As of Thursday, March 26, Massachusetts Department of Health reported 2,417 cases of the novel coronavirus. According to the John Hopkins Data, at 83,507 cases, the United States now leads as the country with the highest number of COVID-19 cases. Wednesday, town officials reported one case of coronavirus in Longmeadow. Town officials strongly believe other unrecognized cases exist in Longmeadow.
Longmeadow has taken steps to stop the spread of the virus. According to town officials, tennis courts and play structures will be closed, and basketball hoops will be taken down. This comes into effect, Friday, March 27. Organized activities involving 10 or more people are not allowed. Fields and parks still allow activities that follow social distancing protocols. Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge, commonly known as “the Meadows,” is still open to visitors as long as they follow safety protocols. Signage will be placed at parks and facilities and electronic message boards will be placed at Russell Field, the intersection of Longmeadow and Converse Street, and on Route 5.
The Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge (the Meadows) has seen a resurgence in popularity as it is one of the only places people can safely socially distance outside. The Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge (the Meadows) has seen a resurgence in popularity as it is one of the only places people can safely socially distance outside. The town closed down the Bliss playground. The town closed down the Bliss playground.
Longmeadow Public Schools (LPS) will shape the style of learning for the future based around remote learning using services like Zoom for video and class conference calls. Superintendent Dr. Marty O’Shea said, “We know that we need to bring more structure to this than we had in the first few weeks. We want routine, we want consistency and predictability, but we also want it to be manageable for kids and for families.”
Town officials are urging residents to stay at home and asking for the public’s help in flattening the curve by following social distancing measures. These include staying six feet away from each other and washing their hands. It is also urged that residents stop congregating outside, stop group play and team sports at parks. Town officials recognize it is of importance to take critical public safety messages seriously.
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Track Coronavirus Cases with JHU’s Live Coronavirus Case Tracking Map: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
