The Kingston Selectmen called an emergency meeting after the town was designated “high-risk” for COVID-19 based on infection rates.
Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Mark Douglass says in conversations with the Department of Public Health, the number of reports over a two-week period led to the change. The town went from the lowest designation, grey, to red.
He says compared to other towns in the red, Kingston has a low number of cases.
“Anytime that we designate something red, it certainly alarms people. I think that concerned me, because I don’t think there’s a reason for the amount of concern that there was generated by the change,” said Douglass. “That change was provided to the Town Administrator I believe late in the afternoon one day, which didn’t leave us a lot of room for phone calls and explanations. There is still some research to be done as to why we’re there and how quickly we got there.”
Police Chief Maurice Splaine says two officers tested positive for the coronavirus. One had symptoms, the other did not. They worked at the station, and not out in the public.
All members of the department were tested, with negative results. He says those are the first positive tests, eight months into the COVID response.
Douglass says there have been no cases at the Fire Department.
Selectman Sheila Vaughn says five students in the schools have tested positive for COVID-19. Two were at the Intermediate school, two were at the high school, and one was at the middle school.
The State of Department of Education would make a determination on school if a cluster was present or the town remains in the red for three to four weeks.
Douglass says people should continue to follow CDC guidelines.
“The clusters that develop from such things as parties – that goes to personal responsibility. Without being political, there is nothing government can do to make the virus go away. This involves personal responsibility, good health care, and individuals simply doing the right thing,” said Douglass. “The more we can drive that subject, or that point home, the better off we all are.”
The Selectmen will consider changes to outreach and will continue discussion during their meeting on Tuesday.
