UPDATED, March 12: Arlington officials have announced a series of steps in response to Gov. Baker’s declaring a state of emergency in the light of the novel-coronavirus situation, considered a pandemic.
Town leaders met Wednesday, March 11, to review the latest guidance from the Department of Public Health and the governor and have announced. Effective immediately, the town has put the following measures in place:
- As Baker’s office is urging older adults and those with health issues to avoid large crowds and large events, the Arlington Senior Center programming is suspended until further notice.
- Senior transportation services will continue to run, to ensure Arlington’s senior population can make it to vital appointments.
- Programs and events at Arlington’s libraries will be postponed, and public-meeting spaces at the libraries will be closed until further notice.
- Arlington Recreation Department meetings, events and programming are canceled until further notice. (This does not affect the preschool or after-school programs, interim director Robert Jefferson told YourArlington.)
- The town urges reasonable caution and strongly urges all residents practice good hygiene, especially as it relates to hand-washing and covering coughs/sneezes.
- All foreign and domestic travel, including conferences/seminars for municipal employees, has been suspended until further notice.
- Regular internal business shall continue, including but not limited to the meetings of boards and commissions that are preparing for Town Meeting or otherwise have statutory/regulatory responsibilities to fulfill. Exceptions to this will require the written approval of the town manager.
- Any meeting cancellations would be posted on the town website and at Town Hall.
- Town officials are actively discussing potential impacts on Town Meeting and also speaking with state officials regarding potential legislative relief. As more information becomes available, it will be shared with Town Meeting members and the general public.
The town has stated and continues to advise that those — including municipal employees, residents, or students — who are feeling sick with fever or flu symptoms should stay home and not report to work or school.
On March 11, the DPH announced the number of total cases of Covid-19 rose to 95 in Massachusetts.
For more information, visit the Town of Arlington Health and Human Services Covid-19 page or call the health department at 781-316-3170. The Baker administration has also also issued updated guidance to members of the public. This guidance is posted on the Department of Public Health’s website, www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus. You may also visit the CDC’s website by clicking here.
Public school concerts postponed
Arlington public schools is postponing the All-Town Choral, Orchestra and Band Concerts scheduled between March 10 and 17, Superintendent Kathleen Bodie said Tuesday, March 10, in a statement. “Dress rehearsals are also postponed,” she said. “We are taking this action in an abundance of caution.
“Also, some students and families are in self-quarantine and would not be able to participate, which creates an inequitable situation. We are postponing these events and associated dress rehearsals with the hope of finding future dates when they can be rescheduled.
“Thank you for your understanding, as we continue to keep the health and safety of our students and families as our major concern as our community is impacted by the ongoing nationwide coronavirus situation.”
Tracking Covid-19 via Johns Hopkins site
WHO: It’s a pandemic
Globe, March 12: Baker declares state of emergency; cases at 108
Self-quarantine
Any students who have to self-quarantine will be allowed to continue their lessons from home using the latest in virtual classroom technologies.
As always, children and adults should be reminded to take everyday precautionary steps to stay healthy, including:
- Wash hands frequently, with soap and hot water, for at least 20 seconds.
- When you are sick, stay home to protect others and practice social distancing.
- Always cover your cough or sneeze.
March 8, 2012: 2nd resident tests negative for Covid-19
Feb. 28-March 6, 2020: Coronavirus risk remains low in town, health office says in 2nd update
This news announcement was published Wednesday, March 11, 2020. This edited version was written by John Guilfoil Public Relations, which provides news releases to the town. It was updated the same day to clarifly bullet points about the libraries and recreation. A link was updated March 12.
