Arlington Public Schools To Close For 2 Weeks

ARLINGTON, MA — The Arlington Public Schools is among six districts in Middlesex County to close for two weeks due to concerns over the coronavirus. Schools in Bedford, Belmont, Burlington, Lexington and Winchester will close as well.

Closures will start Friday, March 13 and run until at least March 27. District superintendents issued a joint statement Thursday:

"Our decision has been informed by our local boards of health, as well by expert epidemiologists who recognize that the time to act is now. We know we can have a greater and more positive impact on public health and safety if we do this together.
Many in our area have been particularly impacted due to our families who have a greater number of presumptive positive cases in the area. Please be aware that this school closure period of time may be extended or shortened should State authorities so direct. We realize the decisions we are making in our geographic region do not necessarily reflect the needs and decisions of our counterparts in other areas of the State.
We do this out of an abundance of caution, particularly out of sensitivity to families and staff who have underlying conditions that make them more vulnerable to complications should they become infected. We also do not do this lightly, as we know that this will impose a hardship on families who do not have childcare options."

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Two Arlington residents, a mother and child, have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness associated with the coronavirus. The mother, a woman in her 40s, attended a Biogen employee conference in Boston last month that has been linked to dozens of presumptive positive cases of the coronavirus.

Her child is a student at the Stratton Elementary School. Stratton was closed closed Monday after the child started showing symptoms associated with the coronavirus.