Somerville Coronavirus Update: 100+ Confirmed Cases

SOMERVILLE, MA — The number of positive cases of the coronavirus in Somerville more than doubled over the past week. There are 133 confirmed cases as of Monday, April 6, up from 49 the previous Monday.

State officials announced an increase of 1,337 cases between Sunday and Monday, for a total of 13,837. There were 29 new coronavirus deaths statewide, bringing the total to 260. Somerville has seen one coronavirus-related death.

Meanwhile, 46 people have recovered from the virus in Somerville, according to the latest numbers from the city.

Additional updates on the new coronavirus in Somerville:

• Somerville Helps Increase Mask Supply: Mayor Curtatone, Partners HealthCare and Battelle collaborated to bring a machine that can sterilize 80,000 respirator masks a day to the former Kmart site in Assembly Square, which Mayor Curtatone secured for the effort using his emergency powers. Having access to mask sterilization allows healthcare workers to reuse N95 masks up to 20 times. The Battelle system will be just the fourth such site in the U.S.

• State Projects Surge in Cases and Details Response: On Thursday, the State projected a coming surge of COVID-19 cases in the Commonwealth and detailed its efforts to respond, including a significant increase in hospital capacity, staffing, and equipment. They project between 47,000 to 172,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts over the course of the epidemic (or 0.7% to 2.5% of the State population). Hospitalizations would potentially peak between April 10-20. Among other efforts, the Administration is aiming to add an additional 750 to 1000 beds in alternate care sites to reduce strain on hospitals. More details here.

• COVID-19 Tracking: The State is working with Partners in Health to set up a coronavirus tracking program to help identify people at risk of having the disease. Partners in Health is hiring and training 1,000 contact tracers who will talk to everyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to find out who they have been in contact with. The contact tracers will then reach out to those people to let them know they are at risk and what they should do to follow-up.
• Market Basket Expands Social Distancing Measures: City staff have been working closely with local grocers to support social distancing for shoppers. On Thursday, Market Basket began limiting the number of shoppers inside the Somerville store to 90 customers. The store manager reports that people are taking well to store limiting, and it allows staff to feel more at ease. It's currently about a 20-minute wait outside, and there have been no complaints from customers. On Friday, they added someone outside to help keep people in line at a safe distance.