►
From YouTube: COVID-19 Media Availability 3-1-21
Description
Mayor Walsh hosts a media availability to discuss updates relating to COVID-19.
To view this event with sign language interpretation, please visit:
https://youtu.be/5idBlNKXCF0
A
Just
got
a
call
just
now
that
they
couldn't
make
it,
so
we
will
be
broadcasting
the
press
conference
a
little
later
and
today
I
want
to
going
to
provide
an
update
on
covet
update,
along
with
testing
and
vaccine
resources,
that
we
have
also
I'm
going
to
talk.
Talk
about
boston's
approach
to
the
new
steps
in
the
state's
reopening
plan,
as
well
as
school.
Reopening
and
outdoor
dining
here
in
boston.
A
Chief
martinez
will
also
provide
more
public
health
information
and
take
any
questions
regarding
public
health
questions.
The
state
numbers
reported
as
of
yesterday
sunday,
one
thousand
four
hundred
and
twenty
eight
new
confirmed
cases
of
covert
19
52
confirmed
covet
debts
in
the
commonwealth,
bringing
the
death
total
in
the
carmel
to
massachusetts.
A
A
A
A
The
average
daily
positive
test
rate
was
3.5
percent,
our
case
metrics
leveled
off
and
even
ticked
upward,
a
little
bit
in
the
last
few
days
of
data.
We're
not
really
seeing
a
big
trend
here,
but
we
did
see
the
numbers
go
up
a
bit
from
the
previous,
I
believe,
last
three,
three
and
a
half
weeks.
It's
not
a
cause
for
concern,
but
it's
a
good
reminder
not
to
take
the
positive
trend
that
we've
been
seeing
for
granted.
A
A
I'm
asking
again
people
please
wear
masks
with
that
makes
kind
of
snug
to
your
face,
a
good
fit,
whether
you
wear
one
or
two
masks,
make
sure
that
they're
the
tight
fit
on
the
sides
of
your
face.
So
now
we're
taking
this
a
little
further
when
it
comes
to
the
mask,
I
think
it's
really
important
as
we
try
to
battle
this
virus
back,
we're
asking
continue
to
wash
your
hands
frequently
frequently
with
soap
and
warm
water
as
often
as
possible
or
anytime.
You
touch
a
surface.
A
A
We
also
have
we
have
25
test
sites
throughout
the
city
of
boston.
We
we
have
been
saying
now
for
quite
a
bit.
We've
been
continued
to
support
our
mobile
testing
sites
that
are
free
and
open
to
all,
regardless
of
symptom.
I
can
announce
today
that
our
mobile
testing
sites
will
continue
operation
through
at
least
the
month
of
march.
A
Right
just
as
a
reminder.
Our
mobile
testing
sites
are
in
jamaica,
plain
at
the
anna
cole
community
center
in
the
mildred
haley
apartments
in
hyde
park
at
the
boston
renaissance
charter,
school
parking
lot
in
deutsche
at
the
stream
theater
and
prince
hall,
grand
lodge
for
more
information
about
accessing
these
sites
and
others
testing
locations
in
the
city.
You
can
visit
boston.gov
or
call
311..
A
We
continue
to
work
with
the
state
on
the
vaccine,
rollout
right
now,
adults,
65
years
old
and
older
and
adults
with
two
underlying
health
conditions
are
eligible
to
get
vaccinated,
as
well
as
everyone
eligible
in
phase
one
in
boston.
We
currently
have
17
vaccination
sites
that
are
open
to
all
eligible
residents.
A
We
are
proud
of
the
equitable
access
we've
been
able
to
provide
to
city
residents,
especially
at
the
reggie
lewis.
Center.
Over
the
weekend
we
held
the
black
history
month
event
on
site
to
promote
vaccine
access
and
help
equity.
It
was
sponsored
by
our
community
organizations
like
the
black
boston,
covid
coalition.
A
I
also
want
to
thank
our
city
and
boston
black
employee
network
for
distributing
covid
care
kits
there.
On
the
weekend
this
weekend
alone,
sixteen
hundred
people
were
vaccinated
at
the
reggie
lewis,
moving
forward
we're
going
to
continue
to
hold
fifty
percent
of
the
slots
eligible
for
people
of
color
working
through
community
health,
centers
and
city
agencies.
A
We're
also
going
to
continue
to
provide
access
for
vulnerable
residents
who
may
face
any
barriers
in
boston
over
100
senior,
affordable
housing
buildings
will
be
vaccinating
residents,
staff
on
site
and
some
have
already
begun.
