MA In 'Strong Position ... For What Comes Next' With COVID: Baker

Massachusetts is "in a strong position to be prepared for what comes next" in the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Charlie Baker in a wide-ranging press conference that sought to highlight the progress the state has made despite increasing COVID-19 totals sparking fears of a second surge.

Baker, speaking Tuesday afternoon at the State House, acknowledged the rising numbers, but said some of quickest thinking and best preparation in the country has Massachusetts well-equipped moving forward.

"Over the past few weeks we started to see an increase in the number of COVID cases here and across the country and in many other countries," Baker said. "For months, public health experts have forecasted this increase."

The governor said the rise isn't indicative of a second surge of the coronavirus.

"I don't consider where we are to be anywhere near [a second surge,]" Baker said.

The state has seen a steady increase in cases in recent weeks. The long weekend saw nearly 1,922 new cases and 39 new deaths, and Tuesday's update added another 632 cases and 12 deaths.

Baker said the state will soon be able to test 100,000 people per day, and there is enough personal protective equipment for first responders and health care providers through the end of 2021. The state stockpile has 1,200 ventilators.

Massachusetts will also be ready if a spike requires field hospitals to get quickly up and running again.

"There is no doubt that this virus will continue to challenge us," Baker said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said the Stop the Spread testing program is being extended through the end of the year. The program, which provides free testing in communities with abnormally high coronavirus cases, was scheduled to end Oct. 31.

"We continue to be a top testing state per capita, either first or second in the country," Sudders said. "Even as we cannot test our way out of this pandemic, however, testing identifies individuals with symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID. It allows us to act quickly and stop the spread, and it provides critical data that we did not have in the spring."

Materials from State House News Service was used in this report