Malden Public Schools To Close 'Indefinitely'

MALDEN, MA — The Malden Public Schools will close "indefinitely" starting Friday, March 13, the district announced Thursday. Malden joined other nearby districts in canceling school due to coronavirus concerns.

The city also closed its senior center until further notice due to the virus, citing the uptick in cases statewide and its members being part of a susceptible age group. There have been no reported cases in Malden, but residents of nearby communities like Medford, Arlington and Somerville have tested presumptive positive for the virus.

Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, a charter school in Malden, canceled school from Wednesday, March 11 to Friday, March 13. The charter school had previously scheduled days off on Monday and Tuesday.

According to numbers released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Wednesday, there are six confirmed cases and 89 presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in the state. Presumptive positive means the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still needs to verify the test results.

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Officials encouraged families to take the following precautions to remain as healthy as possible:

● Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

● Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

● Avoid sharing drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, dishes, towels or other items.

● Avoid close contact with people who are sick, as much as possible

● Stay home when you are sick

● Cover your mouth when you cough