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From YouTube: COVID-19 Media Availability 2-25-21
Description
Mayor Walsh hosts a media availability to discuss updates relating to COVID-19.
A
Thank
you
very
much
for
being
here
today,
I'm
going
to
provide
a
covey
19
update,
updates
related
to
schools,
boston's
public
schools,
reopening
talk
about
our
new
list
of
recommendations
through
the
community
preservation
act,
I'm
going
to
also
announce
the
latest
funding
of
rounds
in
the
boston
region
from
the
boston
resiliency
fund,
and
then
chief
martinez
will
provide
additional
health
information
and
take
questions
on
covet
or
any
related
matters.
A
We
continue
to
work
closely
with
the
district
attorney's
office,
the
boston
police
department,
boston
fire
department,
osha
and
other
regulatory
agencies
determined
to
determine
what
the
cause
was
of
yesterday's
incident
until
a
thorough
investigation
is
complete.
However,
the
company
involved
will
not
be
allowed
to
perform
work
in
the
city
of
boston
as
a
former
construction
worker,
the
safety
of
our
workers
at
the
utmost
importance
to
me.
No
workers
should
ever
have
to
worry
about
their
safety
and
well-being
on
any
job
site
here
in
the
city
or
anywhere.
A
Quite
honestly,
we
need
to
understand
what
happened
so
we
can
create
a
safer
condition
for
the
future,
so
just
if
everyone
could
keep
in
your
thoughts
and
prayers,
the
families
of
the
two
lost
construction
workers
from
yesterday's
accident
state
numbers,
the
covert
numbers
state
numbers.
As
of
yesterday,
seven
1788
new,
confirmed
cases
in
the
commonwealth.
A
There
were
60
confirmed,
covet
19
debts
in
the
commonwealth
in
boston.
We
don't
have
today's
numbers.
We
have
yesterday's
numbers,
226
new,
confirmed
cases
bringing
our
total
in
boston
to
over
58
000
people
who
have
had
covert.
We
had
five
deaths
reported
yesterday,
bringing
our
total
to
1
256
people
that
have
lost
their
life
as
people
you've
heard
and
heard
by
now.
Certainly
the
nations
passed
a
solemn
milestone
this
week,
with
over
five
hundred
thousand
american
lives
lost
to
covert
19..
A
A
A
The
latest
complete
data
that
we
have
for
the
week
ending
february
18th,
an
average
of
3777
bostonians
were
tested
each
day
that
number
dropped
from
the
previous
week,
13
and
obviously,
as
I've
said
in
the
past,
it
does
not
include
college
testing.
The
decrease
in
testing
is
a
trend
that
we're
seeing
statewide
and
even
nationwide.
A
A
The
average
seven
day
positive
tests
were
positive.
Tests
were
156,
that's
down
26
from
the
previous
week
and
35
over
the
past
two
percent
over
the
past
two
weeks.
So
we're
definitely
seeing
our
daily
cases
continue
to
go
down
since
january,
and
that's
that's
a
good
sign,
but
we
want
to
continue.
The
testing
is
important
for
us,
so
we
can
continue
to
get
make
sure
we
have
accurate
numbers
to
see
if
these
numbers
are
real
or
we're
really
seeing
people
the
number
go
down.
Our
community
positivity
rate
dropped
to
3.4
percent.
A
That's
the
lowest
positivity
rate
that
we've
seen
in
the
city
of
boston.
Since
october,
the
rate
went
down
in
almost
every
neighborhood
and
every
neighborhood
now
is
below
seven
percent.
That's
the
good
news
on
hospital
capacity.
The
number
of
covert
emergency
department
visits
decreased
since
the
weeks
before
and
the
percentage
of
available
icu
surge
beds
have
increased
for
the
first
time.
In
many
weeks
the
daily
number
of
occupied
icu
beds
is
under
our
threshold
for
concern.
A
A
But
this
is
not
the
time
to
be
complacent
or
let
our
guide
down.
We
must
continue
to
do
everything
we
can
to
protect
ourselves
and
our
communities
against
this
virus.
