First Confirmed COVID-19 Related Death in Lynn | April 1, 2020

Below is a statement we received from Mayor McGee’s office on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

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See our running list of announcements for Lynn by visiting bit.ly/LynnCOVID19.

Yesterday, the Lynn Board of Health was notified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health of the first COVID-19 coronavirus related death within the City of Lynn.

“My heart goes out to the family of the resident that died as a result of contracting COVID-19, as this global pandemic continues to hit home, for all of us, in such a terrible way,” said Mayor Thomas M. McGee.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 106. The patients have been instructed on the required quarantine procedures to follow. Officials within the Lynn Department of Public Health continue to monitor the patients and conduct extensive investigations into who the patients have come into contact with recently. All those people who have been confirmed to have come into direct contact with these patients have been or will be notified by their local Board of Health.

“As we prepare for the COVID-19 outbreak to surge in Massachusetts within the upcoming weeks, it is vital that everyone within the City of Lynn follow the recommendations of the CDC and DPH to do the appropriate things to address this ongoing crisis including practicing social distancing and not gathering together in groups.” said Mayor Thomas M. McGee. “It is very important that we work together as a community during these challenging and unprecedented times. We strongly urge you to stay home and help save lives.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with the family,” said Public Health Director Michele Desmarais.

“This is a difficult and challenging time and it is extremely important to continue to take the necessary recommended precautions of social distancing, washing hands and staying home from work if you are sick. Please stay home unless you have to go out for essentials, as this is key to mitigate community spread.”

The City is also announcing that all parks and the Lynn Woods reservation will continue to remain open to the public. However, in an effort to curb the amount of people using the area at one time, beginning tomorrow, the parking lots at Great Woods Road and Pennybrook Road will be closed. Residents may still enjoy the woods and parks, but must respect the social distancing guidelines by maintaining a distance of 6 feet, keeping dogs on a leash and away from others, practice responsible personal care and hygiene and clean up all of your personal trash. All residents need to play their part so that all parks can remain open and safe for all. Additionally the City has made the decision to close the Parkland Avenue Dog Park until further notice. Per Governor Baker’s Essential Services Order, all golf courses, including Gannon Municipal Golf Course, are closed.

According to the CDC, coronavirus is spread mainly through person-to-person contact. It’s believed that people who are in close contact (within 6 feet of one another) are most likely to spread it. It spreads through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of anyone nearby and may be inhaled into the lungs, which can spread the disease.

While people of all ages can be infected with the virus, people who are considered to be at high risk of the coronavirus include older adults and those with serious, chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or lung disease. Residents who fit these criteria should take everyday precautions to keep space between themselves and others, limit close contact with those who are sick, and to avoid crowds, cruise travel and non-essential air travel as much as possible.

We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 on the City website, social media, and through the Smart 911 emergency notification system as the situation evolves. We encourage all residents to visit the City of Lynn Health Department “Coronavirus Resources” page which includes information and links from the CDC, and to sign up for the Smart 911 updates at www.smart911.com.

As we work to mitigate this current public health emergency, we thank you in advance for your patience and understanding during this time.

Please follow www.lynnma.govfor more updates.