LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield has become a front line for fighting the coronavirus with the town notifying residents Wednesday evening that the Summer Street School is closed Thursday and Friday for cleaning through the weekend after a school worker came in contact with two people who tested positive for the virus.
“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 will not be open Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13,” the posting on the town website stated.
“School officials will monitor the situation throughout the weekend with the intention of reopening the school on Monday,” said the statement.
The notice said the school will “undergo a thorough disinfection” through Sunday. All school buses utilized by the Lynnfield School District will be thoroughly disinfected prior to their use on Thursday, the statement said.
The School Committee scheduled a Thursday, 6:30 p.m. emergency meeting in the Merritt meeting room, 600 Market St. to “Address COVID-19 in Lynnfield and School Department response moving forward.”
Town officials also announced the Senior Center on Salem Street is closed until further notice, bringing to a halt a local gathering place that hosts, on average, a dozen activities every weekday and sponsors trips.
“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.
The Senior Center staff will remain available by phone during normal Senior Center hours to assist Lynnfield seniors. Call (781) 598-1078,” the town statement said.
Center Director Linda Naccara said about 220 seniors attend center activities every weekday. She said the center’s affiliation with Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) ensures Lynnfield seniors receiving meals through GLSS will continue to receive them.
“The governor has said we don’t want seniors congregating, out of an abundance of caution. Our top priority is to keep seniors healthy,” Naccara said.
Town officials are meeting daily, the statement said, to assess the coronavirus threat locally by evaluating state and national government communications on the virus.
The statement said the town has also stepped up cleaning and disinfecting shared surfaces such as doors, washrooms and counters to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other transmissible diseases in Town buildings.”
The Wednesday evening posting on the town website also shared this information:
“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.”
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.
For important information on the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, including state and national advice on all aspects of the pandemic, please visit the Lynnfield Emergency Management webpage at https://www.town.lynnfield.ma.us/emergency-management.