Coronavirus: 3 Wilmington Residents Quarantined, Events Canceled

WILMINGTON, MA — Three Wilmington residents are being quarantined and all large non-essential community events are canceled for the next 30 days, the Wilmington Board of Health announced Thursday. The Board did not say that any residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus. The schools also closed Thursday after the district learned one parent was symptomatic for the new virus.

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 Board is acting in an attempt to "slow the potential spread and possibly reduce the impact of COVID-19 in Wilmington," they said in the news release.

"If a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in our community, the virus could last for a significant duration (An outbreak is when a large number of people suddenly become sick.) Based on several factors the Town of Wilmington has decided to cancel large non-essential community based events for the next 30 days," the release continued. "These events could happen at the Wilmington Memorial Library, Buzzell Senior Center, Recreation Dept and in all our public schools. Essential town meetings will still be conducted at this time. Schools have been closed today 3/12/20."

>>Wilmington Schools Closed March 12 With Symptomatic Parent

Older adults and people with compromised immune systems are also urged to avoid large crowds and events, as are people who live with those vulnerable people.

"We trust that you recognize that these decisions, while difficult, are believed to be prudent in these circumstances and underscore our commitment in trying to ensure the health and well-being of our whole community," the Board said.

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