Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates for the city of Boston
*Original Post Date: 3/13/2020
Dear BSA Community,
As the news regarding the coronavirus continues to evolve, together with our public health and public safety partners, The City of Boston is committed to identifying actions we can take collectively to prevent the spread of this virus and protect people from exposure. The Boston Public Health Commission and Boston EMS are preparing for all scenarios involving coronavirus to ensure we will have a safe and effective response.
Our first priority remains to keep the people of Boston safe & healthy. It is our hope that by taking preventative steps now, we will mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 in Boston. We will continue monitoring the situation and will keep you informed as we learn more.
As of Tuesday, March 10, 2020, the City of Boston has 18 presumptive cases of coronavirus in Boston residents. If these 18 cases are confirmed by the CDC we will have 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Boston residents. This information is being updated daily on boston.gov/coronavirus.
Out of an abundance of caution, the City of Boston has canceled the St. Patrick’s Day parade that was scheduled for 3/15/20. We all have a role to play in protecting ourselves and our communities. By taking simple steps that reduce the spread of infectious diseases, we can ensure the health of ourselves and our neighbors.
Governor Baker has also declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts. Visit boston.gov/coronavirus or bphc.org to get the latest updates.
On March 11, 2020, the Boston Public Schools and the Boston Public Health Commission announced the closure of the Eliot K-8 School campus until March 19, 2020 due to Coronavirus concerns. The decision to close schools district-wide has not been made yet, however, The City of Boston is evaluating all options and planning around how to support school communities should we close. BPS understands that families throughout the district may choose to keep students at home. If families decide not to send students to school, the absence should be accompanied by a parent/guardian letter or email to the school. These absences will be excused. Please call 311 for the most up to date information about Boston Public Schools.
Mayor Walsh, Governor Baker, the BAA and John Hancock announced that the 124th Boston Marathon will be postponed to September 14th, 2020. Registered participants and volunteers will receive additional information in the coming days.
With the exception of public hearings and public meetings that are subject to the Open Meeting Law, the City of Boston will postpone events or meetings expected to have an attendance of over 25 people. This is consistent with CDC guidelines which discourage large gatherings and encourage the practice of social distancing. Learn more about social distancing at boston.gov under "Common Questions."
Following guidance issued by Mayor Walsh recommending the postponement or cancellation of public meetings with 25 people or more, the BPDA is postponing all BPDA-hosted public meetings regarding Article 80 development projects and planning studies until further notice. At this time, this excludes monthly BPDA Board Meetings, Boston Zoning Commission meetings, and Boston Civic and Design Commission (BCDC) meetings due to regulatory and statutory requirements. Extra precautions will be taken during these meetings to encourage social distancing. Please continue to follow along here or sign up for BPDA updates, here: bostonplans.org/about-us/get-involved.
We will continue to post updates at architects.org/news.
We will continue to monitor city and state health recommendations and communicate any changes to BSA operations. Thank you for your partnering with us.
Best of health to all,
Eric White Hon. AIA
Executive Director, BSA
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