2 Wellesley Schools Close After District Says Parent Tested Positive For Coronavirus

Concerns about the Coronavirus are affecting schools in Massachusetts.

Wellesley Public Schools abruptly closed two schools at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, after discovering that a parent whose children attended Upham Elementary and the middle school tested positive for coronavirus. State health officials are scheduled to hold a briefing today, and could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a statement, Wellesley Superintendent David Lussier said that "these children are showing no symptoms and are healthy."

Plymouth closed all 12 of the district's schools in order to disinfect buildings and buses, a move which Superintendent Gary Maestas said in a letter was being done "out of an abundance of caution."

Late Wednesday night, a student who was on a recent trip to Milan was evaluated at a local hospital with flu-like symptoms and sent home, according to another letter sent by the superintendent Thursday.

In an email, the Maestas said they've postponed all international trips scheduled for April.

State public health officials have said the risk of contracting coronavirus in Massachusetts is low.

Boston Preparatory Charter Public School in Hyde Park also canceled classes on Friday so the school could "undergo a deep clean." School leaders say no students of staff have presented symptoms of COVID-19, but 58 students and teachers traveled to Rome, Italy during February vacation.

Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Malden announced it will close for three days at the end of next week. In a statement, school officials said they do not know of any students who have been exposed to the coronavirus, but wanted "additional time and perspective to watch as the professionals assess the nature of the outbreak."