Burlington Coronavirus: Burlington Mall Limits Hours

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington Mall began new operating hours Tuesday, as part of efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. The mall will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday. Individual stores and restaurants may have different hours.

On Sunday, Gov. Charlie Baker limited the state's restaurants to take-out and delivery, and barred gatherings over 25 people. Malls are exempt from the gathering order but everyone is encouraged to maintain social distancing—staying at least six feet away from other people.

>>Coronavirus MA: Schools Closed, Restaurants Takeout-Only

"We are closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation with federal, state and local health officials and will provide any additional updates as they become available.

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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.