Somerville Schools, City Buildings To Close For 2 Weeks

SOMERVILLE, MA — All city and school buildings will be closed for a minimum of two weeks to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, the illness associated with the coronavirus, city officials said. Somerville Public Schools are already closed Friday; additional closures will start Monday, March 16. Services essential to public health and safety, including the police and fire departments, trash collection and the 311 call center , will continue as normal.

The closure includes the Somerville Public Schools, Somerville Public Libraries and Department of Parks and Recreation facilities and activities. If you have questions about a specific service or official meeting schedules such as City Council, Boards, and Commissions, please call 311 or 617-666-3311. All city- and school-sponsored events are canceled during this period.

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"We realize this decision creates inconveniences for residents, businesses, and organizations in our city but the health and safety of our community must come first," Mayor Joseph Curtatone said in a statement. "History has shown us that communities that implement social distancing measures during early fair the best during a public health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Minimizing contact is the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect residents who are particularly vulnerable to this illness."

Additional information about actions the City and Schools are taking, along with more information on COVID-19 and prevention measures, can be found at www.somervillema.gov/coronavirus, which is updated frequently.