Wayland Issues Guidance On New Coronavirus

WAYLAND, MA — Towns and school districts across Massachusetts are bracing for a potential local outbreak of COVID-19, the new coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control this week said the U.S. could see a large-scale outbreak as the new virus spreads across the globe.

The town of Wayland on Friday issued a statement offering guidance to local residents worried about COVID-19. The statement highlights that influenza — which kills tens of thousands in the U.S. each year — is a much bigger threat in Wayland right now.

"At this time, Massachusetts has one confirmed case of COVID-19 and the risk to our residents remains low," the statement says. "At the same time, the risk for the influenza virus is very high."

(In fact, Wayland is still offering free flu shots to local residents. You can contact the health department at 508-358-6805 to make an appointment.)

Massachusetts' sole COVID-19 case was confirmed in a UMass Boston student who recently traveled to China. He was quarantined at his home while recovering from the virus. Another 600 state residents here have self-quarantined as a precaution, according to state health officials. More than half of those people have been released with no symptoms.

As of Friday, there have been 83,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide, and about 2,800 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. There have been 16 confirmed cases so far in the U.S