Boston Coronavirus Cases Were Thousands More Than Thought: Study

BOSTON — Boston possibly had thousands of coronavirus infections by the time the city was just getting around to announcing its second confirmed case of COVID-19, according to Northeastern University researchers.

Northeastern's study said that there could have been more than 2,300 COVID-19 infections among Boston residents by March 1. The city announced its second confirmed case March 2.

The New York Times reported Boston, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle had only confirmed a combined 23 cases of COVID-19 by March 1. But by that time, there could have been around 28,000 infections across the five major U.S. hubs.

The study suggests the virus spread much further than initially believed. In Boston, it could have been quietly infecting thousands before city and state leaders took significant steps to increase testing or stem the spread.

Gov. Charlie Baker closed schools March 15 and closed nonessential businesses March 23.

Since then, Massachusetts has become a national leader in testing. The state reported a record 14,614 tests performed in Thursday's Department of Public Health report.