Coronavirus Concern: Waltham's Senior Center Closed Until May

WALTHAM, MA — Waltham's Senior Center will be closed beginning Thursday, March 19, until the end of April out of concern regarding the new coronavirus pandemic, the Waltham Council on Aging announced as a precautionary measure as older adults are a susceptible population.

The Council on Aging said it will still be staffed and will operate the Meals on Wheels Program.

On March 10, the same day Boston cancelled the St. Patrick's Day parade, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency. Then, on March 11, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. So far, the Boston Marathon is still on: What Coronavirus Means For The Boston Marathon.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

As of this week there were 92 cases of coronavirus in Massachustts, including 41 in Middlesex County. >> Person Exposed To Coronavirus Told To Self Quarantine: Waltham

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Other cancellations:

• The Waltham Recreation Department's Free Family Fun Day on Saturday, March 14 has been canceled.
• The City of Waltham's annual Easter Event on Saturday, March 28, canceled.
• The Annual Bill Walsh Scholarship Concert March 28, has also been postponed, according to the Waltham Arts Council Board of Directors.
• Brandeis University has moved to online classes. There will be no classes between March 23 and 25, and then all classes will resume online starting March 26. All students, except those who have received special permission from the Department of Community Living, will be required to move out by March 25.
• Bentley University is moving to online classes. There will be no classes March 16-20 as the university and students prepare to move to remote, online classes beginning Monday, March 23. Remote classes will continue until at least Friday, April 3. Students must remain off-campus, but can return if necessary to retrieve important items until Tuesday, March 17. Limited accommodations will be made for students who cannot return home due to extenuating circumstances.

• SAT testing scheduled at Waltham High School on March 14 has been canceled. The next test date is set for May 2.

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Read more: Coronavirus In MA: What It Means For The Boston Marathon