Somerville Sees First Coronavirus-Related Death

SOMERVILLE, MA — A Somerville resident has died of the coronavirus, officials said Thursday. It is the city's first coronavirus-related death.

"My first thoughts go out to the family and friends of the deceased. Words cannot encompass the pain of your loss, but know that I share your grief," Mayor Joseph Curtatone said in a statement. "I suspect everyone else in the city will be joining me as they hear this news. Even though we're all socially distanced from each other, thousands of people will be feeling the sadness of your loss in their hearts."

There are now 76 cases of the coronavirus in Somerville. Curtatone said he expects there to be more deaths in the coming days and weeks.

"We need to be prepared for the emotional weight that comes with this pandemic. We're all going to need to give ourselves permission to feel sadness as we do our best to get through this crisis," Curtatone said. "It's a natural human response to what we're experiencing. Yet it is a burden we can all bear together. We can be united in our sadness, connected by our empathy."

Plans were announced Thursday to bring mask-sterilizing technology to the former Kmart parking lot at Assembly Row. The site will be the fourth of its kind in the country.