We
talked
about
it
today
on
our
morning,
call
to
make
sure
that
we
get
good
setups
in
those
places
to
get
people
vaccinated.
A
This
friday,
we're
launching
a
mobile
vaccination
pilot
clinic
at
the
martin
luther
king
towers
in
roxbury,
and
more
clinics
will
be
offered
at
additional
developments
next
week.
So
we're
going
to
continue
to
to
move
move
our
vaccine
program
as
quickly
as
possible
so
that
we
can
get
more
and
more
of
that,
as
we
get
more
and
more
vaccinations
here
in
the
state
in
the
city,
we
want
to
get
them
out
to
people
as
soon
as
possible.
A
A
Boston
residents,
65
years
old
and
older,
can
call
3-1-1
to
get
connected
to
the
city's
age,
strong
commission
to
help
and
we
have
help
in
multiple
languages.
So
if
you
live
in
the
city
of
boston
and
you
want
to
get
vaccinated
and
you're
65
and
older
and
you're
having
a
hard
time
accessing
the
computer,
we
want
you
to
call
three
on
one.
Anyone
who's
watching
this
that
does
not
live
in
the
city
of
boston.
A
A
We're
asking
you
to
go
to
mass
dot,
gov,
slash,
cobit
vaccine,
that's
mass
dot,
gov,
slash
covert
vaccine.
The
state
also,
as
I
mentioned,
has
a
vaccine
schedule
resource
available
at
two
on
one.
So
if
you,
if
you're
not
calling
from
the
city
of
boston
or
even
the
city,
you
can
call
two
on
one.
But
our
call
take
us
here
we'll
help
you
and
help
ease
the
burden.
A
bit
from
the
state
for
more
information
about
sites
in
boston.
A
A
We
follow
carefully
the
local
case,
data
and
public
health
guidance,
and
we
take
an
approach
that
fits
our
unique
qualities
as
a
large,
mostly
dense
city.
So
today
march,
first,
we
are
moving
forward
with
up
to
fifty
percent
maximum
capacity
that
many
of
our
indoor
businesses,
including
gyms
museums,
offices,
movie,
theaters,
hotels
and
stores.
A
We
are
moving
forward
to
allow
the
use
of
fitting
rooms
and
retail
stores
and
we
are
lifting
the
capacity
limit
at
restaurants
while
requiring
six
feet
of
space
between
tables,
six
maximum
per
table
and
a
90
minute
limit
on
seating.
So
we
still
asking
restaurants
to
make
sure
there's
space
inside
the
restaurant
and
we
have
not
increased
the
six
people
at
a
table.
At
this
point-
and
I
know
restaurants
want
that,
but
just
be
patient
with
us-
we
will
get
there.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
the
numbers
are
safe
before
we
do
that.
A
What
we're
not
moving
forward
with
is
live
music
in
restaurants
until
at
least
march
22nd.
We
are
not
opening
indoor
performance
venues
like
concert
halls
and
theaters
until
at
least
march
22nd,
and
we
are
not
opening
higher
contact.
Indoor
recreation,
like
roller
skating,
laser
tag
until
at
least
march
22nd
on
those
steps
as
well
as
phase
four,
we
will
be
moving
forward
on
march
22nd
if
our
cases
and
data
of
public
health
guidance
supports
that.
A
I
just
want
everyone
to
understand
that
we
are
committed
to
the
an
economic
recovery,
that's
strong
for
boston
and
at
the
same
time,
keeping
people
safe
and
continuing
to
slow
the
virus
must
be
our
top
and
first
priority.
As
always,
economic
recovery
depends
on
your
public
health
progress.
That's
how
we'll
move
forward.
A
A
A
We're
opening
up
the
governor's
opening
up,
we're
trying
to
open
up
more
businesses,
we're
trying
to
get
fans
in
the
stands
at
fenway
and
the
garden
we're
trying
to
do
that.
But
events
like
st
patrick's
day
and
weekends,
like
st
patrick's
day,
can
throw
us
back.
They
can
become
super
spreader
events
and
we
could
be
in
a
situation
where
we're
shutting
everything
down
again.
