MA Coronavirus: Boston Testing For Antibodies In Big Step Forward

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 169 new deaths Sunday, bringing the state's death toll to 2,899. The state also confirmed an additional 1,590 cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases to 54,938. There were 9,255 new tests reported, bringing the number of tests conducted to 236,100.

• Boston will conduct antibody testing for the coronavirus among 1,000 randomly selected residents. The sampling will focus on residents living in East Boston, Roslindale and within the boundaries of zip codes 02121 and 02125 in Dorchester. "It is our hope that by conducting this testing, we as a collective City will get a better understanding of the true prevalence of COVID-19 in our community," Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement. "The more we can expand our testing, the more we can learn how to use our medical resources more efficiently, and how we need to focus our current efforts to contain the virus. I want to thank MGH for being an excellent partner on this effort that we hope will be a step forward towards the path to recovery."
• State and federal lawmakers from Massachusetts will begin working to get federal money for state and local governments that have been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with a plan expected within the next 10 days. "When you look at exhaustion of state revenue it's amplified by the fact that this is going to go on for awhile," U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who represents the First Congressional District in western Massachusetts, said at the state's daily coronavirus briefing Saturday.
• Boston restaurants are temporarily allowed to sell grocery items in the same manner they are selling their own food: By takeout or delivery. "By allowing restaurants to also sell grocery and other essential items, we can help address social distancing concerns in grocery stores while supporting restaurants and food businesses during these unprecedented times," Walsh said in a statement Friday.
• Gun rights activists staged a demonstration on Cape Cod on Saturday afternoon to protest Baker's refusal to include gun shops on the state's list of essential business that are allowed to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic. Dozens of activists, many wearing masks, gathered on the grass at the Bourne Bridge Rotary holding signs demanding that gun shops, as well as the broader economy, be allowed to reopen. Some protesters also held "Don't Tread On Me" posters and large signs for Jay McMahon, the Republican running in a special election for a state Senate seat that covers Plymouth and parts of the upper Cape. "Our liberal GOP Governor not only closed our gun stores state wide, he prohibited online firearms courses, and made firearm businesses ineligible for state small business loans. Even the Democratic Governor of Maine followed President Trump's guidelines and made Maine gun stores essential," said Adam Lange, the sponsor of the protest and the founder of United Cape Patriots. The gun group Massachusetts Gun Rights also participated. Some gun stores and activists have sued Baker in federal court over his decision to close gun shops during the pandemic. The governor's business closure executive order runs through May 4, but could be extended. (State House News Service)
• Sunday's report also showed the hospitalization rate held at 7 percent after dropping from 8 two days earlier. Gov. Charlie Baker said in his daily news briefing Saturday the hospitalization rate has stabilized over the past few days. See the state's latest coronavirus report here.

Materials from the State House News Service was used in this report.