MA Coronavirus: State Adds Testing Facilities

BOSTON — Massachusetts continues to add labs to process tests for the coronavirus and has completed 3,000 additional tests since Sunday, Gov. Charlie Baker said in his daily press briefing Tuesday.

The state has added 10 additional labs around the state and had conducted about 9,000 tests as of Tuesday, up from 6,000 Sunday.

"This is big progress from where we were even a week ago," Baker said. The governor reiterated his warning that as more people are tested, more cases will be reported.

Baker also said the state was launching a COVID-19 alert system that will allow residents to receive "accurate, up-to-date information." Massachusetts residents can text “COVID” to 888777 to sign up to receive one or two alerts with news and updates, as well as public health tips and alerts on services.

Also on Tuesday:

• The Baker administration planned to file legislation on Tuesday that, if approved, would lift regulations to help local governments respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The comprehensive bill had provisions ranging from lifting requirements for hearings on permit regulations to letting local school boards ease requirements for high school graduation.
• The governor is planning to issue guidance on safe practices for construction work in Massachusetts. Those guidelines will priortize housing and infrastructure construction projects, which Baker called "essential."
• Baker said the Department of Public Health had received and made 89 deliveries of 750,000 masks, gowns, gloves and other medical supplies. The supplies came from the strategic national stockpile.
• On Monday, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency delivered personal protection equipment to 15 locations. The deliveries were mostly made to police and fire departments.
• The state has relaxed rules making it easier for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to move from one hospital to another as needed.

Baker was also critical of the $2 trillion federal relief bill that has stalled in Congress. "Governors, mayors and other elected officials at the state and local level have been stepping up on this," Baker said. "The debate around the economic aid package in the Senate - frankly, it's been appalling. But I can't say I'm surprised. Partisan behavior [in Congress] is not an option now."

Baker's comments came on the day with the U.S. recorded its 600th coronavirus fatality and the World Health Organization warned the deaths and infections will "increase considerably" going forward.

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On Monday, Baker issued a statewide stay-at-home advisory, the most extreme measure yet in the fight to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. He also ordered all nonessential businesses to close, but stopped short of prohibiting travel or shutting down public transportation systems.

Related Story: Group Warns Many MA Small Businesses Won't Survive Shutdown

The advisory and shutdown order went in effect Tuesday at noon and will last through at least April 7. "We know that these measures are going to be difficult and inconvenient for many people," Baker said Tuesday.

Massachusetts has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases as testing expands and the virus spreads. State health officials reported 777 cases on Monday afternoon, included 79 patients who needed to be hospitalized. Since Friday, seven people have died after contracting COVID-19.

Massachusetts has been under a state of emergency since March 10.

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).