Concord's Community Facilities, Library Branches To Close

CONCORD, NH — The city of Concord is closing all of its public community activity facilities due in an effort to stem any potential spread of the new coronavirus, according Stefanie Berton, the city's public information officer. The following facilities will close at 1 p.m. Monday and remain closed until at least April 3: The Beaver Meadow Golf Course; all community centers (the city-wide Community Center on Canterbury Road, the Green Street Community Center, the West Street Ward House, and the Merrimack Lodge at White Park); all branches of the library; the Audi; and the Everett Arena. All programs at the facilities are canceled.

The announcements came in a round of alerts and emails prompted first with the closure of the Concord Public Library. From there, other facilities were closed, too.

According to the library's website, no fines will accrue during the closure and all due dates are extended through April. Staffers requested users not to return items while the libraries are closed since there will be no one available to accept the returns or empty the drop boxes.

City information is being updated on its coronavirus page, located here.

"We are strongly encouraging the public to utilize online resources whenever possible — a list of resources is available on our website," Breton said.

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Breton said the city was closing the facilities while "keeping in mind the health and safety of our employees, as well as our community."

The announcement comes as city and school officials met remotely Sunday to coordinate plans and responses to the public health crisis including the state announcement that it was shuttering public schools through April 3.

Franklyn Bass, the interim school superintendent, post his latest community video explaining how the district would be coordinating the COVID-19 closure.

What You Can Do

COVID-19, not unlike the flu and other respiratory illnesses, is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms. Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e. social distancing).
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

ALSO READ:

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• Coronavirus Prompts Nashua Medical Center To Close To Visitors
• Coronavirus Concerns In New Hampshire Lead To Closed Schools
• 425 Being Monitored; 212 Test Negative For Coronavirus In NH
• Concord Schools 'Almost Certain' To Close Due To Coronavirus
• Nashua Superintendent On COVID-19: Feeding Kids Is First Priority
• Elliot Hospital Sets Up Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing
• 7th New Hampshire Resident Contracts New Coronavirus
• Governor Declares Coronavirus State Of Emergency In NH: Watch
• NH's Emergency Ops Center Activated Due To Coronavirus: Update
• Capitol Center, Tupelo, Others Try To Ease NH COVID-19 Concerns

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