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Date: 2/2/2022
CHICOPEE – The omicron variant’s wide-ranging impacts continue to ravage local communities. To confront the growing issue, Mayor John Vieau is working to remain flexible in his handling of another COVID-19 case surge.
Chicopee experienced another sizable case increase during the week of Jan. 19, with the mayor’s COVID-19 situational update revealing that the 803 active cases marked a major rise from the 561 open cases during the Jan. 12 update. Despite the rise, Vieau believes the worst of the omicron variant is already behind the community.
“I think we’ve peaked and we’re heading down,” said Vieau. The mayor expressed encouragement with how quickly most positive cases have recovered from the variant. School Superintendent Lynn Clark told the mayor that of the 140 staff members out due to a positive case, most have already returned to their positions.
The omicron surge has also stressed the importance of the community’s testing site at River Mills Senior Center. Vieau shared that the site continues to see active traffic, with 193 people testing on Jan. 23 and 116 testing at the site on Jan. 24. “We are very fortunate to have capacity left at the testing site,” said Vieau, who celebrates the city’s ability to continue to operate their own test site amidst the surge. The River Mills testing area is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Communications and Special Project Manager Rachel Beaulieu is also encouraging citizens to sign up for the federal distribution of at-home COVID-19 tests available to each household.
In regard to a city-wide mask mandate, Vieau shared his hesitation with forcing the decision upon businesses and residents despite his support for wearing masks. “At the end of the day, I think it’s everyone’s own prerogative,” said Vieau. Still, the mayor shared that he is trying to set an example for the city by enforcing a municipal mask mandate and supplying all city employees with N-95 masks.
While omicron remains influx, Vieau reiterated that the best COVID-19 prevention method remains getting vaccinated. “Science has proven vaccines are keeping people from dying…I encourage every resident to get vaccinated,” said Vieau, who highlighted CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Stop & Shop as key vaccination resources.
Vaccine advocacy remains a central part of the mayor’s mission, as he highlighted the importance of incorporating the recently eligible 5 to 12 years-old youths in the city’s vaccination movement. Currently, Chicopee possesses a 68 percent vaccination rate, according to Vieau’s situational update.
The mayor remains confident with the city’s handling of COVID-19, but acknowledges that the virus is likely to be an ongoing issue for Chicopee. “Going forward, we’re going to be living with COVID-19,” said Vieau.