Windham, school leaders aim to keep virus from spreading

Mar. 12--WINDHAM -- Following what has been declared a " public health emergency," local municipal and school leaders have committed to reducing the spread of the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont declared a public health emergency and a civil preparedness emergency in response to the virus.

The classifications allow the state to quickly expand its sample collection and testing capabilities for the virus, as well as protect travel insurance and prohibit price gouging.

Town and school operations in Windham are working to respond to the increas-

LEADERS, Page 4

We're going to keep a close eye on this, but we're not going to panic.

Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers

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Leaders aim to reduce virusâ?? spread

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ingly spreading virus.

Windham Emergency Management Director Michael Licata said community stakeholders have been meeting regularly to discuss coronavirus prevention and preparation.

Licata said the meetings are occuring on a weekly basis and include representatives from Windham Community Memorial Hospital, Windham Public Schools, town department heads and the Willimantic police and fire chiefs.

" We've been reviewing what we're going to be doing until the emergency is over," Licata said. " We need to do whatever we need to do to take care of ourselves."

Following the most recent meeting Tuesday, Licata said the town is working with the hospital staff to create a screening tool.

The screening tool will be a questionnaire to be distributed to high- traffic and high- risk areas, like Windham Public Schools, the Windham Senior Center and the Windham Recreation Department.

The questionnaire will ask questions like: " have you traveled out of the state or country recently?" " have you been feeling sick?" or " have you been around a sick person recently?"

Licata said the questionnaire is an attempt to cover all bases and make sure everyone in the town is "good to go."

According to Licata, he will disperse the questionnaire to all departments once the hospital makes it available.

Meanwhile, town departments are being proactive in whatever way they can.

" We're going to keep a close eye on this, but we're not going to panic," said Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers.

For example, doors are being left open in Windham Town Hall to reduce the spread of germs.

Signs displaying coronavirus symptoms and asking people to stay home if they feel ill are also visible at the Windham Senior Center.

" We want the seniors to be safe, we want them to be healthy," Windham Director of Human Services Mary DeMarco said. " We do have people coming into the building that might be at risk."

DeMarco said, for the time being, all day trips from the senior center are cancelled.

Licata said he will hear updates from the regional health district on a weekly basis.

Those updates will be distributed to the public when they are available.

Finally, Licata said all updates will be posted on the town's website at windhamct. com. Additional messages may be posted on the town's messaging board on the corner of Jillson Square.

School response Several changes to the local school system and Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic have been made in the last day regarding how to prevent the spread of the virus.

On Wednesday evening, ECSU announced it will have online- only classes from March 23 through at least April 5.

" I've been concerned all along, but my concern has risen over the last 24 hours," Eastern President Elsa N??ez said. " I'm very concerned about the safety of this community."

The university is on spring break from March 16 through March 20.

" We are taking all necessary precautions to mitigate the threat of the COVID19 coronavirus on our students, faculty, and staff," said Connecticut State Colleges and Universities President Mark Ojakian.

"In concert with the CSCU campus leaders, we made the decision to move classes online out of an abundance of caution. We will continue to closely monitor the spread of the virus and take all necessary precautions to protect our communities."

All residence halls will be closed during that time. Students are encouraged to take home whatever materials they need to continue their classes online.

N??ez said the classes will be split between an online- only format and lectures delivered via video.

The university will remain open for business and all non- teaching faculty and staff must continue to report to work.

N??ez said the university will be cleaned and disinfected while students are away.

Windham Public Schools also made an announcement regarding the virus Wednesday.

Windham Acting Superintendent Tracy Youngberg sent a letter home to the school district community regarding cancelling events that may attract a large group of attendants.

" We all have a responsibility to stay aware and become educated about how to minimize the risk of the virus in our schools and community," Youngberg wrote.

Youngberg said all events that may attract more than 100 attendants and field trips are cancelled between March 12 and March 27.

The Windham Parent and Community University event on April 4 is also cancelled.

Youngberg also discussed the issue during Wednesday's board of education meeting.

"Next week we'll re-evaluate and go from there," Youngberg said. "It really is changing minute-by-minute."

Follow Claire Galvin on Twitter -- @CGalvinTC.

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