Malden Schools Ramp Up Cleaning In Response To Coronavirus

MALDEN, MA — Malden schools are increasing cleaning efforts in response to concerns over the coronavirus, Malden Superintendent John Oteri wrote in a letter to families March 5.

"We have taken precautions in our schools with extra cleaning and making sure hand sanitizer is available," Oteri wrote. "Additionally, we continue to work closely with Malden’s Emergency ManagementTeam and the School Department is in daily contact with our Health Department."

Oteri emphasized that the immediate risk of contracting the coronavirus in Massachusetts remains low. He encouraged families to take general precautions to remain as healthy as possible:

● Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
● Avoid sharing drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, dishes, towels or other items.
● Avoid close contact with people who are sick, as much as possible
● Stay home when you are sick
● Cover your mouth when you cough

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The Malden Public Schools will remain open, according to Oteri. Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, a charter school in Malden, canceled school from Wednesday, March 11 to Friday, March 13. The charter school had previously scheduled days off on Monday and Tuesday.

"Please contact the school nurse if you are unsure whether your child should attend school or

stay home," Oteri wrote. "A student with a fever should remain home for at least 24 hours after the fever has resolved without use of medication."

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 currently no vaccine against COVID-19 and no antiviral treatment.

Several schools in Massachusetts have closed temporarily out of an abundance of caution and concern for the new coronavirus, which had 27 "presumptive positive" cases and one confirmed case in the state as of Sunday night. Presumptive positive cases are tests that have yet to be confirmed by the CDC.