BREAKING: Belmont Resident With Coronavirus Flies To Bejing, Now Under Investigation By China

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Photo: Beijing Capital International Airport (WikiCommons photo)

In a case that has many scratching their heads, a Belmont resident is under investigation by the Chinese government for flying with her family last week back to her homeland without informing the airline, Chinese officials that she had recently tested positive for the highly contagious coronavirus by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Jie Li, who lived with her husband and their son on Sharpe Road since 2015, landed in Bejing from Los Angeles on March 13, according to the Xinhua News Agency, the official media outlet of the Chinese government.

During the flight, Li, who is reportedly a Chinese citizen, began showing flu-like symptoms associated with the virus and was escorted to the rear of the plane for the remainder of the flight. Once on the ground, Li and her husband tested positive for the virus.

Since her arrival in China, Li has become a cause célèbre in the local news as she has been pilloried for allegedly “impeding the prevention of infectious disease” after her case was made public early in the week, according to an article in the Boston Globe.

Tensions between the US and China has been intensifying during the spread of the Coronavirus into a global pandemic with President Trump and many of his supports – a noted conservative attorney has filed a $20 trillion suit against the Chinese government – calling the novel virus the “Chinese” flu while the Bejing government notes there are no new cases in China as opposed to hundreds daily in the USA

Li was one of three Belmont residents who have tested positive by the state for the COVID-19.

Until this month, Li, who earned a Ph.D. in statistics at the University of Iowa and taught a decade ago at Virginia Tech University with her husband, was working as the associate director for biostatistician at Biogen for a little more than a year.

While an investigation determined that Li did not attend the Biogen-sponsored sales meeting at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf in late February which has become ground zero for the coronavirus in Massachusetts, she had been in contact with fellow employees who were there.

In a comment to the Boston Globe, the biotech firm said it was unaware Li would be traveling to her homeland. Li has been fired this week from her position.

Li also did not tell the Belmont Health Department of her travel plans after the town was notified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health that she had tested positive for COVID-19 just days before, according to a press release from Wesley Chin, director of the Belmont Health Department, dated March 19.

In fact, Li had been quite unaccommodating with the town from the time earlier this month when Belmont Fire Department EMS crews responded to a call for a person experiencing flu-like symptoms.

After Li asked to be taken to a Boston-area hospital for testing, the EMS crew contacted Medical Control which advised them that Li could and should self-transport to the area hospital. When told of the decision. Li informed the EMS crew to leave and she would drive herself for care, according to the press release.

According to Chin, two days after the incident, the Health Department was notified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health that Li tested positive for COVID-19. With that information in hand, Chin tried to contact Li and her family via phone and text messaging, as well as, by going out to the home and knocking on the door. In each attempt, Chin did not receive a response.

Chin continued his attempts to make contact including reaching out to the healthcare provider that conducted the testing. But the testing agency was also unable to reach Li.

Then last week, as Chin still tried to notify Li, a resident informed him press reports from China spoke of a traveler from the USA who had entered the country wit the virus. The resident believed that person was Li. Chin then called the MDPH of the new information on Li who contacted MassPort – the agency that runs Logan International Airport – who began a contact investigation of all personnel that may have come in contact with Li.

It is not known when or if Li and her family will return to the United States. Currently, there is a ban on travel from China.

Belmont Schools Readying Online Ed Support For Students Stuck At Home

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Photo: Online initiative set to start in Belmont next week. (Pexels photo)

The Belmont school district next week will launch an online initiative to help students retain learning they were taught during the school year while enriching that experience since being away from the classroom due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Following the lead of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MDESE), the district’s Leadership Council and teachers are creating a plan to provide to students and families online options “to practice, deepen, and enrich what has been taught,” said Belmont Superintendent John Phelan in an email dated Wednesday, March 18.

The plan will include practicing skills and content already taught, deepen students understanding of the content, and enrich what they have learned.

In addition, the initiative will give students and teachers an opportunity to meet each other again since last Friday when district schools shut down and provide “some sense of social interaction and connection in this time of physical distancing,” said Phelan.

