Select Bellingham staffers, students asked to stay home

BELLINGHAM — Students and staff members of a local Massachusetts high school, who recently traveled to Italy, are being asked to stay home from school this upcoming week due to coronavirus concerns.

Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Peter Marano Adam Bagni noted that a group of 15 students and two teachers from Bellingham High just returned from a school-sponsored trip to Italy, where there have been more than 800 confirmed cases of the coronavirus (as recorded by the World Health Organization).

A statement on the Bellingham Public Schools websites reads:

“With the Bellingham Board of Health’s recommendation, the school system is working diligently to monitor documented cases of the flu (and other viruses should they arise), and monitor school attendance.

“Recently, some of our students and staff members traveled to areas of the world in which the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was present. Out of an abundance of caution, and under the direction of the Bellingham Board of Health, we have asked these students and staff members to stay home from school next week. There is no need for concern at this time as this is a precautionary measure.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing daily updates and recommendations. Please (visit) the following link to stay updated www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

“The schools will continue to monitor the situation, disinfect classrooms each night, and take further actions if warranted.”