Author: Press Release

As we start to think in more concrete terms about what a phased reopening and, ultimately, a “new normal,” will look like, one thing that is clear is in the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine, a central component of our long-term solutions to this pandemic will be testing.

We continue to see a gradual, but noticeable improvement in the public health metrics we use to track the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a welcome reflection of the sacrifices that you all have made to keep each of us and our communities safe from this dangerous virus.

TODAY is Mother’s Day. I’d like to wish all mothers a very happy, safe and healthy day. As mothers, our children and family are central to this day, and I wish you all many happy phone calls and zoom chats to celebrate with loved ones.

In the coming weeks, we will be speaking more about what a reopening plan will look like for Massachusetts. Recent numbers are improving with hospitalizations down by 10% in the last week, and only 14.4% of tests coming back positive. But we’re aware that these numbers could change quickly if we don’t proceed carefully.

As we prepare for the eventual reopening of the economy and the relaxation of some of the current public health restrictions, it will be important to focus on testing and contact tracing.

Physical distancing and the stay at home advisory has made it challenging to feel connected to each other and to our community. This has also posed challenges in my work as your Representative, since my effectiveness relies on regularly interacting with my constituents and understanding their needs and concerns.

As a reminder, TODAY the statewide mask and face covering advisory goes into effect. For more information on implementation of this order, please review the advisory guidance.

As we enter a new week and a new month, the statewide data we are seeing is slowly beginning to indicate that we are entering a new phase in our COVID-19 response. To better represent our evolving conditions, I have updated the format of our daily chart.