CHICOPEE – On the evening of March 15, Gov. Charlie Baker hosted a press conference where he announced a new set of sweeping measures the state would be taking to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Included in the statewide measures were the mandatory closing of all public and private schools for three weeks, limiting gatherings to no more than 25 people and the prohibition of on-site food and beverage consumption at restaurants and bars for three weeks. All orders went into effect beginning March 17 and will continue until April 6.

While a large number of schools in the Lower Pioneer Valley had announced two-week closures on March 13, Baker’s three-week suspension extended the closures by a full week. During the conference, Baker repeatedly asked families not to treat the closure as an “early summer vacation,” but instead to stay home as much as possible and practice social distancing if they needed to go out. While pre-school and childcare services were not suspended, the order strongly urges such providers to observe guidelines issued by the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

Baker cited the “rapid steps” as ways “to protect the health and safety” of Massachusetts residents and “to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.” The measures, he said, “ensure residents can still access key state services while taking necessary precautions…”

While restaurants and bars would not be allowed to provide on-site offerings during the measure, they will still be able to complete take-out and delivery orders. However, the order states that the establishment must “follow the social distancing protocols set forth in the Department of Public Health guidance.”

The restrictions on gatherings include fitness centers, private clubs, conference rooms, theatres, faith-based events, fundraisers, parades, fairs, festivals, community events, civic events, stadiums and any confined indoor or outdoor space.

As of March 15, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 had risen to 164, including Hampden County’s first confirmed case.

Closings and cancellations in Chicopee

Mayor John Vieau has closed City Hall to the public and Chicopee residents are asked to check the city’s websites about meetings and functions of government.

Bobbi Mabb, the mayor’s Communication & Special Projects manager, told Reminder Publishing on March 16, “We will be closing public access to City Hall and all municipal buildings beginning March 17  until April 6,  and will be re-evaluating as needs change. Only city staff will be accessing the buildings to continue day-to-day operations.

“All departments will remain open in a modified manner and will still offer customer service through phone calls and some modified access. The city of Chicopee will maintain all essential functions and services – residents are encouraged to do all business remotely using snail mail, email, websites, and dropboxes.

“Individuals encountering urgent and time-sensitive situations should contact the mayor’s office at 594-1500 and we will do what we can do to accommodate the situation.

The most updated information on coronavirus is available at https://bit.ly/3d1ros5. The city of Chicopee’s events and meetings that have been confirmed, postponed or cancelled can be seen at https://bit.ly/39R1MfD.

Mabb also noted the following:

Only non-payment items will be accepted (recyclables, yard waste, brush, etc.) at the Drop-Off Center.

The Water Department will not perform non-emergency services to residential homes such as  meter replacement amd meter readings.

There will be no non-emergency waste water services to residential homes. Backups will be dealt with from outside.

Engineering Department permits will need to be processed online

Chicopee Public Schools will be closed until April 7 in compliance with Gov. Baker’s latest orders.     All schools except Szetela and Academy will be open during the next three weeks for grab and go breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Chicopee Senior Center remains open, but all center sponsored travel trips have been canceled until the month of April. “We will look at the situation again in the middle of April and see if we need to extend that,” Sherry Manyak, the center’s executive director, said.

Manyak also shared that the center has purchased two hand-sanitizing stations and is requesting all center attendees sanitize their hands as they enter the building and as they enter each room. Staff is also cleaning the building three times each day, and they have closed the use of the center to any outside groups at this time.     “We are taking directives from the city’s Health Department,” Manyak added.

Due to the COVID-19 Virus, the Chicopee Police Department is taking measures to ensure our safety and the safety of the public.

All new License to Carry interviews are postponed. Renewals will still be processed. All fingerprinting is postponed

Calls coming into the WESTCOMM Dispatch will be screened. It will be determined at that point if an officer is to be sent. Reports for past incidents, with no immediate threat, will be taken either by phone or referred to an online report system which will be operational on Monday. All emergency, or ongoing calls, which require an immediate police response will have officers sent.

Officers responding to medical calls for flu like symptoms or respiratory issues, will be wearing protective clothing including masks and goggles.

The WESTCOMM dispatchers will be asking as many questions as possible on medical emergency calls. This is necessary to ensure yours and our officers and medical responders safety.

As a precautionary measure in response to the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), College of Our Lady of the Elms is delaying the return of students to campus by one week, President Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA, announced last week.

The return of students to the Elms College campus from spring break will be delayed for one week, through March 22. During that time, Elms College leaders and a multidisciplinary Health Emergency Preparedness Committee will continue to monitor the ever-changing situation daily to make plans beyond March 22.

Faculty will communicate directly with their students regarding classwork due between March 16 to 22.

All on-campus events scheduled through March 22, including athletic events, are cancelled.

The college will remain open for all business functions.

Daily Mass has been cancelled for the foreseeable future. 5:30 p.m. Mass on March 21, will take place in Veritas Auditorium in Berchmans Hall.

Students enrolled in Elms College courses through its community college partners should follow the protocols of their respective campuses.

In keeping with CDC recommendations, the college cancelled two international service trips to Jamaica and Nicaragua that were to take place this week and is prohibiting Elms-sponsored international travel for faculty, staff, and students for the foreseeable future.

Students and their families can find the latest information about Elms College’s virus-related policies at elms.edu/coronavirus.