“We believe it’s important to start taking more aggressive action now,” Baker said. He said officials expect “this disruption to continue for the foreseeable future.”
Baker and other state officials told reporters at the State House of efforts underway on a variety of fronts to respond to the coronavirus cases that have been sweeping around the world -- and are now on the rise in Massachusetts.
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Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel said the state was taking “deliberate and proactive steps” and “every precaution” to keep people safe.
The officials also said the outbreak had taken a disturbing turn in several cases in Berkshire County, where, Baker said, for the “first time... we have cases that we can’t track back to an individual.”
Considering the increase in total cases and the Berkshire cases, which indicate the virus is now spreading in the community, “I would have to say that the risk has increased,” Baker said.
“Responding to this evolving health threat requires everyone to be vigilant and everyone to be part of this effort,” he said.
Baker said officials are still discussing whether to hold the April 20 Boston Marathon, while he applauded Boston for canceling the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Earlier Tuesday, Massachusetts legislative leaders said Tuesday they will introduce a $15 million spending package for the state’s response to the spread of coronavirus, marking the first major infusion of state cash into the effort.
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The announcement from House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Senate President Karen E. Spilka did not include details, including how the money would be spent. But they indicated they’d push a bill through quickly, with both the House and Senate planning to take it up next week.
The funds, if approved by the Legislature and signed by Baker, would come on top of $95,000 officials included in a supplemental spending bill Baker signed last week. Those funds largely went toward overtime and clinical costs for the state’s public health lab, which received approval last month to conduct testing of potential coronavirus cases.
Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, the chamber’s budget chief, described the $15 million proposal as an “immediate infusion . . . to enhance our state and local response efforts.”
“Public health emergencies demand immediate action from government, and the House today, alongside its partners in the Senate, committed to taking up legislation in direct response to the coronavirus outbreak in Massachusetts,” said DeLeo said in a joint statement.
Added Spilka: “The Senate’s number one priority is to safeguard the health of our residents.”
The impact of the virus’s spread has seemingly crept into all corners of life. Local officials on Monday canceled the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston, and industry executives halted a number of conventions headed in the city.
Harvard University on Tuesday urged students not to return to campus after their spring break ends later this month and to take their classes online. It came a day after Amherst College ordered students there to do the same, meaning the remaining classes for this academic semester will be taught remotely.
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The Ivy League is also canceling its basketball tournaments, which were scheduled to be played at Harvard this weekend.
President Trump has also floated the idea of payroll tax relief to help blunt the impact on workers.
Matt Stout can be reached at matt.stout@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @mattpstout Martin finucane can be reached at martin.finucane@globe.com
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March 11, 2020 at 01:18AM
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Mass. coronavirus case total jumps to 92; state of emergency declared - The Boston Globe
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