NASHUA — The closest potential coronavirus case to Greater Nashua has turned out to be a false alarm, as Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District officials reported Tuesday that an employee’s COVID-19 test has come back negative.

In a letter to parents, Superintendent Andrew Corey wrote, “I have learned that the employee’s test has come back negative for COVID-19. The Brookline School District was directly impacted; however, we are responding as if all schools in SAU41 may have had potential exposure. All high-risk areas within the buildings in SAU41 are currently being disinfected to prepare for our reopen. School will resume tomorrow, March 11.”

SAU41 was closed Tuesday; however, town elections throughout Greater Nashua – including those in Hollis and Brookline – went on as planned.

Corey also told parents in the district that the best approach to dealing with the virus is to not panic and to follow the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines of:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home if you are not feeling well or have a fever.

• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.

“We encourage you to listen to the information that is released directly from my office and pay little credit to rumors you might hear,” Corey added. “My primary responsibility is to ensure the health and safety of our SAU41 community. I am continually collecting additional information, seeking guidance from the Department of Education and DHHS, making decisions and then sharing updates with the community.”

OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONSES

• In the Amherst, Mont Vernon and Souhegan Schools District – SAU39 – officials have opted to cancel Wintercession, which is a week-long program for sophomores in which groups of faculty and students explore a specific topic or theme, project or adventure, in an experiential manner. Wintercession often involves travel.

“There were many parents who were choosing not to send their children on trips next week,” SAU39 Superintendent Adam Steel wrote in a post on Facebook. “The challenge of having some students not attend is that financially, we couldn’t afford the trips if a number of parents did not send their children and refused to pay the balance owed. There were many factors, and ultimately, the current concern from our school community coupled with the financial exposure for the district led me to decide it was more prudent to delay the experience to a time when all students will participate. Not easy. As a chaperone for the D.C. trip next week, I am personally very disappointed as I was very much looking forward to going. But, I will be just as excited when we do finally get to go.”

In addition, officials announced earlier this week that SAU39 staff is meeting more frequently to keep up with changes in COVID-19 news and to undergo additional training. Custodial personnel already have undergone training on proper cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and additional part-time custodians may be brought on board to assist in cleaning efforts.

School nurses are providing daily logging of absences related to flu-like symptoms so officials have data to detect increases in absenteeism.

Officials also noted they, “May consider altering the school-year schedule to allow for additional time for training of our teachers and staff in the case of an extended school closure in the very low likelihood that should become a reality.”

• In the Milford School District, officials also are eyeing field trip and other plans, noting, “There may be the need to cancel upcoming trips depending on recommendations from both state and federal authorities.”

“District-wide, we are working to keep our schools as clean as possible,” said Superintendent Dr. Jessica Huizenga in a letter to the community last week. “Our custodial staff has been directed to disinfect all surfaces each day, especially desks, doorknobs, handrails and other high-traffic areas. We have also provided disinfecting wipes to the classrooms. We again remind everyone to follow the recommended hygiene practices as outlined by the CDC and the New Hampshire Department of Health.”

• In the Hudson School District – SAU81 – Superintendent Lawrence Russell said staff members have undergone additional training and recently participated in a webinar with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Russell also noted in a recent posting on the district’s website that, “The risk of contracting COVID-19 is considered low.”

• In the Nashua School District, Superintendent Dr. Jahmal Mosley, opted to suspend all school-organized international travel until further notice.

“New Hampshire remains at low risk for COVID-19,” Mosley wrote in a letter to parents. “The city of Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services reports no major concerns for the greater Nashua region at this time for COVID-19. Nevertheless, I believe it is the best interest of our community to cancel these field trips.

All local school districts stress that those who are feeling ill should stay home until their symptoms resolve, especially those who are having respiratory problems. Officials also say that anyone who has traveled abroad or to areas where cases have been reported should stay home and avoid public places for 14 days.

NASHUA TRANSIT SYSTEM

The Nashua Transit System announced Monday precautions they are taking, which include:

“Although the risk for COVID-19 remains low in New Hampshire, Nashua Transit System is taking the following preventive measures to protect the health and safety of our passengers and employees:

• Cleaning & disinfecting all vehicles and facilities on a daily basis.

• Providing disinfecting wipes and gloves for operator use.

• Communication: NTS will have informational posters about COVID-19 on vehicles & at the Transit Center in coordination with the Nashua Division of Public Health & Community Service.”

NASHUA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER

On Tuesday, the Nashua Senior Activity Center said, “In an abundance of caution and concern for our seniors, the Nashua Senior Activity Center has been proactively addressing the COVID-19 virus situation in numerous ways.”

Senior Center officials said they are:

• Installing six additional wall-mounted hand sanitizing stations throughout their building at 70 Temple St.

• Every office and the front desk has hand sanitizer available.

• Additional cleaning protocols have been enacted in conjunction with their cleaning company.

• The March and April Wellness clinics with Rivier University have been canceled.

• Today’s cooking demonstration has been canceled.

• Center officials urged those not feeling well to stay home.

Senior Center personnel also said Public Health & Community Services will be hosting an informational session at the center in the near future. A date and time will be announced soon.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts as the number of people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus in the state jumped by 51 to 92. Of that number, 70 are connected to a meeting held by biotech company Biogen at a downtown Boston hotel. At least six are currently hospitalized.

Baker said the state of emergency will give him greater power to take actions like shutting down events with large gatherings of people or gaining access to buildings or stockpiling protective gear if needed without getting bogged down in existing paperwork requirements. Baker is also restricting virtually all travel by executive branch employees and encouraging teleworking. There are about 42,000 executive branch workers. Baker urged companies and organizations to consider adopting the same measures.

“At this time the number of people infected and requiring medical attention is very much within our health care system’s capacity,” he said. “The purpose of moving forward with these measures now is to act before the numbers increase.”

Baker, who last week had said the risk of contracting the virus is low, on Tuesday said that given the new numbers of those who have tested positive, the risk of infection has increased.

Baker, who returned early from a vacation in Utah, also urged older individuals to avoid crowded venues like concerts or porting events. State health officials are also urging nursing homes to bar those who have traveled overseas or who are showing symptoms of disease.

Baker also said schools should cancel all out-of-state travel in addition to overseas travel.

COLLEGE CLASSES CANCELED

College seniors began making tearful goodbyes, not knowing if they’d return to see friends on campus. Some were heading to homes without internet, leaving them to wonder if they could keep up with online classes. And some worried about finding a way to afford a flight on only a few days’ notice.

As dozens of universities cancel in-person classes and move instruction online amid fears over the new coronavirus, thousands of students are left scrambling to find their way home while their professors puzzle over how to move weeks of courses to the internet.

Schools nationwide announced plans to cancel in-person classes through spring break or beyond amid fears about the virus’ spread. Some are pausing campus classes for a few days or weeks, including Columbia, Princeton and Indiana University, while others are canceling classes through the end of the term, including Stanford and Harvard.

On Tuesday, Harvard undergraduates were told to leave campus by Sunday and stay home until the end of the semester. The abrupt order drew outrage from students who are also juggling midterm exams, senior projects and daily classes.

Stores were selling out of boxes near Harvard, one of several schools including Amherst College and St. John’s University that asked students to move out of student housing and finish their courses for the year from home. Others, like Princeton University, are temporarily moving to online learning, even for students who remain on campus, and telling them to prepare for tight restrictions on social activities.

The Associated Press also contributed to this story.

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