FALMOUTH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The town of Falmouth has reported another COVID-19 infection among its beach staff, bringing the total number of lifeguards with the virus to 11.
As the Cape Cod Times reports, town officials learned of the latest lifeguard to test positive for coronavirus on Friday afternoon, however the employee has been off work since Tuesday and will remain in quarantine.
Town Manage Julian Suso there are free COVID-19 nasal swab tests available for all Beach Department staff at Falmouth Hospital.
“We continue to encourage all Falmouth beach staff members to test or retest through the free testing process which we have arranged with the cooperation of Cape Cod Healthcare,” said Suso.
According to the Times, after several lifeguards had received positive COVID-19 test results in late July, Acting Beach Superintendent Maggie Clayton sent an email to all beach staff saying the cluster of employee cases was due to “choices made by some on our staff, who acted carelessly and imprudently in not following social distancing guidelines in a gathering after work hours. These cases are not related to exposure at work.”
Last week, Gov. Charlie Baker listed the gathering of Falmouth lifeguards among several events currently being investigated by the state Department of Public Health as a possible "COVID-cluster."
On Friday, Gov. Baker also announced new rules that will reduce the number of individuals allowed at outdoor gatherings from 100 to 50. Due to a recent uptick in positive COVID tests, Baker said the state will remain in Phase Three Step One of the reopening plan "indefinitely."
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