Ipswich schools close, play cancelled and COA stops most programs

Mar. 13--School Superintendent Brian Blake has closed the Ipswich public schools through March 27, the middle school play scheduled for this weekend, March 14 and March 15, has been cancelled and the Council on Aging has cancelled most of its programming because of fears over spreading the coronavirus or COVID-19.

This according to a video the School Department and Town Manager Tony Marino released Friday, March 13.

President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency over COVID-19, echoing a state of emergency Gov. Charlie Baker declared in Massachusetts last week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta recorded 1,629 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of Friday, March 13, with 41 deaths attributed to the virus that attacks the upper respiratory system.

The CDC says Massachusetts has 101 COVID cases reported, with most not officially verified by a test.

Ipswich has no officially diagnosed cases of COVID-19, but Blake and town officials made their decisions based on consultation with local and state health officials.

"Following several conversations with the Commissioner of Education and the Department of Public Health, a group of North Shore Superintendents have decided that this is the best action for our communities. While there are no reported cases in Ipswich, we felt it necessary to take this step to protect our children, staff, and our communities," a statement read on the school website explaining the reasons for the school closure.

For a full look at the school site with links to the full context of Blake's letter of March 12, the March 13 school closure notice and the video go here.

The school notice calls the current situation regarding COVID-19 as "fluid and quickly evolving" and promises further updates.

Blake's March 12 letter:

Bans all field trips with an indoor destination for the next 30 days, at which time the School Department will re-evaluate the trips.

* Allows field trips with an outdoor destination such as Crane Beach, vernal pools and salt marshes.

* Prevents outside groups from "using school buildings for meetings, events, etc."

* Postpones the STEAM showcase until a later date to be determined.

The schools and Town Hall were both disinfected within the last week according to the video.

The COA will continue several programs including income tax preparation, SHINE counseling and van service, Sheila Taylor, COA director, said.

"We don't want anyone to panic about the situation," Marino said. "The risk is still low here in Essex County. But, we want to let everybody know you should avoid large gathering places to keep any sort of potential transmission to a minimum."

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