BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts officials on Tuesday urged residents in nearly three dozen communities with concerning rates of COVID-19 infection to step up their efforts to slow the spread of the disease.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said 33 communities across the state are seeing more than four COVID-19 cases per 100,000. The four hardest hit communities are Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, and Revere, said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders.
Baker said his administration is reaching out to local leaders in moderate and high risk communities to offer state support in combating the virus. State officials are encouraging residents in those communities to be sure to wear masks, keep their distance from others and avoid large gatherings.
“Our administration is ready to provide assistance to enhance outreach and enforcement and messaging efforts as well as additional public health resources and public awareness strategies in these moderate and high risk communities,” Baker told reporters. “And we’re asking everyone to recognize that this virus continue to infect, injure and kill people every single day.”
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VIRUS BY THE NUMBERS
Massachusetts reported 10 newly confirmed deaths linked to COVID-19 on Tuesday - bringing the total number of confirmed and probable deaths to 8,751 since the start of the pandemic.
The state also on Tuesday reported 392 newly confirmed and probable cases of the disease caused by the coronavirus.
That brings the total number of confirmed and probable cases of COVID- 19 to more than 121,700 in Massachusetts since the start of the pandemic.
There were 387 people reported hospitalized Tuesday because of COVID-19, while 70 were in intensive care units.
The number of confirmed and probable COVID-19 related deaths at long-term care homes rose to 5,585 or nearly 64% of all confirmed and probable deaths in Massachusetts attributed to the disease.
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