What this plan is not is “distance learning”, said Phelan, who is following the MESE guidelines. “We are not teaching new content or skills,” said Phelan.

Teachers will be updated on the plan as of Wednesday, March 18, and principals will contact families on Thursday, March 19. Teachers will then connect with families between Friday morning, March 20, and Monday afternoon, March 23.

Additional news from Superintendent Phelan:

  • MEAL DRIVE-THRU HOURS: Meal pick-up window for Wednesday, March 25 will be 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. “We want to emphasize this is a drive-thru service and advise families to stay in cars. We’ll load goods into trunk/backseat. This is for our students who access free and reduced lunch.”
  • “I would like to thank our Food Service leaders Dustin O’Brien and Gail Mulani and their team for all their hard work,” said Phelan.
  • BELMONT HOUSING AUTHORITY: The Belmont Public Schools is happy to announce that the Belmont Housing Authority will be providing a free “grab and go” breakfast and lunch, daily from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. The BHA is located at 59 Pearson St. These are free meals for all community members 18 and younger. Many thanks to Jackie Martin and her staff.

Social distancing towards stronger communities.

“It is with great emphasis that I state to our community the importance of physical distancing.  The goal of reducing the spread of COVID-19 within our community and our country rests in our hands. However, during this physical distancing we encourage to appropriately socialize via phone or text.  Please check in on a family member or neighbor who may be fragile or lonely. This is a time when strong neighborhood relationships make strong communities;  which in- turn, can positively influence the culture of kindness in our society,” said Phelan.

Parents Group Creates COVID-19 Fast Fact Sheet Listing High School Volunteers, Activities

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Photo: Belmont High School.

In an attempt to keep their neighbors’ informed on the latest about the COVID-19 pandemic, the co-moderators of the Belmont Massachusetts Parents Facebook Group – Amy Kirsch, Fitzie Cowing, Shana Wang and Kristi Armstrong – are managing a Fast Fact webpage that includes updates and contact information.

It also has ways to contact nearly 80 volunteers who can run errands for food or prescriptions and do porch drop-offs.

FAST HELP: COVID-19 Resources Sheet for Belmont

To add resources please email them to amycoh@gmail.com

Local and state news:

  • All Massachusetts public and private schools closed until April 7.  Public town buildings including the fire station are closed to visitors.  
  • Police Station is still open, but call first – 617-484-1212 – some cases can be completed over the phone.
  • Gatherings of over 25 people are banned until April 5. Social distancing practices are important. Social distancing means maintaining at least six feet from others.
  • All bars and restaurants in Massachusetts will be shut down to on-premise consumption starting Tuesday through April 17. Take-out only.
  • Essential senior services are still available including food, social work, counseling and transportation. 617-992-2970

If you are experiencing a medical emergency dial 911, if you suspect you have Covid-19 (main symptoms are fever, cough, & shortness of breath), call the hotlines first.  You will want to make sure there are tests available. 

Latest Covid-19 & Coronavirus News in Massachusetts.

Free Covid-19 Hotlines & emails

  • Dial 211– Massachusetts State Covid-19 hotline. Nothing off-limits ask to get answers to all your questions
  • 617-993-2222 – Belmont Covid19 hotline- open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., or use this email address for questions.
  • 617-724-7000 -Partners HealthCare Coronavirus Hotline. Open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days/week – expert answers to your urgent questions.
  • 617-983-6800 -Massachusetts Department of Public Health 24- hour Emergency Hotline.
  • Military Health System Nurse Hotline 1-800-874-2273 or connect via online chat here: https://www.mhsnurseadviceline.com/home
  • 1-800-985-5990 – Disaster Relief Hotline – 24-hour national hotline for emotional distress crisis counseling including relating with Covid-19.   This is toll-free, multilingual, and confidential.
  • 1-800-985-5990 or by texting TalkWithUS 66746 – SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline.  Get support regarding your anxiety or stress by speaking to a trained counselor.
  • Text “Home” to 741741 – Texting Hotline for Emotional Distress when you are feeling depressed, sad, or going through any kind of emotional crisis, a crisis worker will text you back immediately.

