droplets in the air and the air filters in the systems have been upgraded to higher MERV-rated filters as a barrier to COVID-19 droplets moving through the HVAC systems.
Mr. Bregoli said a recent Boston Globe article cited opening windows and doors to increase air circulation. Mr. Bregoli asked about C02, Mr. Scott said this is how indoor air quality is measured. The C02-sensor ventilation units are set for a C02 level of 400 PPM to ensure that outdoor air is brought in at a higher rate.
Mr. Bregoli asked about retrofitting existing units to MERV-13 filters. Mr. Scott said QPS uses MERV-8 filters and is upgrading to higher MERV filters as soon as testing bears out the efficacy. It appears that MERV-11 is the highest rated filter that will work in the systems we have, the MERV-13 will interfere with the performance of the unit.
Mr. Andronico asked Mr. Scott to prepare a document about all of the work completed that can be shared that can be shared with the public. Mr. Scott said all of the information, including measurements and repairs has been captured in a Google document and can be shared.
Mayor Koch said that many buildings will be well under capacity under the hybrid learning plan, will that make the ventilation more efficient. Mr. Scott said the calculation is based on building capacity and occupation, reducing occupation will require adjustment.
Mrs. Hubley asked for clarification that all of the work will be completed by September 16. Mr. Scott concurred that the mechanical work will be completed for exhaust and ventilation will be completed; window replacement will be ongoing as manufacturing is underway.
Mrs. Hubley asked about filter availability; Mr. Scott said there is a national shortage due to manufacturing backlog/demand and there is an eight-week wait time.
Mayor Koch and Superintendent Mulvey thanked Mr. Scott for his hard work.
Mayor Koch left the meeting.
§
|