COVID-19 Public Health Report for Weston

March 30, 2021

Questions can be directed to the Weston Public Health Department: 781-786-5030 or COVIDquestions@WestonMA.gov

Complete state-wide information can be found on the state's website

Pre-registration for Vaccine Appointments

All who live/work/learn in Weston are encouraged to enroll themselves and their family members >16 as soon as possible in the Massachusetts pre-registration system for the COVID-19 Vaccines. You do not have to be currently eligible to pre-register. You can indicate your potential eligibility factors in the form.

• This will allow you to claim your place in line and be notified when your category is eligible and when it is your turn to schedule an appointment at the 7 mass/large vaccination sites like Gillette/Hynes/Natick, etc.
• It is a simple form; you can chose to be alerted via phone or email to receive a notification to schedule an appointment when one is available to you.
• Individuals who receive the phone notification (identified on caller ID as Commonwealth of MA), will be advised to call 2-1-1 to schedule their appointment. If the person misses the call, a voicemail will be left. If a voicemail is not set up or the mailbox is full, if the missed call number is returned, it will send the person directly to 2-1-1. The 2-1-1 representatives will be able to search for the individuals by their name and other identifying information. 
• Individuals ages 75 and older who need to also book an appointment for their companion, should also call 2-1-1 to schedule both appointments once they are notified they are eligible to book an appointment. Weston residents over age 65 can call the Council on Aging for more information on this process.
• The sooner the community benefits from heard effects of collective immunity, the easier it will be to contemplate a return to more normal living. 
• Other opportunities for vaccination exist including at some pharmacies, through your health plan or doctors office. More information on many of these locations can be found through the links below or by contacting your healthcare provider

Please note, if an individual does not schedule the appointment within the 24 hours or are offered a day/time that does not work for them, they will be placed back into the preregistration queue.

Monitoring COVID-19 Variants

March 18 - The Massachusetts Department of Public Health continues to conduct surveillance for COVID-19 variants of concern including B.1.1.7 (first identified in the UK), B.1.351 (first identified in South Africa) and P.1 (first identified in Brazil). 

• Surveillance, consisting of genetic sequencing on portions of COVID-19 positive specimens, has been ongoing in a collaboration between the Massachusetts State Public health Laboratory with clinical diagnostic laboratories and academic partners, including the CDC. 
• Surveillance data so far has identified B.1.1.7 and the B.1.351 cases without any recent travel. The first P.1 variant case has now also been identified in Massachusetts. It is critical to do everything possible to keep variants of concern from becoming widespread. 
• For the latest on variant cases in Massachusetts and the US, visit the National SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance Dashboard | CDC. 

• Individuals must continue to wear masks or face coverings while out in public, 
• maintain 6-foot social distancing, 
• stay home when you are sick, and 
• get tested if you have symptoms or are identified as a close contact

Changes to Travel Order (Monday, March 22)

• Travelers are exempt from this advisory if they have a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts.  If not obtained before entry to Massachusetts, a test may be obtained after arrival, as long as travelers quarantine until a negative test result has been received.
• Anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after an absence of fewer than 24 hours is exempt from this advisory.
• Workers who enter Massachusetts to perform critical infrastructure functions (as specified by the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) are exempt from this advisory while they are commuting to or from or while at work.
• Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago) and who do not have symptoms are exempt from this advisory.
• Travelers are encouraged to consult and follow the CDC’s guidelines and requirements for travel.

COVID Testing and Additional Resources

Trust the Facts, Get the Vax.

Do you have questions about the vaccines for COVID-19?