We
want
people
to
continue
to
wear
a
mask.
There's
been
lots
of
talk
this
week
about
wearing
masks
that
fits
tight
where
we
don't
want
to
get
loose.
Mass
should
not
be
down
below
your
nose.
You
should
wear
the
mask,
try
and
get
a
mask.
That's
tight!
A
Many
of
our
masks
that
that
have
been
homemade
have
been
washed
and
washed
and
washed
and
they're
getting
loose.
So
we
want
you
to
make
sure
that
we
get
you
get
a
mask
that
is
tight
when
possible.
We're
asking
people
to
wear
two
masks
possible,
surgical
mask
you
can
get
them
in
any
store
now
and
if
there's
a
homemade
mask
or
another
mask,
that's
really
important
for
us
to
continue
to
do
so.
A
If
you
operate
a
business,
we're
asking
you
we're
asking
if
you
patronize
the
business
we're
asking
a
business
owner
or
people
going
to
businesses,
we're
asking
you
to
follow
the
guidelines.
A
A
We
have
a
responsibility
to
our
part
to
keep
the
process
of
reopening
moving
forward
and
safely
as
far
as
testing
access.
Just
a
brief
word
on
testing
access.
We
have
25
sites
in
the
city
of
boston.
We
continue
to
support
our
mobile
testing
sites
that
are
free
and
open
to
all,
regardless
of
symptoms.
Currently
there
and
they've
been
there
for
a
while
in
jamaica,
plain
at
the
anacolle
community
center
in
the
mildred
haley
apartments
walk
up,
no
appointment,
no
registration
is
required.
A
It's
quick,
it's
easy
and
you
get
your
results
back
fairly
quickly
in
high
park
at
the
boston
renaissance
charter
school.
It's
a
drive-through
site.
It
requires
an
appointment,
but
again
once
you
get
the
appointment,
it's
quick!
You
drive
in
you,
get
tested
and
you're
able
to
get
in
and
out
quick
fairly
quickly
in
dorchester
at
the
prince
hall,
grand
lodge
walk-up
site
on-site
registration.
I
want
to
thank
all
of
the
staff
at
prince
hall.
They
took
this
upon
themselves.
They
came
to
us
a
few
months
ago.
A
A
At
the
beginning
of
this
month,
the
boston
public
schools
launched
a
new
timeline
for
returning
students
to
in-person
learning.
To
date,
we
have
welcomed
all
students
with
high
in-person
priority
status,
who
want
to
be
back
in
the
classroom.
It's
an
opt-in
option,
these
young
people
who
face
the
risk
of
their
well-being
when
they
are
not
in
school.
Nearly
7
000
students
have
been
invited
to
return
to
school
building
since
november,
starting
next
week,
the
week
of
march
1st
we're
inviting
students
in
preschool
in
kindergarten
through
grade
3
to
return
in-person
learning.
A
It
will
be
the
first
time
that
that
our
kids
will
be
in
school
in
nearly
a
year,
we're
making
sure
that
our
classrooms
and
buildings
are
safe
for
students,
teachers,
staff
and
that
includes
air
purifiers
in
every
occupied
space
in
frequent
air
quality
testing
best
possible
filters
in
all
hvac
systems,
medical
grade,
ppe
for
all
staff,
disposable
masks
available
to
all
students
and
staff.
I
want
to
thank
the
teachers.
I
want
to
thank
the
staff.
I
want
to
thank
the
school
leaders.
A
I
want
to
thank
the
superintendent
brenda
casilia,
so
I
want
to
thank
her
team
for
for
moving
our
district
along.
This
is
a
a
big
step
for
us.
The
positivity
rate
is
in
the
right
place,
we're
seeing
the
trends
and
going
in
the
right
direction.
So
getting
our
kids
in
school
now
is
the
next
important
step
that
we
can
have
for
the
education
for
our
children.
A
This
timeline
is
for
students
who
have,
and
parents
who
have
opted
in
to
hybrid
learning,
to
send
their
kids
to
school.
As
a
reminder,
families
have
the
choice
of
continuing
to
go
all
remote.
