Wilmington Coronavirus: Town Meeting Delayed To May 30

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington's annual town meeting has been delayed nearly a month in response to the new coronavirus. Initially scheduled for May 2, it is now set to take place May 30. The date remains subject to change, if the social distancing measures currently in place remain necessary.

The postponement was required after the joint Finance Committee and Planning Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday was continued to May 12. Board of Selectmen Chair Greg Bendel confirmed the delay at the Board's emergency meeting Friday.

Town offices and recreation areas are closed to the public and schools statewide are shut down until at least April 7. The state has limited gatherings over 25 people and encouraged residents to practice "social distancing," keeping at least 6 feet between them.

Public meetings are barred to the public but available live from WCTV. Town events have been canceled or postponed.

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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 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.

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