Gov. Charlie Baker Feb. 3, 2020 told reporters after his Monday meeting with House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka that they “spent a bunch of time talking about coronavirus.” (SAM DORANS/SHNS)
WESTFIELD- As more cases of the COVID-19 virus, commonly known as coronavirus, are presumptively confirmed in the northeast, local school districts are preparing to take measures to mitigate the spread of the virus should community transmission become more aggressive.
The Westfield School Committee March 2 urged the cancellation of all school trips to countries that have severe outbreaks of the novel coronavirus. Those countries included Italy, France, and Denmark. Italy is one of three countries outside of the virus’ origin country of China to be suffering from a severe outbreak. South Korea and Iran are also experiencing outbreaks.
The travel agency responsible for the Italy trip cancelled the trip themselves. Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said that the Denmark trip hadn’t been fully booked yet. The trip to Paris is likely to be cancelled as well. All three were to take place during April vacation.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said that the state Department of Public Health has sent out guidance letters to school districts in Massachusetts in recent weeks with information on the virus and how to deal with it from a school perspective.
The letters advise that schools should follow their normal cleaning and disinfection protocols for “high contact” surfaces throughout the schools.
“In the meantime, I can tell you that our District Safety Team is meeting this Friday to review and revise our pandemic plan for this particular situation. I will have more information after the meeting,” said Czaporowski.
Czaporowski said later that his only concern is that the students who were booked for the trips are able to get their money back.
On Feb. 28, Westfield State University President Ramon S. Torrecilha sent out a letter to all students addressing the situation, and to reassure students that a plan is in place. Torrecilha said that they have been working with students who are studying abroad and advising them to return home if possible.
“We have been in touch this week with our students studying abroad this semester; all report they are in good health. But given the global outbreak—and stemming from an abundance of caution and concern for their health and safety—we have strongly advised those students studying abroad in Europe and eastern countries to make travel plans to return home. Varying online accommodations for their credit-hour completion are in process,” said Torrecilha in the letter, “Out of concern for our campus community, we are asking all students returning from study abroad programs in Europe and eastern countries to refrain from visiting the Westfield State University campus for 14 days after they return home, and to obtain medical clearance if they exhibit any of the symptoms noted by the CDC and noted on the February 5th Coronavirus update on Health Services web page.”
Torrecilha said as of Feb. 28 that there were no known cases of COVID-19 on campus.
The Amelia Park Children’s Museum announced on Facebook Monday that they would be doubling up on their sanitation of surfaces in the building.
The United States has faced a relatively small outbreak of the virus compared to other nations where outbreaks have occurred. Over the weekend, a nursing home in King County, Washington was hit with a community spread of COVID-19, resulting in at least five deaths of individuals with the virus who were either elderly or had underlying health problems.
Doctors and health officials encourage all persons to practice frequent hand washing and proper hygiene in order to combat the spread of the virus. People who are infected will not display any symptoms until at least several days after initial infection. In that incubation period, it is possible for the virus to spread.
If a person suspects that they have been infected with COVID-19, they are encouraged to practice self-quarantine in their own home and contact their health provider for further advice.
