WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Local schools are adjusting their calendars after the novel coronavirus has been indentified in two local men. 

 

Mount Greylock Regional School District has canceled activities at the high school and both elementary schools including all field trips and school council meetings. 

 

Williams College has eliminated all college-sponsored international travel through at least April 30 and all campus events expected to draw 100 or more people. 

 

These actions come after the town of Clarksburg closed all of its public buildings including the elementary school for sanitizing after a resident of the town was tested presumptive positive for COVID-19. Stamford (Vt.) School also closed Monday for cleaning and North Adams Public Schools and McCann Technical School were disinfected over the weekend. 

 

A man in his 60s from Clarksburg was admitted to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield more than a week ago but was not tested until Friday, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control lifted restrictions on testing. A second man from Readsboro, Vt., was admitted Thursday to Southwest Vermont Medical Center in Bennington with severe symptoms of the virus and subsequently tested positive. 

 

 

In an email on Monday afternoon to the Mount Greylock Regional school community, Superintendent Kimberley Grady stated: "Today the administrative team, including the school nurses, met to discuss the most recent updates regarding COVID-19 in the Northern Berkshire community. In an effort to limit opportunities for the virus to spread, the administration made the decision to cancel events listed below for this week. We will do our best to reschedule events in the coming weeks."

 

Events canceled at both Williamstown and Lanesborough elementaries are Shakespeare & Company, youth basketball and adults using the gyms. Williamstown has also canceled Girl Scouts, all field trips, and staff yoga, and Lanesborough its March Mini Courses and School Council. 

 

Mount Greylock has canceled youth basketball, field trips, staff yoga, spring parent/athlete meeting, the Got Talent night and related rehearsals, SEE Fund Trivia night and related meetings, Class of 2020 Dodgeball Tournament, School Council, PCA workshop for student athletes and the AP Spanish class lunch.

 

District events canceled include the Wellness Committee meeting, all field trips this week, and Thursday's School Committee and Finance Committee meetings.

 

The email to the Williams College community said the cancellations were taken as "further steps to protect campus and prepare for the possibility that a case occurs here despite our best efforts. You can always find this information on the college's COVID-19 website, too."

 

The limit to events with less than 100 people was made because the college has spaces that can accommodate such a crowd while still providing the 6-foot individual space to limit contagion.

 

"For this reason, we believe 100 people is a meaningful cutoff point for now. Again, we are continually reviewing the situation and will inform you if it becomes necessary to extend or amend the policy," the email states. 

 

The college's preview program for incoming students and their families on April 20 has been canceled and no admission tours, information sessions or admitted student overnights will be held. 

 

"This global outbreak challenges all of us, not just logistically or economically, but psychologically," states the email. "While in the great majority of cases the symptoms of COVID-19 will resemble the flu, the uncertainty demands resilience. It is important that we take time to care for ourselves and each other, and especially to think about the most vulnerable."

 

Employees with complicating conditions have been asked to contect Human Resources for accommodations; students are asked to call the Student Health Services, which is not accepting walk-ins to limit the risk of contagion.

 

Williams has put together a team to address COVID-19 and has been in contact with public health experts. The campus community is being encouraged to practice good hygiene to reduce transmission: wash hands frequently, avoid touching eyes, face and mouth, cover coughs and sneezes and avoid close contact with those who may be hill. 

 

"These decisions have real consequences for our mission, jobs and lives, and I appreciate your temporary sacrifices for our collective health and safety," the email concludes.