The Pine Island COVID-19 Task Force began its meeting on Monday, July 29, with the observation that islanders revealed having reached their fill with conversation regarding the coronavirus and the pandemic.

In an attempt to keep the focus on public health and safety concerns, the group will continue to provide updates on social media, while keeping a clear distance from anything deemed too political.

A survey, soliciting opinions from islanders regarding whether they would welcome testing on the island will be posted to the Pine Island Pandemic Community Action Facebook page.

The Task Force’s leader, Pastor Eric McCrea, reported that flyers containing instructions regarding contracting COVID-19 have gone out in food delivery bags provided by Pine Island Methodist Church.

Task Force member Ellen Ballard explained the island’s free libraries, which have remained opened, are another possible outlet for the flyers, since the main library is temporarily closed. She volunteered to tally a list of these libraries and find out whether distribution to them is possible.