Tewksbury Public Schools To Close For 2 Weeks: Coronavirus in MA

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury Public Schools will be closed through at least March 27, the district announced Friday. The Merrimack Valley Superintendents Association agreed that 22 districts and regional schools will close, in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.

In the announcement, officials encouraged residents to join social distancing efforts to reduce the spread of the virus.

"It is important to understand that closing schools of our communities to mitigate the spread of this virus," they wrote. "If students and families continue to meet together in large groups outside of school, this initial two-week closure may not have the desired impact. It is critical that students and families do their best to refrain from meeting in large groups and practice social distancing as recommended by the CDC."

More information will come from the district on educational programming and other details, according to the announcement.

>>Coronavirus School Closings In MA: List
>>MA Coronavirus: Most Gatherings Of 250+ Prohibited

Don't miss updates about precautions in your area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

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.