Baker: No school in Massachusetts until April 6, bars and restaurants limited to food takeout
As coronavirus continues to spread, Gov. Charlie Baker has shut down public schools in Massachusetts until April 6, extending Grafton’s already-announced school closure.
Baker also announced that all bars and restaurants in the state will be shut down to on-premise consumption beginning Tuesday. Bars and restaurants can continue to offer food for takeout or delivery.
“The facts on the ground have changed,” Baker said. “Now that we have evidence based on the testing results that we have community transmission in seven counties in Massachusetts, I think at this point in time it’s particularly appropriate we not only move on the school closures, but also that we get a lot more aggressive around other places and spaces that people gather.”
COVID-19 has been diagnosed in seven Massachusetts counties, including Berkshire, Essex, Hampden, Norfolk, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Worcester, according to Monica Bharel, commissioner of the state’s Department of Public Health. An additional 28 new cases were reported on Sunday, bringing the total in the state to 164.
“While we have already been working on trying to figure out what we can provide students and parents in terms of remote learning, this news definitely pushes the entire state to collectively figure out what is best in terms of educating students during the closure,” Grafton Superintendent of Schools Jay Cummings posted on social media. “We will be sharing an initial plan in the coming days. I hope everyone is staying safe and well!”
Baker said he was amending earlier guidance banning gatherings of 250 people or more to 25, including all community, civic, public, leisure, and faith-based events, as well as sports games with spectators, concerts, and conventions. It also covers fitness centers, private clubs, and theaters.
“If we take decisive steps now and everyone plays their part by following the best medical guidance, we can slow down the spread,” Baker said, stressing that coronavirus is “incredibly contagious. It is more contagious than the seasonal flu.”
