Share, email, print, bookmark SOURCE reports.

ASHLAND – Effective today, April 10, Town Manager Michael Herbert assigned Ashland Police Sgt. Ed Burman to lead the Town of Ashland’s COVID-19 response.

“Burman will be assigned as the Task Lead for our COVID-19 response efforts as part of the Health Department,” wrote Herbert to department heads.

[broadstreet zone=”59982″]

“In the immediate future, he will be responsible for developing and maintaining our caseload database, managing the nursing staff, and assembling a team to manage that caseload and case tracing,” said Herbert.

“He should be notified about any COVID-19 related issues. This includes but is certainly not limited to requests for PPE, ideas and thoughts about public messaging regarding,” the virus, said Herbert.

The change means Sgt. Burman and not the Town’s health agent/director is the point person for all COVID-19 response.

Mark Oram is the Town of Ashland’s health agent/director.

Oram, a Marlborough resident, is also an elected at-large Marlborough City Councilor.

[broadstreet zone=”59983″]

The Town of Ashland saw the number of positive COVID cases jump from 24 to 44 between April 6 and today, April 10. That is a more than 80% increase.

Also today, Herbert announced that firefighters transported five residents from the Waterview Lodge & Rehab on Route 135 to Framingham Union Hospital, and all five tested positive for COVID-19.

“This is not a permanent situation, but will be effective for the foreseeable future,” said Herbert.

“I want to thank Sgt. Burman for being willing to step up and take on this role, as well as Chief (Vince) Alfano and the Ashland Police Department to help us make this happen,” said Herbert. 

Burman is also the chair of the Keefe Technical School Committee.

Herbert also today. April 10, also thanks his department heads for their efforts during this pandemic.

“I want to thank you all again for your flexibility and bravery as we confront the most serious pandemic we have seen in generations. This has been hard on all of us, and in a variety of different ways,” wrote Herbert. “Your ability to handle the stress of this crisis, while also managing changes that are inevitably happening at home and with your families is admirable and has not gone unnoticed.” 


By editor

Susan Petroni is the former editor for SOURCE. She is the founder of the former news site, which as of May 1, 2023, is now a self-publishing community bulletin board. The website no longer has a journalist but a webmaster.