Help with Food, Errands, & Prescription deliveries

Belmont Massachusetts Parents Help: Sign up if you need help with food supplies & errands or want to volunteer.  We have 100 helpers signed up to leave porch drop-offs.

Belmont High School Students Help – For anyone who needs food or supplies during this time, a group of Belmont High School students have volunteered to pick them up, and deliver them to your door. Contact hpierce20@belmontschools.net or text 617-818-3149 for more information. Please spread the word to others who may be interested!

Mutual Aid (various towns – Medford Somerville, Cambridge included)  Volunteer or get help.

Project Bread FoodSource Hotline 1-800-645-8333. A toll-free hotline that is the only comprehensive statewide information and referral service in Massachusetts for people facing hunger—can connect you to food resources in your community.  TTY: 1-800-377-1292

Belmont Helps During Covid-19 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/499445960671817/

CVS Delivery: CVS is now offering free delivery on prescriptions & other store essentials.

Belmont Schools Free or Reduced lunch for students that rely on this service – Breakfast and lunch, pick up at Belmont High School outdoor tent. Food services will have a roster ready where we’ll check off students each day.  

  • Monday, 3/16: 10 a.m. to Noon
  • Tuesday, 3/17: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • Wednesday, 3/18: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Belmont Connects– links to other popular Belmont groups online

General COVID-19 Facts and Prevention

CDC – most up to date Covid-19 info. 

Printables: How to keep the workplace, school, home and commercial establishments safe.

Belmont Board of Health Covid-19 advisory.

Outbreak: Parent Guide From National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

The World Health Organization is a great resource for information and comes in many languages.  Includes a myth busters section. To learn the facts about COVID-19 and help stop the spread of misinformation, visit CDC’s webpage: Share the Facts, Stop Fear.

Prevention and Treatment

Covid-19 daily check and report

American Heart Association Covid-19 Resources & Precautions – https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/coronavirus-covid-19-resources

Kids Resources:  Gentle Reminder: Sharing equipment on the playground is not suggested

A Comic explaining Covid-19 to kids: https://tinyurl.com/vfs9yxa

Talking to kids about Corona:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html 

Belmont Little Free Library Locations: https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/

Giant List of Things to do with the Kids at Home – https://tinyurl.com/rl6q2sg

Free Educational Online Subscriptions for kids – https://tinyurl.com/ujmtsm8

Grade 3-6 Choice Board: https://tinyurl.com/wj4w4q9

Scholastic learn at home for 20 days: https://tinyurl.com/sozkskk

Caregiver Resources from Lesley University: https://tinyurl.com/srzd59q

150 Enrichment Activities for kids while parents are working remotely at home – https://tinyurl.com/rxj2hsy

Outschool Online Classes for pre-k-12 grades: Outschool.com

Free Sing-along for toddlers online Tuesday 10 a.m. www.singintoreading.com/pl/139824

Free Harvard edX online courses: https://www.edx.org/school/harvardx

Museum Tours: https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

A huge compilation list of from your living room museum tours, kids resource links, online classes: https://www.facebook.com/joy.novackrosson/posts/10222568754591766

Belmont Businesses

Free Delivery  or curb-side pickup of Books & Games by Belmont Books – (617) 932-1496

Free Delivery, curb-side pickup, and private appointments at The Toy Shop of Belmont (617)489-0070

Belmont Police Seek Publics Help In Home Invasion On Stults Road

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Photo: The crime happened on this street.

The Belmont Police is actively investigating a home invasion that occurred on Sunday night on Stults Road.

According to Police Chief James MacIsaac, at approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, Belmont Police patrol officers responded to a home invasion on Stults Road. Two men wearing dark clothing and masks knocked on the homeowner’s door. When they answered, the pair called him by name and forced their way into the residence.

Once inside, the two men were able to obtain cash and jewelry. The suspects then fled the residence.

Detectives are asking residents who may have observed any unusual activity in the area of Stults Road, either last night or at any time in the past, to call 617-993-2550. Detectives are also asking that if residents in the area have doorbell or driveway video to contact detectives if your cameras captured any unusual activity.

