Medfield Coronavirus: School Canceled For At Least A Week

MEDFIELD, MA — School officials have closed all public schools in Medfield for the next week following growing concern surrounding the new coronavirus. School will be closed from Monday through March 20, and school officials said there is a strong possibility that an additional week of closures will be needed.

Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden in a statement said the last day of school will be June 22, regardless of if there are more cancellations. Marsden said also emphasized the importance of social distancing, and sent a letter to parents and staff from the Board of Health with tips about gatherings and "play-dates."

"We still do not have a presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19 in Medfield, (probably due to the lack of testing), therefore, following this guidance around gatherings and "play dates" is critical to slow the spread of the virus," Marsden said.

The letter can be found here:

"I recognize how disruptive this will be to our families, but this decision is really in the best interest of our students, staff, and the entire community," Marsden said. "I thank you for your patience and understanding during this unprecedented time."

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, 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.

As of Wednesday there were 95 cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts, including 23 in Norfolk County.

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The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now being transmitted 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 and no antiviral treatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way of to prevent the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and 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 if you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Massachusetts coronavirus coverage:

• MA Coronavirus Cases Hit 95, More Than 1,000 Quarantined
• MA Coronavirus Cases Hit 92 As State Of Emergency Declared
• Coronavirus: MIAA Scrambles To Finish Basketball, Hockey Playoffs