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Date: 12/29/2021
CHICOPEE – With cases rising at a steady rate, Chicopee Mayor John Vieau discussed his concerns with the COVID-19 omicron variant.“Our goal is to protect the residents,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
The mayor said his concerns with COVID-19 cases in Chicopee were raised during the post-Thanksgiving period, with his weekly COVID-19 report sharing that there were 481 open cases on the week of Dec. 1. While there were 412 open cases for the city’s Dec. 17 COVID-19 report, the report did not note that cases in state continue to increase week-to-week.
On Dec. 22, the mayor’s office issued a mask mandate inside all municipal buildings in the city. “It is our goal to keep all of Chicopee safe and healthy; a layered prevention strategy with masks and vaccines is our best option to reduce the toll of this very contagious virus and its variants. At this time, breakthrough infections are rare, but still account for a portion of the data collected by the city,” said the Vieau in his statement.
His office remained flexible with the gradual rise, requiring attendees of the city’s annual Christmas tree lighting to wear masks for the indoor portion of the event while also postponing the city’s plans for a City Hall 150th anniversary celebration, according to Vieau. “We felt it was necessary to mandate masking for the Christmas Tree Lighting,” said Vieau.
With the growth of the more contagious omicron variant, Vieau said he and his office are keeping a close eye on the evolving situation.
“Between flu season and omicron, we have to keep tabs on how the situation evolves. Vaccinations are more important than ever,” said Vieau, who also shared that the city’s vaccination rate has risen to 60 percent.
To combat the strenuous health circumstances, the mayor highlighted the city’s efforts to expand COVID-19 testing. The city’s weekly testing at RiverMills Senior Center has remained an essential cog, with 120 people alone testing during their post-Thanksgiving testing period, according to Vieau.
The mayor revealed that the city’s PCR testing services at the center, which are offered Mondays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Tuesdays 2 to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., will be extended into 2022.
“The service has definitely been necessary,” said Vieau. Along with the testing center, Chicopee has received 15,000 test kits to distribute to residents while also working to gather more self-administrated tests from Cambridge Innovation Center, according to Vieau’s Dec. 17 COVID-19 report.
Despite the continual challenges, Vieau expressed his pride in the city’s collaborative effort in combating COVID-19. “Chicopee has done a tremendous job with COVID-19. We have been resilient at every turn,” said Vieau.