CHICOPEE – Mayor John Vieau hosted a media advisory on Nov. 12 to update citizens about the rising COVID-19 cases in Chicopee and announce a change to the school district’s in-person learning.

During the meeting, Chicopee Superintendent Lynn A. Clark spoke on this change.

 “It’s with a heavy heart that I have to inform everyone today that our district will move from in-person learning to a full remote learning model,” she said.

Chicopee Public Schools will begin fully remote classes on Nov. 18. The last day of in-person learning will be Nov. 17. Clark said that in-person learning will begin again no sooner than Dec. 7. This date is subject to change based on the COVID-19 case rate within the city. The district was able to complete nine weeks of successful in-person learning, according to Clark.

According to the Chicopee Health Director Lisa Sanders, “COVID is spreading through households like wildfire.”

The city of Chicopee has had 1,076 COVID-19 cases total and 17 deaths. Sanders urged residents to follow Gov. Charlie Baker’s guidelines for residence gatherings and continue to wear their masks.

“Masks up, someone else’s life may depend on it,” she said.

Vieau also stressed the importance of contact tracing. He urged citizens to answer contact tracing phone calls and give the necessary information. Contact tracing is vital to help with clusters of COVID-19 that are developing in households, said Vieau.

“If you get the call, please be truthful and help us,” he said.

Clark said that emails will be sent out in the next couple of days to inform everyone on topics such as meal distribution and encouraged all families to make sure they have their Chromebooks working. Chromebooks were already given to all Chicopee students and those who need help with them or have questions are encouraged to call Chicopee Public Schools IT Department at 594-3487.

“We were ready to go remote if we needed to,” said Vieau.

As of Nov. 5, Chicopee Comp. athletics have stopped. Chicopee High School athletics will stop by the end of the week. Sports will not be in session for as long as the remote learning period continues and the guidelines for winter sports have not come out yet, said Clark.

Vieau emphasized a point he has made in previous COVID-19 update meetings.

“As much as we’re sick of the virus, it’s not sick of us,” he said.

He also spoke about how when there is a vaccine ready to be distributed, the city of Chicopee has a plan in place and will implement it when necessary.

The Chicopee school buildings have not been the source of rising COVID-19 cases, according to Clark. She said that there has been zero transmission of the virus within the schools. Any students or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been remote learners or have contracted it outside of school walls, said Clark.  

Chicopee remains in the red for COVID-19 cases, with their positive numbers seeing a spike in recent days.

“The numbers have got to a point where it’s safer for everyone to be at home,” said Clark. “We have always said, since this started, that we are putting the safety of our students and staff first.”