Brookline Releases New Coronavirus Website

BROOKLINE, MA — The town released a new website in an effort to help community members keep up to date with the latest, as the town responds to the quickly evolving global COVID-19 outbreak.

The new website, BrooklineCOVID19.com, will serve as a one-stop resource as the situation develops, according to town officials. The website is also tied to Bookline's town government, fire department and police department social media accounts, so it will automatically post all content from the blog onto all of the town's Twitter and Facebook accounts at once.

The new site features a news blog, links to town resources including schools, town government, links to order free and reduced lunch as well as links to resources like the Brookline Food Pantry

Officials say they will post updates on what town buildings and facilities are closed, it they will also post about the emergency parking rules and if you're looking for a way to contact town officials, including the emergency call center.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, prompting President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency, Gov. Charlie Baker to declare a state of emergency in Massachusetts and the Select Board to adopt a declaration of emergency in Brookline.

More from the town:

Student Medication Pickup

Families will be allowed to pick up their student’s medicine from schools on Wednesday, March 18 from 9 a.m. to noon. School leaders and nurses will be on-site during this time.

If you have medicine to pick up, please email your school nurse today, and call them on their phone number tomorrow, prior to your arrival so they can be ready with your student’s medicine. The contact information can be found here.

Brookline Food Pantry Update

Families who take part in the Brookline Food Pantry's Brookline Thrives program should be aware of the following:

• Brookline Thrives bags will be available at Brookline Food Pantry locations during their operating hours.
• In addition, Thrives bags will be available for pick-up on Fridays from 3-5 p.m. in the Community Room at 226 High St. Just ask a Pantry volunteer for a Thrives bag at the entrance.
• To promote social distancing, the Food Pantry has announced changes to their normal procedures (shoppers wait outside while volunteers prepare bags to hand to them at the door).
• Complete details about the Food Pantry are available here and specific information about their Brookline Thrives program is available here.

Businesses

The Brookline Select Board, in order to further implement social distancing practices, moved today to order all restaurants and bars in town to cease dine-in operations by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 16. Additionally, queues of more than 10 people inside or outside any establishment will be prohibited beginning at 5 p.m. Monday, March 16.

Restaurants may remain open and continue to offer takeout or delivery only.

Takeout patrons are urged to call ahead or place their orders online with restaurants and eateries in order to minimize face-to-face interaction and streamline the pickup process.

The Brookline Police Department and Department of Public Works are coordinating to set aside parking spaces on town streets to facilitate the takeout and delivery process.

The Brookline Department of Economic Development and Long Term Planning is actively working to minimize the impact of COVID-related regulations for businesses.

Town Buildings and Offices

All town buildings — with the exception of Town Hall — are closed to the public until further notice. Town Hall is open on a very limited basis, and residents are asked to call 617-730-2000 prior to visiting Town Hall.

All town personnel not assigned to roles supporting the Emergency Operations Center will transition to working remotely. Police, fire and public works employees, with few exceptions, will continue to report to work and serve the community.

"Our COVID-19 task force has been working around the clock to ensure all town departments can fulfill their essential duties while practicing social distancing," Town Administrator Kleckner said.

Read More about Closures/Cancellations

>>> Coronavirus In Brookline: Updates, What's Closed, Canceled