I
also
want
to
mention
that
registration
for
the
2021-2022
school
year
is
open.
Families
can
still
register
online
or
in
person
sorry
online
or
by
phone.
A
In
addition,
the
boston
public
school
welcome,
centers
in
dorchester,
east
boston.
Roslindale
will
be
open
next
monday
march,
1st
for
in-person
appointments.
So
we're
going
to
ask
you
to
the
staff,
will
be
available
to
answer
questions
for
families
and
about
how
to
register
and
any
questions
that
you
have
any
parents
or
any
students
or
anybody
that
has
questions
about
schools,
go
to
bostonpublicschools.org
to
make
an
appointment
or
find
out
what
we
need
again.
A
I
want
to
thank
everyone
for
their
patience
and
cooperation
throughout
this
process,
as
we
work
to
bring
our
students
back
into
the
classroom
safely,
we're
looking
forward
to
welcoming
many
more
of
our
students
back
into
our
buildings
next
week,
and
I've
spent
a
lot
of
time
watching
the
news
and
seeing
a
lot
of
people
giving
their
opinion
on
school
should
be
open.
Schools
shouldn't
be
open.
This
is
a
very
slow
process.
This
is
a
process
that
we're
being
very
cautious
about
every
decision
we
base
is
updates
off
of
public
health
and
marty.
A
A
As
far
as
vaccines
goes,
we
continue
to
work
with
the
state
on
the
rollout
right
now.
Adult
65
and
older
plus
adults
with
two
underlying
health
conditions
are
eligible
to
get
vaccinated,
both
residents
and
staffs
of
seniors
in
disabled
housing.
Builders
buildings
are
eligible
for
on-site
vaccination.
The
boston
housing
authority
is
working
closely
with
the
city
and
the
state
to
set
up
on-site
clinics
for
residents
of
public
housing
who
are
elderly
or
disabled.
A
In
addition,
everyone
in
phase
one
continues
to
be
eligible.
If
you
have
not
been
vaccinated
yet
including
healthcare
workers,
first
responders
and
residents
and
staff
in
long-term
care
care
and
congregate
care
settings,
a
full
update
of
schedule
is
go
to
mass.gov
covet
vaccine,
that's
mass.gov,
covet
vaccine.
A
A
We
have
worked
with
the
state
to
get
the
reggie
lewis
center
vaccine
clinic
up
and
running.
This
was
an
important
step
in
increasing
equity
in
statewide
vaccine
rollout.
I
want
to
give
marty
martinez
a
shout
out
here
as
well,
who
worked
hard
on
on
making
sure
that
reggie
lewis
got
open
and
some
of
the
other
sites
that
we're
working
on
now
the
state
is
taking
over
operations
of
the
razor
lewis
today
and
will
soon
become
a
massive
vaccination
site.
A
I
again
thank
marty
and
his
team
and
all
the
city
of
boston
people,
folks
and
the
volunteers
who
worked
tirelessly
to
get
this
clinic
started.
It
certainly
was
a
truly
team
effort,
we'll
continue
to
hold
appointments
at
reggie
lewis
center
to
for
outreach,
organizing
serving
communities
of
color
and
other
vulnerable
populations
moving
forward,
we'll
continue
to
hold
50
of
those
appointments
for
that
purpose.
So
we
do
have
opportunities
in
this
individuals,
even
though
it's
turned
into
a
regional
center
to
be
able
to
take
care
of
folks
from
the
city
of
boston.
A
A
We
will
also
provide
help
in
multiple
languages
and
we're
also
going
to
help
other
residents
eligible
for
the
vaccine
through
community
organizations
and
programs
and
whether
it's
a
reminder,
another
reminder,
excuse
me-
is
veterans,
55
or
older
and
enrolled
in
va
healthcare
system.
The
va
healthcare
system
can
get
vaccinated.
Any
va
healthcare
facility
in
boston
for
veterans,
more
information,
boston,
boston.va.gov.
A
The
supply
of
vaccines
will
continue
to
be
the
major
factor
in
determining
access,
as
we
continue
to
move
forward
here.