The Belmont Police believe this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public at this time.

Playgrounds Now Off Limits As Belmont, State Shuts Down Public Gatherings

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Photo: PQ Parks Playground is now

Playgrounds – but not parks – throughout Belmont are the latest areas to be officially closed by the Belmont Health Department in an effort to slow the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In the latest public health update issued Monday, March 16, Health Department Director Wesley Chin focused on actions taken by the state and his office over the weekend and today.

On Sunday, March 15, Gov. Charlie Baker announced additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  The Governor’s Order includes the following restrictions throughout the Commonwealth that will go into effect on March 17.

  • All public and private schools will be closed through April 6.
  • All restaurants and bars will be prohibited from the on-premise consumption of food.  However, restaurants may remain open for now to provide food through take-out or delivery service.  These restrictions extend through April 17 but may be extended based on the spread of COVID-19.
  • Gatherings of 25 or more people are also banned. This includes all community, civic, public, leisure, and faith-based events. It also applies to gyms, private clubs, and theatres.

Chin announced that Belmont is taking additional precautions and instituting the following actions that will be effective on March 16: 

  • All Town of Belmont public playgrounds (specifically playground equipment) are closed.  At this time, open spaces such as fields remain open. However, the Belmont Board of Health and its staff ask all residents to engage in the social distancing practices detailed below.
  • Field use permits are suspended to discourage social gatherings. We are strongly discouraging activities that promote the gathering of people.
  • Public meetings and hearings will be limited to those that are considered necessary for the purposes of maintaining essential Town of Belmont government functions and that are mandated under federal, state, or local law/regulation.
  • Town Hall Offices are closed to the public. At this time access to these facilities will be limited to staff only.  Residents in need of assistance are encouraged to contact respective Town departments by phone and/or email www.belmont-ma.gov.
  • Important updates about COVID-19 and its impact on the Town will be posted at www.belmont-ma.gov .

The Belmont Board of Health and its staff ask all residents to immediately and seriously engage in the practice of social distancing. Social distancing means staying out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining a distance of 6 feet (minimum) or at least an arm’s length away from others when possible.

This means:

  • NO small gatherings (even though the state has capped gatherings at 25 people).
  • NO playdates (for individuals of any age).
  • NO sharing of childcare responsibilities with other families, unless you have been deemed an essential worker (i.e. Police, Fire, EMS, medical professional).
    • Essential workers should make every attempt to stagger their schedules with partners to allow for coverage of childcare.

Chin is advising residents to:

  • Stay home.
  • Minimize the number of trips you take to the store for food and medicine.
  • Avoid close contact with people who do not live with you.
  • Show compassion for your neighbors.
    • Make a plan with your elderly neighbors to check in with them on a daily basis via phone or email to help monitor their health and to see if you can help them obtain any food, prescriptions, or other basic needs.

Help save lives:

  • It is important that we all take social isolation seriously to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The transmission of this virus grows exponentially and will soon overtake our healthcare system. We must all work together for the common good of society. This is our chance to come together as a community to stem the spread of this virus. If we are all successful at social distancing, we will slow the spread of COVID-19, and this will give our healthcare providers and hospitals a chance to prepare to be able to treat people who may need scarce medical resources to survive the pandemic.  

Easy As 3.14159 … etc, etc

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Photo: Making Archimedes proud (Donna Ruvolo photos)

What occurred on the newly constructed walking path at the Grove Street Playground on Saturday morning is what happens during a pandemic when smart citizens have a lot of time on their hands.

Using chalk and a great memory, some residents set forth to notate on the walk the calculation for the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, or as it’s better known, “π” (that would be “pi” for those unfamiliar with Greek graphemes.)

Here’s all that’s known about pi.

It becomes clear why March 14 was selected by writing out the date as numbers: 3/14, the first three numbers of pi.

While most people will know pi to at least five digits – 3.1415 – of this mathematical constant (why go further?), the Grove Street folks decided to start writing … and writing … and writing the sequence of number in the calculation until, in an Shel Silverstein-esque conclusion, the sidewalk came to the end at the curve.

