Brookline Coronavirus: 2 People Test Positive, School To Close

BROOKLINE, MA — Two residents tested positive for new coronavirus Wednesday, according to local health officials. The two adult residents are in isolation and are being monitored closely by medical personnel, the town announced Wednesday. These mark the first two cases of coronavirus in town and come the same day as the World Health Organization declared a pandemic.

One of the adults is a parent of a student in the Lincoln School, officials said.

Although the student has not tested positive, has been absent from the school for several days and is not showing any symptoms of illness, out of an abundance of caution the superintendent of schools will close the Lincoln School March 12 and Friday, March 13 to sanitize the building.

"The results from the DPH were not unexpected," according to a town announcement that comes the day after officials told the public during a press conference 14 Brookline residents were in quarantine but none were experiencing symptoms and most would be out of quarantine by the end of the week.

Tuesday, the Brookline Public School superintendent and town health and other officials announced they have been working together to plan for such a situation.

Read more >>Brookline Sets Up Task Force, Response To Coronavirus

In addition, in order to proactively slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community, all non-essential public meetings and events in town or school facilities shall be prohibited effective at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 through April 30, 2020.

Consistent with Governor Baker's emergency declaration, town officials said they encourage private organizations and institutions to cancel large public gatherings and urge older adults and those with health issues to avoid large crowds and large events.

“I believe the most effective public health measure to prevent wide spread of COVID-19 is to encourage social distancing up to six feet and avoid any meeting or public gathering if possible”, said Health Commissioner for Brookline Public Health Swannie Jett.

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