But
we
do
have
multiple
vaccination
sites
operating
across
the
city
of
boston,
for
information,
about
vaccine
access
in
boston,
including
maps
to
the
site
go
to
boston.gov,
covid19
vaccine,
that's
boston.gov,
covid19
vaccine
and
any
information.
One
of
the
best
place
to
go
for
all
information
is
mass.gov
covert
vaccine
and
I'm
giving
you
a
lot
of
information.
If
you
go
to
the
homepage
of
city
of
boston,
you
go
to
homepage
estate.
A
I
want
to
just
also
announcement
today
which
I'm
happy
about
the
announcement
that
we
made
earlier
this
week.
The
latest
round
of
recommendations
to
the
community
preservation
fund,
the
city
along
with
the
community
preservation
committee,
is
recommending
67
projects
totaling
over
25.5
million
dollars
in
grants.
A
A
A
Over
the
past
few
years,
we've
been
able
to
see
these
projects
in
action
from
hyde
park
to
roxbury,
to
charlestown,
I've
seen
the
teamwork
and
the
neighborhood
pride
and
the
benefits
that
they'll
bring
for
communities
for
years
to
come.
Investing
in
and
protecting
the
past
present
and
future
of
our
communities
is
what
the
cpa
is
all
about.
A
I
want
to
congratulate
all
of
the
organizations
who
were
selected
in
the
latest
rounds
of
funding,
and
I
want
to
thank
the
community
preservation
committee
and
all
of
our
partners
for
the
great
work
they've
done
and
continue
to
do.
I
look
forward
to
seeing
these
impacts
and
these
projects
will
have
in
the
different
neighborhoods
in
the
city
of
boston,
as
we
move
forward
here.
A
A
These
organizations
are
working
to
provide
food,
public
health
resources
and
other
basic
needs
for
boston's
residents.
Our
city
launched
the
boston
residency
fund
almost
a
year
ago,
in
march
of
2020.,
when
covet
hit.
We
knew
we
were
not
only
dealing
with
a
pandemic
in
health
in
health
crisis,
but
we're
also
dealing
with
an
economic
crisis.
A
People
were
out
of
work,
families
struggling
to
get
food
and
access
and
other
important
resources
front
line
workers
needed
to
help
with
their
children.
There
were
families
dealing
with
trauma,
they
needed
direct
and
immediate
relief
and
organizations
that
serve
them
were
hit
hard
as
well
by
this
pandemic
by
losing
funding.
A
At
the
same
time,
we're
seeing
incredible
acts
of
kindness
and
generosity
all
across
the
city
of
boston
people
who
wanted
to
help
in
any
way
they
could
to
ease
the
burden
of
their
fellow
bostonians
with
the
efforts
of
a
bunch
of
people.
But
in
two
in
particular,
I
want
to
give
a
shout
out
to
one
is
jack,
connors
and
jeff
lydon
from
vertec
pharmaceutical.
A
A
A
Our
health
centers
were
able
to
step
up
in
a
big
way
because
of
this
funding
to
be
able
to
open
testing
facilities
all
across
the
city
of
boston
when
we
need
it,
the
most
the
boston
business
fund
has
made
a
big
difference
in
the
lives
of
so
many
people
to
all
the
organizations
who
have
worked
with
us
in
this
fund.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
for
your
partnership
to
everyone
who
donated
in
this
fund
from
the
large
corporations
in
the
city
of
boston,
to
somebody
who
gave
five
dollars.
A
I
want
to
say
thank
you
for
your
generosity
to
jack
connors
and
jeff
lydon.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
you
as
well
for
doing
this
and
not
asking
for
any
credit
or
anything
like
that.
Just
getting
this
fund
started
to
our
team
here
at
city
hall,
coordinate
the
fund,
especially
casey
brock,
wilson
and
rachel
goldstein.
Thank
you
for
your
leadership
in
putting
together
all
of
these
meetings
and
getting
this
money
out
the
door
quickly
to
everyone
from
the
bottom
of
my
heart.
