The Town of Amherst is responding to the rising risk of COVID-19, also called novel coronavirus, in Massachusetts. As of March 12, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our community and there is no “community-level spread” of the disease in Amherst.
The Town has strong systems in place to address this dynamic situation. We have experienced local experts who are actively monitoring and managing the situation in Town. All Town departments are reviewing and implementing their emergency response plans.
The Town is the local point of contact and source for information for residents and businesses of Amherst. We are in continuous contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Massachusetts Department of Public Health, with our local institutions of higher education, with our local hospital, and we are working very closely with the Amherst Regional Public Schools (ARPS).
Town Policy Updates Effective March 13th:
- Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 all Town of Amherst municipal buildings, including the Town Hall, Senior Center, Jones library and branches will be closed to the public, with a tentative reopening date of April 3, 2020. This does not include the Amherst Police Department building.
- Amherst Public Schools - Starting on Monday, March 16th all schools will be closed with a tentative return date of Monday, March 30 - www.arps.org or click here for ARPS Closure FAQ’s
- The Amherst Transfer Station will also be making changes to their operations starting on March 13, 2020. More details on this can be found here.
Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman stated, “These are necessary steps for the Town to take to address the spread of COVID-19. As a resilient community, we must be proactive in adopting new policies and procedures in the best interests of the public’s health.”
Amherst Public Health Director, Julie Federman stated “Our experienced public safety team is working closely with all State and local entities to ensure the safety of all members of our community. Minimizing social gatherings and practicing strong social distancing and personal hygiene are key elements in this effort.”
How to Stay Informed:
Updated on March 13, 2020 | Contact: Brianna Sunryd sunrydb@amherstma.gov