Medfield Schools Cancel Classes Friday Amid Coronavirus Concerns

MEDFIELD, MA — Officials with Medfield Public Schools have canceled classes Friday for students amid growing concerns surrounding the new coronavirus. There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Medfield, but after consulting with the Board of Health and the school district physician, Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden has canceled classes for the day as a precautionary measure.

"I have decided to cancel school for students tomorrow, March 13th," Marsden said in a statement. "Teachers and staff will utilize this time for planning in case of a multiple day shutdown of the district. In addition, all non-essential evening and community events in the Medfield Public Schools are canceled until further notice."

Here are some examples of events that will be canceled beginning Friday, March 13th:

• Community events in school buildings
• Upcoming school play
• Parent conferences
• Student performances, including the high school theatre, Band-o-Rama, and String Fling
• Use of buildings by non-school groups
• School-sponsored field trips in March

"The cancellation of many activities and events is disappointing to students, staff, and community members who have worked so hard to prepare and plan," Marsden said. "We are hopeful by limiting activities will help curb the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of infection."

Medfield Public Schools will continue to offer before school and after school care at the elementary schools. The MIAA has delayed the start of the spring sports season until March 30

"The information regarding COVID-19 changes quickly, and even though there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Medfield, it is definite that will change and we may need to take further steps that will impact school operations, as well as teaching and learning," Marsden said. "Please know that we will work closely with our Medfield Board of Health, the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and our school staff to take appropriate steps and provide the necessary information."

More info on Coronavirus:

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.

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

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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.

See more on 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