Andover Schools Meal Program During Coronavirus Closure

ANDOVER, MA — Andover Public Schools will provide boxed meals for students during its closure over the next two weeks, the district said. Families will be able to pick up two days worth of breakfast and lunch per student during designated pickup times at the High School, or along a set drop-off route.

Pickup at the high school's front entrance will be from 11 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Drop-off will take place Tuesday, March 17, Wednesday March 18, Friday March 20, Monday March 23, Wednesday, March 25 and Friday March. The van will wait at each site for 12 minutes, according to the following schedule:

10:30 a.m. — 22 Railroad Street
10:41 a.m. — Washington Park Front Lot
10:54 a.m. — High St @ Longwood Drive
11:05 a.m. — 174 Haverhill Street
11:19 a.m. — Memorial Circle @ Grandview Terrace
11:38 a.m. — 56 Jenkins Rd
11:49 a.m. — 178 Jenkins Rd
12:06 p.m. — Colonial Drive Front Parking Lot
12:25 p.m. — 228 Andover St
12:36 p.m. — Dale St Complex Front Lot
12:48 p.m. — 127 Andover St
1:05 p.m. — 311 Lowell St Club House Parking Lot
1:23 p.m. — 460 River Rd
1:39 p.m. — 168 River Rd
1:50 p.m. — 30 Shattuck Rd Complex Front Loop
2:02 p.m. — North St @ Brookside Drive
2:12 p.m. — North St @ Spring Valley Drive
2:25 p.m. — Bulfinch Complex Office Lo

"Please contact APS Food Service Director Gail Koutroubas or Taylor Pirog by phone at 978-247-5520 or e-mail at gkoutroubas1@aps.net or taylor.pirog@andoverma.us," the announcement concludes.

>>Andover Coronavirus: Town Has First Presumed Case

>>Andover Coronavirus: Schools To Close For 2 Weeks

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Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.