The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield.
WESTFIELD – The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield is closed this week for deep cleaning after two staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
The Club was open last Monday through Wednesday, with an average of 50 children each day. According to Director of Operations Kellie Brown, the families of anyone in close contact with the infected staff have been notified.
After consulting with the Westfield Board of Health, Club administrators decided to close for the week and deep cleaning will be done by Service First.
The closing affects the 158 students currently remote learning at the Club.
“The local Board of Health told us to close the entire facility as opposed to just certain classrooms in order to ensure that we could get the building cleaned and ready for business next Monday,” said Brown. “As always, I will continue to take my instructions from the local Board of Health as well as The Department of Early Education and Care. As for the students I am assuming they will do their remote learning under the direction of their parents/guardians.”
The Club has been open for many months during the pandemic without any staff COVID-19 cases.
“This is our first positive case within staff members. We have really done an outstanding job at doing and maintaining all safety protocols,” Brown said. “All staff members have completed the necessary Department of Early Education and Care Trainings surrounding COVID. Unfortunately, when we live in households with other members who are also out in the work force it’s always a risk that someone somewhere along the lines comes in contact with an infected person.”
Brown credited all staff for being diligent in following guidelines for COVID-19.
“All of the staff have done an amazing job at taking all safety measures and abiding by all state and local guidelines. The fact that they responded as quickly as they did in getting tested shows the dedication they have to ensuring the safety of the kids,” she said.
The Boys and Girls Club is set to reopen Jan. 11.