The impressive writing out of this list of rational numbers was accompanied by notations such as “Happy π-day” and “easy as π“. There is one hint of who the author(s) could be from a proud boast written along side Archimedes’ constant:

“all memorized by my 11yr old girl!

Smart, indeed.

Editor’s Note: Credit where credit is due: To Precinct 7’s own Donna Ruvolo for sending these photos along.

Belmont Hockey Sees Epic Playoff Run End As State Finals Cancelled, Named Co-Champs

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Photo: Belmont High Head Ice Hockey Coach Fred Allard

In the locker room after a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over St. John’s (Shrewsbury) in the Division 1 North finals last Monday, Belmont High Head Coach Fred Allard ended his postgame talk to the players proclaiming “Practice tomorrow at 3!”

“What that meant was our season is still going on and we still get to be together,” Allard said in an empty White Field House on Thursday afternoon, March 12, with the North trophy and title banner on a nearby table.

It also signified the team had punched its ticket to the TD Garden this Sunday to play for the program’s first ever state championship title.

But the the season-long goal of just having the opportunity of skating to the Belmont student section with a state championship trophy in hand would end with an email.

Two hour previous, after hard practice at the “Skip”, the starkness of the outside world entered the hockey sphere when, due to the growing threat of a global pandemic, the MIAA announced it had cancelled the Division 1 state finals against Walpole.

The consolation for the Marauders was being declared co-champions with the Rebels. But it wasn’t much solace for the Belmont players to share a title that they couldn’t play for.

“We had just gotten off the ice so everyone was in the room,” said Allard. The squad’s reaction to the announcement was heartbreaking.

“These guys were more crushed than past teams who lost to St. John’s Prep four years ago and to Waltham (losing in overtime in the North semifinals in 2018). And they were just announced as co champs of the state!” said Allard. “That’s how all in they were because it’s such a special experience.”

“It was emotional and they were devastated. We talked our way through it. We shared some memories, we reminisced on what we accomplished and hopefully the healing process of the initial pain is starting to wear off.”

As late as Thursday morning, Allard still believed the team would be on a bus Sunday heading to the Garden in Boston’s North End.

“I was thinking we got practice on Friday and Saturday and hopefully the dust will settle and we’ll get this [game] in,” he said.

On Tuesday, the powers that be were hell bent on playing the six state finals on Sunday, but all that changed Wednesday when the Coronavirus was accelerating through all segments of society including sports. In just a day, professional sports leagues announced the cancellation or suspension of their seasons.

“That’s when the [MIAA] were obviously becoming more concerned for the safety of the kids, which was the right thing,” said Allard.

By early Thursday afternoon, the NCAA cancelled their winter championships including the entire “March Madness” basketball tournament, the Boston Marathon was looking for an autumn date to the run the race and states were prohibiting large gatherings.

“Our hope was that the worse case would be playing the finals at [six] separate sites and not just at the Garden,” Allard said.

“The kids worked so hard to get to this point. They just wanted to play.”

Belmont Boys’ Hoops ‘Big Three’ Bring Marauders Back To North Final With Win Over Latin Academy

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Photo: Belmont’s Preston Jackson-Stephens driving to the basket.

The Boston Celtics had the “Big Three” – Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen – who took the team to the NBA championship in 2008.

And during Belmont High Boys’ Basketball return to the Division 2 North Finals, its had found its own “Big Three” to carry the load.

Senior guard Mac Annus and junior forwards Tim Minicozzi and Preston Jackson-Stephens have asserted their prowess in the three tournament games not just in each scoring an average of 20-plus points per game but with on-court leadership and a coolness under pressure.

And it was never more in evidence on Wednesday, March 4 in Wakefield High’s oldie-style gym where the trio accepted the challenge from a smart and quick Boston Latin Academy squad to display the grit and guts to slay the Dragons, 72-64, in an all-you-would-hope-for North semifinal.

Belmont returns to the Tsongus Arena in Lowell on Saturday, March 7, to defend its North title in an encounter with top seed Beverly – the Panthers were the 1 seed last season. Tip off is at 4:15 p.m.