A
A
I
know
that
boston
will
keep
the
spirit
of
generosity
and
compassion
going
long
after
this
pandemic
is
over
and
we'll
be
a
better
and
stronger
city
for
it,
and
I
just
want
to
before
I
turn
over
money
and
my
teams.
I
just
want
to
say
to
everyone:
do
me
a
favor.
Please
wear
your
masks
wash
your
hands.
A
As
I
said
earlier,
we
haven't
seen
a
3.9
percent
infection
rate
in
the
city
of
boston
since
last
october,
and
at
that
point
we
were
hoping
we
wouldn't
see
it
ever
go
up
again
and
over
the
last
four
months
we've
seen
these
numbers
go
really
high.
The
last
three
months
I
should
say
see
the
numbers
go
really
high.
We
don't
need
to
see
that
a
reoccurrence
of
that
we
are
moving
forward.
Let's
move
forward
together
and
with
caution,
and
with
that
I'll
turn
over
to
marty
martinez,
to
say
a
few
words.
B
Thank
you
mayor
and
before
I
just
offer
a
couple
thoughts
about
the
vaccine.
I
just
can't
help
but
share
my
appreciation
of
all
those
who
supported
the
resiliency
fund
and
what
the
resiliency
fund
has
been
able
to
do
in
the
community.
Everything
around
testing
everything
around
awareness
building
outreach,
the
the
fund
has
made
things
happen
that
would
not
have
otherwise
happened
during
covet.
B
So
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
mayor
and
all
those
who
supported
the
resiliency
fund
a
couple
quick
things
about
the
vaccine
that
I
just
want
to
make
sure
folks
know
as
we
continue
our
work
as
the
state
state
mentioned.
As
the
mayor
mentioned,
the
state
will
take
over
the
reggie
lewis
center
today,
but
again
the
city
was
able
to
lift
up
the
reggie
lewis
center
vaccination
site
to
create
local
access
in
roxbury
quickly,
and
I
think
that
was
important.
B
We
vaccinated
close
to
4
000
people
were
vaccinated
at
the
reggie
lewis
center
45
percent
of
folks
vaccinated.
There
were
people
of
color
and
55
percent
of
folks
vaccinated.
There
were
bostonians
and
the
neighborhood
that
had
the
largest
single
number
of
people
was
roxbury.
So
it
was
really
really
important
for
the
city
to
put
resources
in
to
make
sure
that
we're
creating
access
locally
and
that's
what
we
tried
to
do
there
and
we're
eager
to
partner
with
the
state
and
their
efforts
there.
B
As
the
mayor
mentioned,
we'll
have
50
set
aside
slots
and
we'll
continue
to
do
that,
but
they'll
be
able
to
grow
this
site
quickly,
which
is
great
yeah.
This
weekend,
for
example,
they'll
be
able
to
vaccinate
close
to
sixteen
hundred
people
at
the
reggie
lewis
center
getting
started,
which
is
really
important
as
they
boost
up
the
daily
numbers
there
so
we'll
be
creating
local
access
on
the
ground
and
we're
happy
to
be
able
to
do
that.
B
I
also
had
the
privilege
yesterday
to
be
able
to
go
visit,
a
site,
a
vaccination
site
in
the
community,
a
partnership
between
boston,
medical
center,
the
greater
roslindale
community
health
center,
the
y
in
hyde
park,
which
is
a
small
vaccination
site.
But
again
it's
creating
local
access
on
the
ground.
They're
vaccinating
about
100
people
per
day
there,
and
it's
really
great
to
see
the
work
that
bmc's
doing
on
that.
B
Ems
is
partnering
with
them
to
start
that
pilot
and
to
continue
to
expand
that
so
the
city
under
the
state's
leadership
and
the
state
oversees.
This
work
is
continuing
to
make
sure
that
boston's
needs
are
met,
and
we
will
continue
to
do
that
along
the
way.
So
with
that
I'll
open
it
up
to
see
if
there's
any
questions
related
to
covid
or
the
vaccine
at
this
point
I'll
open
it
up
great
job.
