Westford Schools Coronavirus Response

WESTFORD, MA — Westford Public Schools will respond to coronavirus concerns by keeping in close contact with public health officials and informing the school community, Superintendent Bill Olsen said in a letter to parents.

"One of the marvelous qualities of Westford is that we welcome diversity and inclusion in both our school system and town. Although this virus was first detected in China, it is important to note that new viruses can originate throughout the world at any time," he wrote.

Olsen's note also stressed that he expected students and the community to treat each other with respect.

"I know that the Westford community will not engage in any bias toward any of our adults or children. We are a town and school system that has been enriched by global diversity," he wrote on Feb. 3.

Olsen said the district was in touch with local public health officials and he planned to keep the community updated.

As of Tuesday morning, there had only been one confirmed case of coronavirus in Massachusetts since the strain, known as COVID-19, was first identified in Wuhan, China in December. Late Monday night state health officials announced a possible second.

Olsen said many of the precautions that help prevent colds and the flu can help protect against coronavirus before outlining CDC recommendations.

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.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its 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.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Related: Coronavirus In Massachusetts: Flights Diverted, Marathon A Go