Health & Fitness
MA Coronavirus: National Guard To Nursing Homes As Virus Spreads
The state is also transforming a major convention center into a field hospital while the MBTA takes the temperatures of bus drivers.
Massachusetts is deploying the National Guard to nursing homes and transforming a major convention center into a field hospital in the latest measures taken to combat the coronavirus crisis.
The National Guard will provide on-site testing for residents at nursing homes and other facilities that house the elderly who otherwise would have had to go to the doctor or a hospital, Marylou Sudders, head of of the state's coronavirus command center, said Tuesday.
The announcement comes after a rash of deaths across such facilities, which house those most vulnerable to COVID-19. WWLP reported 13 veterans died at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home and six of them tested positive for the virus, while the Jack Satter House in Revere saw five residents die and 13 more positive tests.
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Meanwhile, the state is transforming the DCU Center in Worcester into a field hospital to help with the potential overflow at hospitals ahead of an expected surge in COVID-19 cases. The DCU Center, which will be able to house about 250 beds, is one of three sites the state is looking to turn around into a field hospital.
Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday the state expects a "surge" in coronavirus patients between April 7-17. On Tuesday, the state announced 33 more deaths (89 total) and 868 more cases (6,620 total.)
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In another sign of the times, the MBTA on Wednesday started taking the temperatures of each bus driver before they start their shift at the South Boston garage. Anyone with a temperature over 100 degrees will be sent home. The strategy is expected to expand throughout other departments.
As of Monday, 18 MBTA employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Patch will update this story throughout the day
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