Coronavirus School Closures: Emergency Board Meeting Friday

ORINDA, CA — Orinda Union School District will hold a Board of Trustees Emergency Meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the possible closure of schools because of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19.

The meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the District Office Conference Room, 8 Altarinda Road, Orinda, 94563.

According to a email from the board Thursday evening, "The Board will discuss and take action on the following topic during the Emergency Meeting:

• District Response to COVID-19 Pandemic - Discussion of Potential School Closure from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 27, 2020"

Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Seaton said in an email to the community Thursday evening, "Our teachers, staff, and administrators have been working tirelessly over the past few weeks to keep our students safe at school as well as prepare for a potential school closure. We are deeply grateful to the entire Orinda USD school community for their patience, flexibility, and willingness to work together during this unprecedented pandemic."

School districts in West Contra Costa County and San Francisco announced Thursday the cancellation of school for three weeks as cities large and small try to stop the spread of coronavirus.

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On Wednesday, the World Health Organization announced that the new coronavirus had become a "pandemic." The pandemic declaration refers to the scope of the new coronavirus — but not its severity — and means it has become a "worldwide spread of a new disease."

As of Thursday evening, 128,343 cases had been confirmed around the world, including 1,663 in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University. The death toll in the U.S. is 40, with four in California, 31 in Washington, 2 in Florida, and one each in South Dakota, Georgia, and New Jersey. The global death toll is 4,720.

The number of coronavirus cases in Contra Costa County grew to 17 on Thursday, according to county health officials.

In adopting an emergency proclamation Tuesday, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Chair Candace Andersen, said: "The new coronavirus or COVID-19 presents our community with a challenge. While I urge you to be prepared, it is certainly not a time to panic. Following our health officials' guidelines will help prevent the spread of disease. The County and Contra Costa Health Services will continue to offer guidance and resources. Meanwhile, there is much each and everyone one of us can do to keep our families and communities well. It will take all of us working together."

Friday's board meeting in Orinda will adhere to the county directive of limiting gatherings to 50. Parents and concerned community members are urged to email comments about potential school closures to cseaton@orindaschools.org by 3 p.m.

— Patch editors Bea Karnes and Maggie Fusek contributed to this story

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