7/1/2020 Press Conference on COVID-19 Updates

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On July 1st, Governor Baker gave a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update on Testing, Hospitalizations, Travel Restrictions, and the Huntington Avenue YMCA.

Here is the summary.

Testing

  • Yesterday, 5,800 tests were reported in MA with 114 new positive cases reported. MA has now reached over 1,066,000 tests administered so far. 

    • The seven day average for positive case rates have dropped to about 1.8%. This is a 94% decrease from the middle of April. 

Hospitalizations

  • As of yesterday, there are currently 733 individuals hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 and 120 are in the ICU. 

    • This brings the three day average for the number of patients that are in hospitals down 89% since the middle of April.

  • Only one hospital is currently using surge capacity to serve patients.

  • Please do not hesitate to contact your health care provider about any concerns you may have, COVID-19 related or not. Telehealth is currently a covered benefit in MA and residents should continue to utilize it. 

Travel Restrictions

  • Effective today, July 1st, all travelers arriving in MA, including MA residents returning home, are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days unless they are travelers from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, and New Jersey.

    • These surrounding states, like MA, are seeing a significant decline in cases and hospitalizations. Travelers from these seven states are exempt from the 14-day self-quarantine directive. 

  • In addition, workers designated by the federal government as essential critical infrastructure workers continue to be exempt from the directive for work purposes. 

  • All people are instructed not to travel to MA if they are displaying symptoms associated with COVID-19.  

Huntington Avenue YMCA

  • The YMCA is celebrating a partnership with the MBTA The Ride program. Monday through Friday, for the last 114 days, there have been 1,000 bags of nutritionally balanced groceries packed at the Huntington Avenue YMCA. 

    • With one bag, a family of three will have enough food for 4 days and a senior will have enough food for a week.

  • The MBTA has delivered these bags of food for the last 114 days to the individuals and families in need. During this period, they have delivered over 600,000 meals.

  • In addition, with the partnership with City Fresh Food, the Boston Housing Authority, Boston Food Bank, Boston Centers for Families and Children, Boston Public Schools, and many others, the YMCA has delivered more than a million prepared/grab and go meals to the children and families of greater Boston.