The Town of Rochester has a new website. The new site has pages for each of the town departments. The Rochester Council on Aging will manage their own page on the town’s new site, and make changes instantly. The page contains current information, scheduled events, and a calendar. It will also contain newsletters and forms in the future. It is very user-friendly and will eventually replace the Senior Center’s current website. Both the website and the new town webpage will be maintained until further notice. The new town webpage can be found under “COA” townofrochestermass.com.
The Rochester Senior Center is planning to reintroduce the newsletter in the fall. The newsletter will contain articles, information about upcoming events, and general information about what’s going on in the community and at the Senior Center. The newsletter will be available online at both the current website and the town’s new website. The current website is www.rochestermaseniorcenter.com.
The Rochester Senior Center Board meeting and Friends of the Rochester Senior Center meeting will be held Wednesday, September 2 at 9:00 am and 10:00 am respectively. The Board meeting is held virtually and/or at the Senior Center. The Friends meeting will be held at the Senior Center. Due to COVID restrictions, a maximum of 15 people is permitted in the large room at the Senior Center (eight people per 1000 sf/per room). Meetings held outside can accommodate more people, weather permitting. Face coverings are required and six feet of social distancing from non-household members apply. Everyone attending activities held at the Senior Center will be asked to sign a COA Waiver of Liability Agreement. Waivers are available at the front desk. Waivers will be kept on file. You do not have to fill out a waiver each time you visit.
The Friends of the Rochester Senior Center are inviting local seniors to join this dynamic group. Please contact the Senior Center or a Board member to learn more. The Friends of the Rochester Senior Center meet monthly and raise funds to assist the Senior Center. The Friends are hoping to hold a car-hop and a craft sale in the fall.
The Rochester Senior Center would like seniors to know what to expect if they or a loved one tests positive for Covid-19 in terms of isolating and quarantining. Isolating and quarantining are steps taken to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Detailed information can be found at mass.gov. However, in general;
If you test positive, you will be contacted by a health official to identify your close contacts within two days of becoming symptomatic or obtaining a positive lab result. Close contacts are anyone you have been within six feet of for 15 minutes or longer, regardless of whether or not either person wore face coverings. People who test positive for Covid-19 must isolate for a minimum of 10 days, and must be cough and fever-free for at least 24 hours before they can be released from isolation by a public health official. Isolating means not leaving your property, or coming into contact with other people, including household members.
People who are identified as close contacts of a person who has tested positive for Covid-19 will be contacted by a public health official, and should get a PCR test as soon as possible. Close contacts are required to quarantine for 14 days. Quarantining means you should not leave your property or have any contact with other people. If you must leave to seek medical attention, you should wear a face mask and alert providers of your status. You may not take public transportation or have visitors on your property.