Burlington Coronavirus: Town Buildings Closed, School Resources

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington town buildings will be closed to the public beginning Tuesday, March 17. The offices will still be staffed to provide services by phone and online. The town also encouraged residents to do their part in reducing the spread of the new coronavirus.

"We urge all residents to observe Social Distancing protocols and to not congregate in parks, playgrounds,
and other public areas," the announcement reads. "Our residents have always looked out for each other and we ask that you continue to be vigilant in checking up on your neighbors. Lastly, please continue to patronize our local restaurants and businesses if you are able to do so. Although the Governor’s order prohibits onsite consumption, takeout and delivery options will continue to be available at our restaurants."

In addition, Burlington Public Schools answered resident questions over the weekend on how they are responding to the three-week closure of Massachusetts schools. The district is providing non-mandatory remote resources for students, and students on free and reduced lunch will still be able to get their meals from the People Helping People food pantry. The last day of school will be the 185th day of the school calendar, June 24.

Families on free or reduced-price lunch can pick up a week's worth of lunches and snacks, Tuesdays at St. Mark's Church, 10 St. Mark's Rd, from 3 to 7 p.m.

The remote learning resource was posted Monday, with non-mandatory materials. Materials are available for all groups. In addition, Comcast is offering two months of free access for families in need, the announcement notes.

Other answers include:

• The district will inform parents and students from a school if a staff member or student tests positive for the new virus
• The district's bus company has increased its cleaning and disinfecting of buses
• The College Board is currently still planning to hold the AP exams in May.
• Prom and graduation are still scheduled to occur.
• The last day for seniors is unchanged.
• The high school course selection for next year will remain open until at least March 18.

The district posted other information on the closure Friday. It is not yet known what will happen with regard to the MCAS.

Don't miss updates about precautions in your area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

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.