My updates relating to COVID-19 for Wednesday, August 12, 2020.
Below are Mayor Walsh’s remarks from Wednesday, August 12, 2020.
In Massachusetts, as of yesterday, there were 296 new cases, for a total of 112,969 confirmed cases. 10 new deaths were recorded yesterday in Massachusetts, bringing the total number of deaths to 8,529.
Boston’s numbers, from Tuesday as well: 38 new cases, bringing our total in Boston to 14,609 cases. There were two new deaths, bringing our total to 743.
And, as always, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who are passed or are suffering with this illness.
We’ve noticed, in Boston, in the last few weeks a slight uptick. The positive test rate increased from 2.1 percent to 2.8 percent. But, the most recent seven days analysis shows it back down to 2.5 percent. We’ve seen similar patterns in daily new cases and emergency room visits for COVID-like illness. These numbers remain far below the levels we saw during our surge in April and May. And, they have not reached a level that would cause us to look at rolling back re-opening. It is an uptick, not an established trend. But, we are monitoring the data very closely. We’re working to understand this activity. And we are providing resources to residents, to protect their health and slow the spread.
We continue to expand testing. Last week, we had an average of 1,552 tests given each day in Boston. That was up by over 10 percent from the previous week, and up by over 50 percent from earlier in the summer. So, we’re doing much more testing here in Boston on a daily basis. Our mobile testing team is out in our neighborhoods, offering testing to anyone who wants it. It is currently at Moakley Park in South Boston through Saturday. You can find all the testing sites at boston.gov/coronavirus.
What we need to do now is maintain our focus and recommit our efforts — and that means all of us on a daily basis. Every individual, every business, every sector, every organization.
Businesses need to follow reopening guidelines. This has been a tough time for many industries, especially restaurants. But, another surge could be devastating to them if we have to pull back again. That would be even worse for business. We are committed to supporting small business. Any Boston business with less than 25 employees can apply for reopening grants. If you haven’t done that, go to Boston.gov/ReopenFund.
I also want to remind people who travel from out of state, you need to comply with the requirements on testing and quarantine. I’m especially concerned about colleges bringing students back to campus from high-risk states. We’ve asked colleges to share with us their plans for testing, quarantine, and safety protocols. We want to see that they are developing mechanisms to implement and enforce these requirements.
For individuals, I’ve been saying this consistently: each of us has the ability — and the obligation — to protect ourselves and help prevent an outbreak. We have to keep washing our hands. We have to keep wearing face coverings outside our homes. We have to keep sixfeet from other people as much as possible. And we have to avoid large gatherings.
The governor this week reduced the limit on outdoor gathering limits from 100 to 50 people. I certainly support that move. In Boston, we had already limited outdoor events to 50 people since the beginning of Phase 3. And we are still not allowing public or private meetings in City buildings.
I understand, because we all do, that people want to get together. Young people want to go out. Families want to celebrate milestones. These are human needs, and many people are frustrated. But we have to be clear: it’s not time to let up. The virus is still here. That’s our reality.
We can meet our need for social connection in ways that are safe. If you want to meet people in parks, meet in small groups and wear a mask. If you want to go to the beach, don’t sit in areas where it’s crowded. Sit away from people. If you want to go for walks, bike rides, and car rides, that’s okay, but again wear the masks. If you go to a restaurant, you have to wear a mask until you sit down and be respectful of the patrons around you. We’re asking people to continue to check in on an elderly relative or neighbor. If you approach them, make sure you have a mask on, but see how we can help them. You can have fun. But we have to minimize the risk.
The bottom line is this: Boston is still doing well. Compared to many other states, we are doing very well. But it wasn’t that long ago that we were those states. I am proud of our City and I know we can keep it going. We know what to do, we’ve been doing it, and we’re going to keep doing it — in every decision we make, for as long as it takes.
The most important collective step before us is how to begin the year in the Boston Public Schools. I know that people are anxious for a decision. Parents are concerned and need time to make plans. Teachers also have concerns and need time to make plans. And everyone is rightly concerned about their safety and the safety of our young people.
I want to be clear about our priorities. Keeping everyone safe comes first. That means children and their families. That means teachers and staff. That means the community at large. It means everyone.
