5/26/2020 Press Conference on COVID-19 Updates

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On May 26th, Governor Baker gave a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update on Testing, Hospitalizations, PPE, Food Security Task Force Program, and the Command Center.

Here is the summary.

Testing

  • As of yesterday, 8,188 tests were reported which brings the total number of tests conducted in MA to 540,561.

    • The average positive test rate is down to about 9% and has been for about a week. 

  • MA currently has the capacity to test around 30,000 people per day. The state has established a growing network of over 260 testing sites.

  • MA will be submitting a testing plan to the federal government by the end of the month. The plan will include: 

    • Assistance to boost overall testing capacity to 45,000 tests per day by the end of July and 75,000 tests per day by the end of December. 

    • Expanded lab space.

    • Expanded testing for high risk settings like state hospitals, group homes, and correctional facilities.

    • Reduction in the turn around time from the point of testing to test results.

    • Expanded randomized testing for surveillance purposes across the state.

Hospitalization

  • There are currently 2,179 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. This shows a significant decrease over the course of the past two to three weeks. 

PPE

  • Over the weekend, the total number of personal protective equipment distributed rose to over 12 million pieces so far. 

Food Security Task Force Program

  • The Food Security Task Force was established to provide more access to food security assistance during COVID-19 and is comprised of a broad group of public and private participants.

  • The Task Force recommendations had four key actionable categories: 

    • 1.) Develop and implement an emergency food program.

    • 2.) Fortify the food bank system.

    • 3.) Maximize every federal resource.

    • 4.) Reinforce and redeploy the food system infrastructure.

  • A little over a week ago, the Administration announced the $56 million program, recommended by the Food Security task Force, to combat urgent food insecurity for some MA families and individuals as a result of COVID-19. 

  • The funding will jumpstart some of the Task Force’s recommendations to address urgent needs and food supply issues.

  • The funding will go towards a $36 million food security infrastructure grant program for individuals and families to have access to food through innovative solutions. 

    • $5 million in funding to increase MA’s Healthy Incentives program to meet increased demand for local produce and to increase access points to process SNAP and HIP benefits.

    • $3 million in funding as an intermediate relief program for food banks

    • $12 million in funding for the provision of 25,000 food boxes per week to a regional food supply system. 

      • Each family food box contains about 30-35 meals. The food boxes will be distributed throughout the state and will be continued throughout the summer as needed.

        • For the past 6 weeks MA has supported a similar food distribution effort in Chelsea.

Command Center

  • The Command Center is implementing a special food benefit for children called “Pandemic EBT”. 

    • This benefit provides direct financial assistance to purchase healthy foods for families with children who would have otherwise received free/reduced lunch at school if not for school closures.

    • This brings $200 million to MA’s economy and supports our local grocery stores, corner stores, and their employees.

    • New households will be mailed their unique benefit card this coming week.

    • More than 263,000 households have received the benefits since last Wednesday.