(Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓市市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)3月13日晚7點多宣佈，波士頓公校系統將關閉6
週，3月17日起至4月27日，以降低新型冠狀病毒傳播的危險。
波士頓公校系統約有學生5萬4000餘人。波士頓市長馬丁華殊率領公校總監Brenda Cassellius 等人宣佈此消息時強調，現在是大膽採取行動，以降低病毒傳播速度的時候。
他說，如果情況安全了，學校可能重新開放。
波士頓市內的大約125所學校，在週一的3月16日時，將照常開門，主要是讓學校，家長有時間溝通，做準備。
波士頓市正在研訂學生可帶回家的課程計畫，也還在最後確認，如何讓數以千計，每日仰賴學校提供餐食等服務的學生，不會捱餓。波市府預定在週日時，通知家長相關細節。
儘管麻州郊區，已有好幾所學校宣佈停課幾天，甚至兩星期，波士頓市長馬丁華殊起初一直保持緘默。
馬丁華殊表示，和其他學區相比，波士頓市比較複雜，學生的需要也遠比其他地方為多，過去這幾天，他和波士頓市各學校一直都在討論。
本週稍早，儘管波士頓內學校，還沒有任何確診案例，北端(North
End)的Eliot學校，因為有一名非學生的學校社區內人士感染，經公共衛生人員建議，三個校區都關閉了。
鑑於新型冠狀病毒疫情的越來越嚴重，馬丁華殊昨(3月13)日宣佈了比麻州許多其他學區停課兩週更大膽的做法，一下子就停課六週。
馬丁華殊認為，那些學區很可能都會重新考慮他們的計畫。
麻州的新型冠狀病毒案例，昨日跳升到123宗，其中大部分都和百奧健(Biogen)二月份在波士頓萬豪酒店開的會議有關，25宗是在波士頓。
馬丁華殊也再度提醒市民，做好防範病毒工作，包括用肥皂勤洗手至少20秒，用60度已上酒精消毒，和人接觸時保持6英尺距離等。(視頻來自波士頓市府)
以下為波士頓市府新聞稿:
MAYOR WALSH, SUPERINTENDENT
CASSELLIUS ANNOUNCE DISTRICTWIDE CLOSURE OF ALL BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BOSTON
- Friday, March 13, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston Public Schools Superintendent
Brenda Cassellius today announced the district-wide closure of all Boston
Public Schools for students, effective on Tuesday, March 17. At this time,
schools are expected to reopen on Monday, April 27, following April
vacation.
Schools
will be open for a regular school day on Monday, March 16 to allow the
flexibility needed to ensure a smooth transition that will allow for parents to
plan, students to gather belongings, and the distribution of any learning
materials that are ready for use at home. At this time, there is no known
public health risk facing the Boston Public Schools as a whole. The decision to
close schools is being made proactively to mitigate and contain the spread of
the virus, and follows the declaration of a national emergency that was
announced earlier today.
Should
the situation with coronavirus improve on a faster timeline than expected,
Mayor Walsh and Superintendent Cassellius will look into reopening schools
before April 27 if that is what is best for Boston's school communities.
"My
priority will always be to protect the health and safety of the residents of
Boston," said Mayor Walsh. "The decision to close schools was
extremely difficult to make and follows several days of robust planning to
ensure that we are still able to provide our students with the services they
need even with schools being closed. I want to thank Boston's principals,
teachers, and school leadership for their collaboration and input during a very
serious and quickly evolving situation to ensure that we are living up to our
commitment of putting the well-being of our school communities at the forefront
of everything that we do."
The
announcement of school closure is being shared immediately to give parents,
caretakers and families time to plan for childcare and other considerations
that may need to be made. Beginning on Wednesday of next week through Friday,
faculty and staff of each school will return to their respective buildings to
continue to work on learning materials so that students can continue to learn.
"I
will always measure every decision in child benefit. Today and always, their
health and safety, as well as that of our staff, and families, is our top
priority," said Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. "In collaboration
with Mayor Walsh and Health and Human Services Chief Martinez, BPS has been
actively developing a plan to support our community during this rapidly
changing situation. I am incredibly grateful to our teachers, school leaders,
custodians, food service workers, bus drivers, and all the staff at BPS for
their commitment to our children."
On
Sunday, Mayor Walsh and Boston Public Schools will communicate with school
communities and families with further plans on how to support students
and families during the closure, including details on picking up meals for the
students who rely on the daily free breakfasts and lunches BPS provides to
students. In addition, Boston Public Schools will be working with schools and
teachers to ensure learning materials are available for students to use at home
to the fullest possible extent possible.
"The
Boston School Committee thanks our 10,000 teachers, school leaders, and staff,
who will rise to the occasion to support our community in these times,"
said Michael Loconto, Boston School Committee Chairperson. "Working with
Mayor Walsh and our City's public services, our Boston Public Schools will
provide students with tools to maintain their education and return to school
ready to learn and achieve."
As of
Friday, March 13, there are 123 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts
and 25 in Boston. The Boston Public Health Commission will be providing
additional information as it is received from the Massachusetts Department of
Public Health. Visit boston.gov/coronavirus
for up-to-date information and answers to commonly asked questions.
On
Wednesday, March 11, the Boston Public Health Commission, in conjunction with
the Boston Public Schools, announced the closure of the three campuses of the
Eliot K-8 School after a non student member of the school's community tested
positive for COVID-19. The Eliot School will remain closed as part of the BPS
district wide closures.
To
protect Bostonians and their families from the spread of the virus, residents
are reminded to practice caution: wash your hands often with soap and water for
at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60
percent alcohol; avoid shaking hands; cover your coughs and sneezes; clean and
disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and avoid close contact with
people who are sick. If you think you might be symptomatic, call your doctor or
311 to be connected to the Mayor's Health Line. Residents are also reminded to
practice social distancing: keep your distance from others (six feet apart); do
not take public transportation, taxis or ride-shares during this period; avoid
crowded places.
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