Posted on: Thursday, March 12, 2020
LYNNFIELD — The Emergency Management Team has provided the following update on the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic.
Superintendent Jane Tremblay announced in a letter sent to families on Wednesday, March 11 that “a Summer Street School employee has had a potential exposure with two people who have tested positive for COVID-19.”
“Using an abundance of caution, the Summer Street School and Lynnfield Preschool will not be open Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13,” said Tremblay. “During the next four days, Summer Street School will undergo a thorough disinfection. All school buses utilized by the Lynnfield School District will be thoroughly disinfected prior to their use on Thursday.”
Tremblay said, “School officials will monitor the situation throughout the weekend with the intention of reopening the school on Monday morning.”
“The decisions we are making are in accordance with the latest guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Tremblay stated in a video posted on the town of Lynnfield Vimeo page. “The health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff continues to be our number one priority. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work through this uncharted territory.”
Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis said in the same video that local officials were notified on Wednesday, March 11 that “two non-Lynnfield residents attended a large event in a community outside of Boston.” He said both people tested “presumptive positive for the COVID-19 virus.”
“The employee of the Summer Street School was also in attendance at this event,” said Davis. “Based on conversations we had with the Massachusetts state epidemiologist, the exposure risk is extremely low due to the fact that the two positive cases were not symptomatic at the time of the event. Based on this conversation and the conversation with our Emergency Management Team, and the limited exposure, the decision was made to close only the Summer Street School.
“I need every citizen of Lynnfield to understand that as your fire chief, as your emergency management director and as a resident of the town of Lynnfield, the safety of our citizens is utmost,” Davis continued. “We meet daily to discuss the ongoing changes. This is a rapidly evolving situation and we are trying to stay ahead of it to the best of ability.”
Town Administrator Rob Dolan stated in the video that local officials have repeatedly discussed the coronavirus over the last several weeks and have “changed policies and protocols” in the schools by taking “preventative measures.”
DPW Director John Tomasz said his department “stepped up our cleaning and disinfection in all the schools about a week-and-a-half ago, including the buses.”
“We are going to be looking to get into all of the schools this weekend to add on what we have done previously in regards to cleaning,” said Tomasz. “We are going to clean all of the desks and all of the lockers, essentially anything where someone could have touched it. All of the procedures and protocols that we are following when it comes to personal protective equipment for cleaning and disinfection is what is recommended by the CDC and the Department of Public Health of Massachusetts.”
Senior Center closed
Due to the vulnerability of the population age 60 and over to the COVID-19 virus, the Lynnfield Senior Center will be closed until further notice.
“This decision was made not due to any reported exposure to the virus by anyone associated with the Senior Center, but to assist in the prevention of the spread of the virus within vulnerable segments of the population,” said Davis in a statement. “The Senior Center staff will remain available by phone during normal Senior Center hours to assist Lynnfield seniors. Call (781)-598-1078.”
Emergency planning continues
The Emergency Management Team is meeting every morning to discuss new information from local and state agencies and the local community in order to implement any necessary measures by all town departments.
“We are regularly consulting with state officials and officials from other communities to share information and strategies to best keep our residents safe,” said Davis. “The town has implemented additional cleaning and disinfecting protocols for shared surfaces such as doors, washrooms and counters to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other transmissible diseases in town buildings.”
Tremblay said, “Families of school-aged children are encouraged to continue to keep their children home if they show any signs of illness, including the common cold or flu-like symptoms.”
“Parents and guardians should also remember to contact their school if their child will be absent due to illness,” Tremblay added.
The Emergency Management Team also stressed that residents should also follow the general advice for prevention of transmission of disease, including frequent hand washing. Those with specific conditions and concerns should consult with their health care provider.
Stay informed
The Emergency Management Team will continue sharing notices via the town website at www.town.lynnfield.ma.us and the town’s Facebook page. Residents are urged to sign up for all email notifications by clicking the “Subscribe to Alerts” button on the town website’s front page.
The town’s most important alerts will also be sent via the CodeRed alert system. Residents are urged to visit the town website and click on the CodeRed logo to ensure that you receive all these important updates as well. School families will also continue to receive school-related updates through the Connect Ed system.
For important information on the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, including state and national advice on all aspects of the pandemic, visit the Lynnfield Emergency Management webpage at https://www.town.lynnfield.ma.us/emergency-management.
“The town of Lynnfield is taking every step, hourly and daily, to prevent the spread of this virus by adopting best practices as information is provided to us by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and all other local and regional agencies,” said Dolan. “We want you to be safe.”