We will be guided by the science and the data, as we have been throughout this pandemic. The reason why I start the conversation, and every time I have a press conference, with the numbers is so people can understand where we are in the fight against coronavirus. We’ve never held back any information from the public, and there’s going to be no difference when it comes to schools.
We know we will not start the year with all in-person learning, because it’s not safe. We’ll start with either a hybrid model or a period of all-remote learning. Whichever route we take in September, we are doing the work required now to make both remote learning and in-person school as safe and as effective as they can possibly be.
We are working with school leaders and facilities professionals to make sure every school is safe. We’re providing plexiglass and vinyl separators. We’re providing nurses’ rooms with properly ventilated isolation spaces. We’re making sure all HVAC systems are in working order and have new filters. We’re making sure every classroom has at least one window that opens, so learning spaces have fresh air. We’re buying electro-static sprayers to disinfect surfaces. We’re installing sanitizing stations at entrances and exits. We’re making sure foot traffic is properly marked for spacing and safety signage is everywhere. And every school will receive a Certificate of Inspection by our Inspectional Services Department before opening. We will not send students, teachers, or staff into buildings that are not safe.
BPS is also working, right now, to strengthen remote learning. Superintendent Cassellius and her team are expanding technology and internet access. They’re creating new outreach and support plans for families. My concern right now with school is that we have a growing achievement gap, in particular for our Black and Latino students. And I’m concerned that if we don’t have the remote learning or the in-person learning right, that achievement gap is going to continue to grow. We’re working on developing solutions for Special Education students and English learners. We’re talking with childcare providers about the role that they will be playing, and more.
The spring was a crisis-response; this fall will be more planned and more supported. We’ve had the time to sit down and work and we have to continue to sit down with our unions and teachers to make sure a month from now, however we open school, our kids are going to learn at the highest quality.
We know there will be remote learning this year. We hope that there will be in-person learning this year. We are planning and preparing to make both work. And we are planning and preparing with the needs of our most vulnerable students in mind.
We have two public health crises in Boston: We have a COVID pandemic, and we have a crisis of race and equity. We’ve seen them intersect in the COVID numbers, and we’ve responded. We’ve also seen the equity crisis play out, over many years, in our schools. That’s why we increased the BPS budget by $80 million this year, with a targeted focus on closing opportunity and achievement gaps. We have to get this right. Our kids are depending on us doing this.
For the safety and wellbeing of our students, we have to start the year with that same focus on equity. Families where the adults are working can’t always help children stay engaged. Students learning English and students with disabilities depend on in-person support. Children living in shelter need a place to go. These are safety issues for many of our students. We have to meet those needs from the first day school begins, or those students will suffer. We’re not going to let that happen.
The most fundamental need we have been serving, since COVID-19 arrived, is feeding children. That work is facing a challenge right now.
The USDA granted a waiver to allow Summer Meals to be served in safe ways, including Grab and Go sites and direct delivery to students’ homes. BPS is feeding tens of thousands of children and needs to continue feeding them. But that waiver is set to expire on August 31. If it’s not extended, BPS will have to stop deliveries to students with disabilities and homeless families. The safe grab-and-go setup would have to change. Sites would no longer be open to all children. This would present a major logistical challenge.
We are simply asking the federal government, in the midst of a pandemic, let us feed our children safely.
We started the year with education and affordable housing as our top goals. And we have continued to move that work forward.
Today, I can announce we are making $30 million available for affordable housing. Requests for proposals went out this week and we will be awarding projects in September. There is $4 million set aside for formerly homeless tenants. Winning projects have to demonstrate diversity in the development team, and they must advance our goal of being a carbon-neutral city.
Since construction restarted in June 26 projects have resumed, with nearly 1,200 affordable homes, and this new funding will create many more.
I want to close by reminding everyone to respond to the 2020 U.S. Census.
The Trump Administration continues to undermine this Constitutional requirement in an effort to undercount people of color, immigrants, and cities. This would have disastrous consequences for the City of Boston.
The best way to fight back is to respond now. You can visit my2020census.gov or do it by phone. It’s quick, it’s confidential and safe. To learn more, or to help with our outreach efforts, visit our “Boston Counts 2020” website.
This is important for our city. This is how we get fair representation in Congress. And it’s how we get our fair share of federal investment.
Everyone counts equally in our democracy, so everyone deserves to be counted and represented.
