Coronavirus: Wenham Declares State Of Emergency

WENHAM, MA — Wenham declared a State of Emergency on Friday in response to the new coronavirus. There are no positive or presumptive positive cases of the virus in Wenham. By declaring a local state of emergency, Wenham will be able to deploy the resources and personnel necessary to meet the community’s needs .

The declaration will additionally authorize town officials to issue additional directives to the public as the situation develops. It also creates a formal mechanism for the town to be reimbursed by the federal government for its emergency response.

Both the Annual Town Meeting scheduled for April 4 and the Annual Town Election scheduled for April 9 have been postponed until further notice. The new dates will be announced at a later time.
All non-essential Board and Committee meetings continue to be postponed, and all essential meetings will be coordinated through the Town Administrator’s Office.

All municipal buildings will remain closed to the public until further notice, though staff will continue to work in Wenham. Residents should plan to conduct their business with the town either by email or over the phone.

More information about the cancellations and closings for the town can be found here.

The town’s Emergency Management Team and Board of Health will continue to work closely and meet regularly to discuss the latest guidance and determine the actions needed to keep the town prepared as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.

“These measures are being taken out of an abundance of caution so that the spread of the virus can be minimized and to promote social distancing,” said Town Administrator Ansaldi. “Residents’ cooperation in this endeavor will be much appreciated.”

The Town of Wenham encourages residents to practice social distancing, and the town is urging private organizations to consider cancelling or rescheduling events that would gather large numbers of people or result in groups of people being in close proximity.

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.

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