Tewksbury Update On New Coronavirus Concerns

TEWKSBURY, MA — The town of Tewksbury issued updated information Thursday on the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. After the announcement Wednesday that Tewksbury Memorial High School students and staff were being asked to self-quarantine following a trip to Italy, the town noted that the situation is "evolving" and advisories may again change. As of Friday, March 6, there are eight confirmed or presumed positive COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts.

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.

Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control changed their guidance to recommend that travelers to Italy and other high risk countries undergo a 14-day quarantine, leading to the quarantine of TMHS students and staff.

The district put in place "enhanced cleaning of the schools and buses" when the initial concern surfaced, and families are encouraged to keep sick children home. The town announcement includes the following links with information on the new virus:

RESPIRATORY ILLNESS PREVENTION LINK

Revised CDC guidance regarding returning travelers from Level 2 and 3 countries

CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/share-facts-h.pdf

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Tewksbury Public School Updates:

Tewksbury Public Schools Updates

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.

Don't miss updates about precautions in your area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters. Read nationwide updates on the new virus here.

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