The three’s dominance showed as they combined for 66 of Belmont’s 72 points vs Latin Academy with Jackson-Stephens with 26, Minicozzi 23 and Annus throwing in 17.

“They’ve been doing that all year,” said Adam Pritchard, Belmont’s long time head coach. “There are not a lot of coaches that are blessed with three guys who are scoring for that average. It’s because they are really focused players who shot a lot but most of all they are great kids.”

Annus – who was recently named the MVP of the Middlesex League – Minicozzi and Jackson-Stephens found it difficult which of the three to defend as each has the ability to drive inside, find the assist or bury an NBA-length three point shots. Pick your poison.

The opening quarter was all Dragons, using its speed – slashing to the hoop, creating steals and winning the majority of the 50/50 ball all night long – and outside shooting to nearly run Belmont off the court and out of the game early as Latin Academy’s all-everything guard Abdulahi Aden hit for three 3s in the quarter.

The second saw the track meet ended as both teams took the game inside the paint with Belmont creeping back into the game as Minicozzi and Jackson-Stephens hit 3s to end the half down with Belmont down 33-29.

The Marauders started the third continuing to connect from long distance as Annus and Minicotti hit three consecutive 3s to put Belmont in the lead for the first time, 38-37. Slowly the Marauders advantage grew as Latin Academy shots were off the mark. An Annus 3 with a little more than a minute remaining gave Belmont its biggest lead at 49-40, before ending the quarter outscoring Latin Academy 20 to 10 in the third to take a 49-43 into the final eight minutes.

The fourth quarter saw Latin Academy come off the mat with Aden’s 11 points in the quarter leading the way. Jackson Stephens would make one of two free throws before driving for a layup to give Belmont a small three point cushion only to see Latin Academy march back to cut the lead to 63-62 when Belmont fouled on the shot near the basket.

With the ball in their hands and less than a minute to play, Latin Academy blinked, as they missed both free throws with 56.1 seconds left giving Belmont the rock and a one point lead.

On the subsequent trip down court, Minicozzi drove the baseline and was chopped down to put the junior on the charity stripe. Then, in frustration rather than anger, a Latin Academy player punched the loose ball toward the benches. The official had little option but to call a technical foul.

Annus hit the two technical free throws, Minicozzi sank his pair and Belmont retained possession. A quick foul sent Jackson-Stephens to the line who hit one of two and the damage had been done as a one point lead stretched to six in just a handful of seconds.

There was a reprieve for Latin Academy when Belmont was called for its own technical for taunting and narrowed the margin to a two possession game but a rushed shot and a foul proved the margin of victory.

Pritchard told the media gaggle surrounding him after the contest that having core players who have been this far into the tournament before is a clear advantage.

“Experience is not to be overlooked in terms of confidence. But you know that confidence is hard work, it’s determination and it’s self belief and they believe in themselves and believe in their teammates.”

As for the matchup against Beverly, Pritchard was succinct.

“They’re very good,” said Pritchard. “We’re pretty good, too.”

School Precaution: Staffer Who Self-Quarantined Back To Work, Trips Cancelled, And Disinfecting Schools

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Photo: Belmont Public School Administration Building.

The byword for the Belmont School District on the expanding coronavirus epidemic is caution.

A female staffer who self-quarantined on Wednesday after returning from a conference in Italy over February break will return to work on Monday, March 9, according to an email from the Belmont School District.

Italy has by far the most cases of the coronavirus in Europe with nearly 4,000 cases and 148 deaths as of Friday, March 6.

Belmont School District Superintendent John Phelan said the staff member, who works at the Chenery Middle School and Belmont High School, placed herself in seclusion on March 4 after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its guidance that day asking people to self-quarantine if they have travelled to China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea.

“Once the CDC guidance was updated Wednesday, the staff member who had travelled to Italy self-quarantined, despite the fact there are no symptoms of illness showing,” said Phelan.

“Given this staff member’s return from Italy was on Sunday, February 23, the staff member will return to work on Monday, March 9, as this will represent the expiration of the two week quarantine period,” noted Phelan.

