First MA Death Linked To Coronavirus: 87-Year-Old From Winthrop

BOSTON, MA — A Winthrop man in his 80s was the first in the commonwealth to die from complications related to the new coronavirus, according to state health officials Friday. The Department of Public Health said the veteran had an underlying health condition, which made him more at risk.

"Quite honestly [it's] a reminder of what's at stake here," said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh in a press conference Friday.

That the man was 87 and had an underlying health issue is irrelevant, said Winthrop Town Manager Austin Faison, who went on to express the town's condolences to the man's family.

The local Public Health director said they believe the man came in community contact with COVID-19. "I think we're all worried about community spread, every community in Massachusetts is experiencing community spread," said Meredith Hurley, the town's public health director.

"It's a stark reminder of the scope [of the emergency], she said, and asked people to practice social distancing and CDC recommended practicing.

The news of the man's passing comes a day after the number of known coronavirus cases rose above 300 and Gov. Charlie Baker activated the National Guard to help Massachusetts handle the growing crisis.

"We are living in uncertain and challenging times, and our administration is bringing every available resource to bear in the fight against this disease, and remind everyone in our Commonwealth to continue to work together, follow social distance protocols and look after each other to keep our communities safe," said Baker.

The state's Public Department of Health on Thursday announced 328 cases of COVID-19, an increase of 72 from Wednesday's numbers. Forty-three of those cases so far have required hospitalization. As of Friday morning, 3,132 residents of Massachusetts have been tested for COVID-19 by the State Public Health Laboratory and commercial labs.

Every county in the commonwealth now has a positive case of COVID-19. Middlesex County has the most cases with 119, while Suffolk jumped to 72 cases and Norfolk County 52 cases.
The increase in cases come as testing becomes more available. Officials have long expected a drastic increase in cases as more tests become available and testing expands.

There have been more than 10,400 cases of COVID-19 and more than 150 deaths across the country, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Massachusetts and nationwide, health and government officials are asking everyone - showing symptoms or not - to avoid crowds, stay 6 feet away from others, not shake hands or hug, and call and online chat with friends and loved ones rather than meet face to face.

Baker called the man's death heartbreaking.

"But this is certainly a day I think we all knew would come," Baker said earlier Friday.

Baker has repeatedly said he has no plans to issue a shelter-in-place order here, but he has also acknowledged that could change.

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