Here is a rundown of the most timely updates related to the Town of Brookline’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and what you should know for March 18, 2020. The Town of Brookline is committed to providing regular updates on the COVID-19 situation as they become available.
Virtual Town Hall
Yesterday, the Brookline Select Board and COVID-19 Task Force held a joint virtual town hall, answering questions submitted online by residents related to the novel coronavirus and the town’s response efforts. You can watch that virtual town hall in full using the embedded video player below. Scroll down for more information about COVID-19 and the Town of Brookline’s response.
What’s Closed/Cancelled
- Town Hall and other town facilities — except parks — are closed to the public until further notice. Residents should visit brooklinema.gov to learn how they can conduct much of their transactions and business with the town online, as well as find the contact information for the departments they need to work with.
- All non-essential board and committee meetings are cancelled through April 30.
- Public Schools of Brookline are closed through at least Tuesday, April 7. All after-school activities and school-sponsored events are cancelled until further notice.
- Town playgrounds are closed until further notice.
- Council on Aging activities are cancelled through at least March 27.
- The senior center is closed through at least March 27.
- Recreation activities are cancelled through at least March 27.
- The Brookline Public Library is closed through at least April 7.
- All restaurants and eateries in Brookline are prohibited from serving dine-in customers until further notice. Restaurants have the option to provide takeout or delivery service.
- The Town of Brookline asks that construction projects throughout town be temporarily suspended.
Emergency Parking Rules in Place
While the Select Board’s town-wide Declaration of Emergency remains active, the following parking rules will be in effect:
The Brookline Police Department WILL NOT be enforcing the following parking regulations during the town’s COVID-19 emergency:
- Two-hour parking zones
- Overnight parking ban
- Parking meters
The following existing or temporary parking regulations and prohibitions WILL be enforced:
- Fire hydrant violations
- Handicap parking violations
- Crosswalk parking violations
- Bus stop violations
- Parking within an intersection
- 15-minute takeout/delivery parking zones
- All other public safety-related violations
Brookline COVID-19 Call Center and Email
For general COVID-19 questions not specific to the Town of Brookline, please call the state 211 line.
The Town of Brookline has established a call center in order for residents to ask non-medical questions specific to COVID-19 in Brookline. The call center will be staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The number for the call center is 617-879-5636.
Residents seeking answers to Brookline-specific medical or public health inquiries should continue to contact the Brookline Department of Public Health at 617-730-2300.
Messages left after hours will be returned the next day. Residents can also email their non-medical inquiries to: COVID19Info@brooklinema.gov.
Remember, in the case of emergencies, please call 911.
Free and Reduced Lunch for Brookline Students
During the temporary closure of the Public Schools of Brookline, students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals will be offered meals at no cost through the district’s online student ordering system.
Students 18 and under can access grab-and-go prepared meals at one of four locations — Coolidge Corner School (CCS), Pierce School, Brookline High School and Baker School — three days per week.
See the table below to determine when and where you should pick up meals:
All school buildings providing lunches during the period that the district is closed will undergo rigorous cleaning and disinfecting on a regular basis.
Families that qualify for free or reduced meals can use publicschoolsofbrooklineschoolnutrition.com to place orders ahead of time through the Out of School Ordering System. The website also has step-by-step instructions on how to place an order online.
Student Medication Pickup
Families will be allowed to pick up their student’s medicine from PSB schools on Wednesday, March 18 from 9 a.m. to noon. School leaders and nurses will be on-site during this time.
If you have medicine to pick up, please call your school nurse today prior to your arrival so they can be ready with your student’s medicine. Their contact information can be found here.