B
Yeah,
so
the
question
is:
we
can
talk
a
little
bit
about
the
mobile
program.
I
mean
the
goal
is
to
be
able
to
create
mobile
access
of
first
to
be
able
to
bring
one
day,
small
vaccination
clinics
on
site
to
locations
where
we
want
to
create
that
access
our
senior
buildings,
our
buildings
with
people
with
disabilities.
That's
part
of
a
group
that
just
became
eligible,
and
so
we
want
to
make
sure
that
we
can
do
that.
So
we're
working
in
partnership
to
be
able
to
create
that
on-site
access.
It's
complicated.
B
You
have
to
have
doses,
you
have
to
be
able
to
store
them.
You
have
to
be
able
to
make
sure
that
you
have
pharmacy
a
pharmacist
who
can
do
the
legwork
and
make
sure
you
have
someone
who
can
monitor
folks,
because
for
those
folks
who've
been
vaccinated.
You
know
you
wait
15,
maybe
30
minutes
to
be
observed,
and
we
need
to
make
sure
that
can
happen
so
that
mobile
effort
is
already
starting.
B
We're
going
to
pilot
that
the
goals
to
start
the
next
week,
but
again,
what
we're
trying
to
do
is
create
more
of
that
access.
It's
also
part
of
our
effort
to
make
sure
we
can
not
only
have
sites
across
the
city.
We
have
right
now
almost
20
sites
across
boston
where
people
can
get
vaccinated
if
they're
eligible,
but
we
also
want
to
create
really
smaller
one-day
sort
of
places
and
the
mobile
team
is
going
to
be
a
huge
part
of
that.
B
So
the
initial
mobile
team
effort
that
we're
looking
at
is
in
partnership
with
boston
ems,
so
boston
ems
will
partner
with
us
to
be
able
to
do
that
to
be
able
to
create
that
on-site
access.
Some
of
our
community
health
centers,
are
also
exploring
those
mobile
options
and
we're
eager
to
support
them
to
be
able
to
do
that.
Yes,.
B
Yeah,
so
the
question
is:
are
we
looking
at
any
outdoor
mobile
sites
and
and
that's
definitely
a
part
of
it
right?
I
mean
we're
not
quite
there
weather-wise
yet
where
we
want
to
create
outdoor
locations,
but
it's
definitely
part
of
the
the
larger
piece.
What
we
want
to
be
able
to
do
around
vaccines
is
not
only
have
these
fixed
locations
which
are
super
important
pharmacies,
community
health,
centers,
our
mass
vaccination
sites,
but
also
to
have
places
where
we
can
bring
the
vaccine.
So
we
have
looked
at
potentially
parks.
We've
looked
at.
B
You
know,
courtyards
of
buildings,
to
really
try
to
do
that.
However,
we
have
to
make
sure
the
doses
are
available.
So
right
now
doses
aren't
available
for
that.
There's
not
enough
eligibility
yet
for
people,
but
it's
part
of
our
goal
to
be
able
to
bring
that
on
site,
but
again
we're
working
through
the
state's
sort
of
leadership
around
this
making
sure
we
can
create
local
access.
B
I'm
sorry
say
it
again
for
both
mobile
programs
and
also
yeah.
So
the
timeline
question
on:
what's
the
timeline
for
a
mobile
operation,
I
mean
we
are
planning
to
start
a
mobile
on-site
vaccination
at
a
building.
The
goal
is
to
do
that
next
week,
again,
it's
all
dependent
on
have
getting
doses
sort
of
assigned
to
that
through
the
state,
but
we
believe
we'll
be
able
to
do
that.
We
actually
also
are
starting.
B
Actually
this
weekend,
the
bha
at
the
boston
housing
authority
will
have
three
different
buildings
where
a
pharmacy
will
come
in
and
vaccinate
on
site
this
weekend
as
well.
So
we're
already
getting
started
on
that
the
mobile
in
a
external
outside
location.
That's
several
weeks
away.
We
want
to
have
a
lot
of
eligibility
before
we
do
something
like
that.
But
again,
that's
several
weeks
away.