New Bedford Mayor Mitchell Joins Fun 107 with Coronavirus Update

Mayor Jon Mitchell checked in with the Rock and Fox Show this morning after unprecedented steps were taken in an attempt to stem the spread of the coronavirus here in Massachusetts and in New Bedford.

Originally, the mayor was scheduled to appear in person at the Fun 107 studios, but we have begun tightening the accessibility of the building in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak; therefore we asked the mayor to join us by phone.

"As much as I'd love to see you guys in person, that's a wise move, Michael," Mitchell said. "We have to do everything within reason to keep our distance from one another, which is an awkward thing. It's a very human thing to connect with people. It's just the way we are hard-wired, but it also puts us at risk for this particular set of circumstances allowing for the transmission of the virus."

While the mayor encouraged people to take advantage of modern technology like social media and the internet to stay connected, he warned of getting news and information from trusted, accredited sources.

The mayor said that the government is planning for the long haul.

"This isn't going to be a one-week problem or a two-week problem," he said. "This is going to be a month according to most experts and we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep people safe."

As far as children are concerned, the mayor wants them to continue to learn. Their teachers are working on virtual learning and working on getting them packets, but it's important to remember that "this is not summer vacation."