SAUGUS — The Board of Health appointed Maria Tamagna vice chair and discussed public health threats at its regular meeting Monday.
Public Health Nurse Teresa Riley-Singh said Saugus has seen 381 COVID cases and two related deaths since the board met last on June 6. She added that she expects those numbers to rise as the weather gets colder.
Riley-Singh also warned the board that monkeypox is likely to become a larger threat in the coming months. She said while it is more mild and far less fatal than smallpox, the two illnesses are related. She emphasized that those under 8-years-old, with a weakened immune system, and those who are pregnant should be cautious as they are particularly at high risk.
Following Riley-Singh’s update to the Board of Health, Chair Bill Heffernan voiced support for Tamagna to fill the vice chair role.
“Given the world we are in now with COVID and monkeypox and everyone’s jobs and people starting to travel again, this is definitely a position that should be filled,” Heffernan said. “She’s been around long enough to see the way I do things … she has my full support.”
The board voted unanimously to approve her appointment.
Rachel Barber can be reached at [email protected].