NORTHAMPTON — With thousands of visitors expected at the Spring Bulb Show at Smith College, the annual event became the latest to be nipped in the bud to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The college announced on Sunday that, through at least May 1, it will limit large gatherings on campus by requiring that public events with an expected attendance of 50 or more people be canceled or postponed; some programs may be attended online instead.
As of Monday, there is one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Massachusetts and 40 identified “presumptive positive” cases, which are still pending confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Story, Page A2.)
The spreading virus threat led Mayor Martin Walsh to announce Monday that Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade would be canceled.
The bulb show, which began on March 7 before being cut short, attracts over 20,000 visitors a year and is the main fundraising event for the college’s Botanic Garden, typically amassing $30,000 to $40,000 in donations over the course of the 16-day event, according to Botanic Garden Director Tim Johnson.
This funding is used to recoup costs of holding the show, which involves spending more than $6,000 on bulbs alone, Johnson said, as well as other expenses, such as committing $6,000 toward eight to 10 paid summer interns. The show, a general draw to Northampton and its businesses, also provides a significant perk to Friends of the Botanic Garden members, who may attend the event during members-only hours, he added.
Johnson told the Gazette via email that he is optimistic supporters will “understand that it’s going to take some sacrifices to protect the most susceptible members of our community … and that we’re also a little heartbroken.”
Smith’s decision to cancel the event echoes similar precautionary measures taken at Amherst College. There, would-be spectators on Friday and Saturday were prohibited from attending the women’s basketball tournament games at LeFrak Gymnasium.
“Please be aware that we are taking these actions out of an abundance of caution and being mindful of the health of the Amherst community, including the teams that are competing,” Donald Faulstick, director of Amherst Athletics, wrote in a letter to the community.
Admittance restrictions — likely to remain in effect when the Amherst College team plays home games again next weekend — are also now in place at several buildings the public is normally allowed to visit.
Until at least May 1, Beneski Museum of Natural History, the Mead Art Museum, Basset Planetarium, Wilder Observatory, Alumni Gym and Valentine Dining Hall will be restricted to current students, faculty and staff.
Classes or course-associated gatherings will continue to be offered, but those who will be hosting guest speakers are being asked to ensure that these visitors have not traveled to coronavirus-affected areas within the last 14 days.
Even though there are no known coronavirus cases in Hampshire County, the colleges are taking the steps out of caution.
“As of today, there are no suspected or confirmed cases of the disease on our campus,” said David DeSwert, vice president for finance and administration at Smith College. “It is our responsibility, however, to take informed, proactive steps to ensure the continued safety of our community.”
Academic programming at Lyman Plant House is currently slated to continue, but the garden is closed to the public until March 22. The Botanic Garden’s staff is focused on getting the word out to the community about the closure, Johnson said, but will eventually look into sharing the show digitally.
In addition to the bulb show, which had been scheduled to run through March 22, two presidential colloquiums have been canceled, the first on March 24 with National Resources Defense Council President Gina McCarthy, the second on March 31 with Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative.
Likewise, the United Way of Hampshire County canceled its Leaders’ Circle celebration at Smith College that was to take place Monday evening.
In an email, United Way Executive Director John Bidwell wrote that the event, to honor large donors, would be rescheduled. “We will work with Smith College to find a new date once things have settled down,” Bidwell wrote.
There are three exemptions to the Smith policy, according to a letter sent to the campus community Sunday. Those include academic classes larger than 50, house programs only open to house residents and events tied to academic credit if cleared in advance by the Office of the Provost.
The town of Amherst last week announced that it would be launching a page on its website featuring coronavirus information. On Monday, that page stated that “the risk of infection in our area is low, and there is no community-level spread of the virus.”
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the page, at https://www.amherstma.gov/3519/Coronavirus, is aimed at getting across the message that the town is prepared and “is on it.”
Gazette reporter Jacquelyn Voghel contributed to this report.
