Coronavirus: 11 Norwood Town Employees In Quarantine After Party

NORWOOD — Eleven Norwood Town officials including the town general manager and the superintendent have self-quarantined themselves after someone at a party they were at last weekend became ill and tested positive for new Coronavirus (COVID-19). That's according to a joint announcement by Board of Selectmen Chairman Paul Bishop, General Manager Tony Mazzucco and Health Director Sigalle Reiss.

The person who tested positive after attending the party is a resident but not a town employee or town official, according to town officials, who said they are not releasing that person's identity.

Town of Norwood General Manager Tony Mazzucco was among the 11 town officials and employees who attended the gathering at a home in town with the resident who later tested positive. Officials said Mazzucco developed cold-like symptoms this week and out of an abundance of caution he was tested for COVID-19 Friday evening.

Superintendent David Thomson was also among those who was at the gathering and who will be working from home next week. Officials said he does not have any symptoms, so he will not be tested for COVID-19 unless he develops symptoms.

"Parents are encouraged to send their children to school next week. Please stay informed and we will notify parents if there are any updates," Health Director Reiss said. "There is no known exposure to the schools and the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus remains low across the state, including in Norwood."

Out of an abundance of caution, the district is calling in custodial staff to sanitize and disinfect all schools and the district office, according to officials, in addition to the regular flu season sanitizing.

Aside from Mazzucco and Thomson, the names of those who are self quarantining are not being released at the advice of town's legal counsel, which is citing privacy law.

Mazzucco will continue to execute his duties as the town’s general manager while working remotely from home, and the town will continue to operate as normal, with Town Hall being open during normal business hours.

"I am following the instructions of state and local public health officials and I want to thank the Norwood Health Department for their guidance in this matter," Mazzucco said.

Mazzucco and the 10 other town officials who attended the event began self-quarantine at home Friday and will do so until March 16, which will be 14 days since the end of the event last Sunday afternoon, March 1.

If those who attended the event are asymptomatic on Monday, March 16, they will be eligible to return to work, according to officials. In the meantime, those who are able to, will work remotely.

There were 30 attendees at the party, and all have been contacted by their local health department officials to be informed of the need to self quarantine and monitor their symptoms. Aside from Mazzucco, the town is aware of one other resident, that is not a town employee or town official, that will need to be tested after displaying symptoms.

Still, the local Department of Public Health stressed the risk to residents of contracting COVID-19 is low, and the flu presents a higher risk to residents overall.

Health officials said that children of the people who are under self quarantine can come to school, since it is a precautionary measure. School officials said regular after school activities will happen as normal, but per the recommendation of Gov.Charlie Baker, school trips to Italy and France in April have been cancelled and may be rescheduled for later in the year. All local school activities and events in Norwood, and domestic school trips, will still go on as planned.

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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.

As of Friday there were eight cases in the commonwealth. Read more: MA Coronavirus Cases Spike; Many Linked To Boston Conference.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the virus appear within 2-14 days of exposure. The DPH reports that symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath and in severe cases pneumonia.

Local, state and federal health officials are encouraging residents to take the following precautions to prevent infectious diseases, such as the flu and COVID-19, from spreading:

• Wash hands frequently, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
• When sick yourself, stay home to protect others and practice social distancing.
• Always cover your cough or sneeze.

“Our town is well-equipped to adapt in the face of this challenge,” Mazzucco said. “I am confident that we will be able to continue providing a high level of service to our residents even as some of us remain away from our desks next week. It’s important for residents to know that there is still a low risk that they will become infected, and they should remember to take reasonable precautions to mitigate that risk.”

Anyone who is experiencing a fever and respiratory illness and is concerned they have either come into contact with the virus or traveled to an affected country within the last 14 days is advised to contact their primary health care provider.

For more information, visit the City’s website by clicking here, DPH’s website by clicking here and the CDC’s website by clicking here.

• Norwood Schools Cancel Trips To France, Italy Amid Coronavirus
• MA Coronavirus Cases Spike; Many Linked To Boston Conference (March 6)
• 60 From Boston Hotel Head To Hospital To Test For Coronavirus (March 6)