Belmont is just one of several eastern Massachusetts school districts in which educators and staffers have self-quarantined, including Watertown and Beverly.

Belmont High School students were informed this past week that planned school trips during the April break to Spain and China have been cancelled due to the virus. Spain has about 260 cases and 3 deaths while China has been the epicenter of the virus with nearly 81,000 with the virus and 3,045 deaths.

As Belmont schools are where the largest concentration of people congregate during the work week, the district have begun disinfecting and sanitizing high-touch surfaces in the district’s six schools with hospital-grade equipment.

“As you know this is the season for the common flu and our efforts will help reduce the spread of a number of problematic pathogens,” said Phelan.

Earlier this week, Belmont Health Director Wesley Chin said there was a low risk of Belmont residents catching the virus.

Belmont Boys’ Hockey Take Down Top Seed Reading, 3-2; Off To D1 North Finals Monday

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Photo: Belmont’s senior goaltender Nico Carere.

Belmont High School Boys’ Hockey Head Coach Fred Allard said after Saturday’s 1-0 overtime quarterfinal victory over St. Mary’s of Lynn, that his team was eager to get back to the Division 1 North semifinals at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.

“We have some unfinished business and we’re looking forward to taking care of it,” said Allard, referring to a 3-2 overtime loss to Waltham in the 2018 North Semis as the Hawks went on to capture the Division 1 state crown.

Mission accomplished.

In a game that saw four goals in a bonkers final four and a quarter minutes of the match, Belmont hung on to defeat the number one seed and Middlesex League rivals Reading Memorial High, 3-2, at Lowell.

Belmont will meet St. John’s of Shrewsbury in the sectional finals on Monday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tsongas Arena.

What appeared to be an insurance goal by sophomore forward Matty Rowen with 1:19 remaining in the third period, giving Belmont a 3-1 lead, proved to be the game winner as Reading’s senior defender Cam Lawhorne rocketed a slap shot from the slot by Belmont’s stellar senior goalie Nico Carere with just under a minute to play to cut the lead to 3-2.

Rowen solo effort – nudging the puck five hole by Reading’s goalie Dylan Emery – came after junior defender Henry Stonehouse’s slap shot off an Emery long rebound snuck inside the right post to snap a 1-1 tie with 2:44 in the period.

Reading had evened the contest when freshman forward Evan Pennucci – who a minute earlier hit the post – redirected a shot by Carere with 4:15 left in the third. Belmont’s senior netminder had until then been unstoppable between the pipes, going nearly 90 minutes of shutout hockey since last being scored upon by Andover in the first round of the tournament.

And it was Carere who preserved the victory with two rapid fire, in close saves in the final eight seconds, ending sprawled on his back with his pads covering the puck as the siren sound.

The semifinal was a physical, slow moving affair between teams that were all too familiar with the other having battled twice this season with the Marauders coming up on the losing end of a pair of one-goal games.

After a cautious first period with far more icing calls than actual scoring opportunities – an apparent Reading goal was disallowed for a high stick – Belmont began using the larger NHL-sized rink to its advantage to take control of the game by using its better team speed to open space and create passing lanes.

While the offense found a rhythm, the defensive pairings led by junior Tom Grace, senior Ryan Hoffman, Stonehouse, junior Nolan Duffy and senior Mike Hardy stood tall on the blue line and was able to win most of the battles along the boards and behind the net. The back line was presented by Allard with the “Jax,” a firefighter’s helmet that signifies Belmont’s Player(s) of the Match.

Belmont got on the scorer’s sheet during the only penalty of the game – the second game the Marauders have not been called for an infraction – when Reading went down a man on a Pennucci cross check.

And the goal was right out of the playbook: Grace found senior all-star Justin Rocha as he circled behind the net. As the Reading players turned to face Rocha, senior Matt Brody drifted into the slot and one-timed his line-mate’s pass by Emery high glove side with 1:14 left in the second.

Belmont continued to dominate the majority of the third before Pennucci’s tally started the goal barrage.