15 New Positive Coronavirus Tests In Massachusetts, Bringing State Total To 138
BOSTON (CBS) – The Department of Public Health announced Saturday there are 15 new cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts, bringing the state total to 138. Eleven people have been hospitalized.
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Nineteen cases in Massachusetts have now been confirmed by the CDC and 119 are considered presumptive positive.
This includes the first COVID-19 case in Barnstable county and the first in the city of Worcester. Five other people in Worcester have been tested and are awaiting the results.
Of the state's cases, 104 are linked to the Biogen employee conference in Boston at the end of February and five are travel related.
Cape Cod also confirmed its first presumptive positive case of COVID-19. Mass. DPH said the patient was admitted to Cape Cod Healthcare Hospital with respiratory symptoms. They said the patient will remain at the hospital until they are stable and can return home for the remainder of their quarantine period. All staff who came into contact with the patient are being monitored.
A coronavirus command center was established Saturday, which will focus on increasing the state's testing capacity.
On Friday afternoon, Gov. Charlie Baker prohibited gatherings of more than 250 people in the state in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The DPH announced the launch of Massachusetts 2-1-1, which will provide real-time COVID-19 information, resources, and referrals in multiple languages. It is open to callers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Dozens of schools in Massachusetts are closing for more than a week out of an abundance of caution.