A
A
A
A
If
you
remember
back
to
this
time
last
year
it
was
at
the
beginning
of
the
pandemic,
and
we
had
lines
on
a
friday
night,
st
patrick's
day
weekend
we
had
lines
up
and
down
different
streets
in
south
boston,
other
parts
of
neighborhood
and
the
restaurants
took
it
upon
themselves
to
shut
down
on
st
patrick's
day.
They
lost
business
that
day.
What
we
don't
want
to
see
is
restaurants
lose
business
this
year.
A
Also
we're
incredibly
grateful
for
our
restaurants.
We
know
what
a
struggle
has
been
for
them
this
past
year.
It's
probably
many
people
have
put
their
life
savings
into
opening
restaurants
and
they're
on
the
verge
of
losing
their
like,
not
just
their
restaurant,
but
their
life
savings.
But
we
do
have
some
good
news
as
spring
approaches.
A
A
A
The
program
was
made
stronger
by
community
input,
so
we
welcome
community
conversation.
The
online
application
has
been
live
since
december.
10Th
and
we've
already
received
over
370
applications
with
more
than
150
already
approved
here
in
the
city.
Applications
moving
forward
will
be
reviewed
by
a
rolling
basis.
A
You
can
learn
more
or
submit
an
application
to
boston.gov
2021
outdoor
dining
today
also
is
another
another
positive,
bright
light
in
the
city
of
boston.
The
boston
public
schools
welcomed
all
students
in
pre-kindergarten
through
third
grade
back
in
person
learning
in
the
classroom.
If
their
families
decided
to
opt
in,
they
joined
the
high
priority
students
who
have
been
in
school
since
the
fall
we'll
continue
to
bring
students
back
safely
into
our
schools.
A
This
morning
I
was
at
the
martin
luther
king
k-8
school
in
dorchester
to
welcome
young
students
back
into
the
building.
It
was
exciting
to
see
that,
and
it
was,
it
was
great
to
see
the
little
faces,
smiling
and
happy.
They
were
full
of
full
energy
and
they
just
wanted
to
talk,
and
I
had
a
chance
to
walk
around
and
I
thank
the
teachers.
I
thank
the
staff.
I
thank
the
principal
I
thank
the
custodians.
A
I
think
the
food
service
workers,
I
think
all
the
people
that
have
been
working
entirely
throughout
this
pandemic,
not
complaining
about
it,
just
just
doing
their
job,
so
I
want
to
thank
them
for
their
work.
I
also
want
to
thank
the
parents
and
guardians
and
teachers
for
all
of
all
of
the
work
that
you've
done
over
this
last
year.
I
know
it's
been
challenging.
A
It's
been
challenging
to
quite
honestly
everyone,
so
I
just
want
to
say
it
was
great
to
see
the
kids
come
back
and
I
want
to
give
a
special
shout
out
to
our
bus
drivers
and
transportation
staff
for
their
strong
performance
today.
Most
of
the
buses
are
on
time.
I
know
that
it's
going
to
be
a
little
tricky
as
we
get
moving
forward
here,
because
we
haven't
run
the
citywide
buses
in
a
while.
So
I
just
want
to
thank
the
bus
drivers
as
well
for
all
of
your
great
work.
A
I
want
to
thank
everyone
who
worked
to
prepare
our
classrooms
to
the
highest
safety
and
standard
anywhere
in
the
country.
So
thank
you
for
that.
In
addition
to
all
the
work
on
spacing
and
air
quality,
we
are
moving
forward
with
our
pooled
covert
testing
for
students
whose
families
consent
it's
a
good
system
for
prevent,
preventing
the
spread
of
the
virus,
and,
as
we
move
forward
we're
going
to
take
every
opportunity
we
can
to
keep
our
school
community
safe
and
open.
A
Finally,
today
is
the
beginning
of
women's
history
month
in
boston.
We
certainly
believe
in
empowering
women
and
protecting
all
of
their
rights.
That's
been
a
hallmark
of
my
administration
and
something
that
we're
really
proud
of
here
this
month
is
an
opportunity
to
celebrate
everything
that
women
do
for
our
city,
especially
during
this
last
difficult
year.
Women
in
city,
government
and
throughout
our
communities
have
led
in
many
of
the
most
important
responses
here
in
boston
from
health
care
to
food
access
to
housing,
support
to
education.
A
A
We
have
a
range
of
events
planned
for
women's
history
month
through
our
office
of
women's
advancement
and
our
executive
director
alex
valdez
is
leading
leading
the
way
in
the
city.
We
can
learn
more
by
going
to
boston.gov
women
to
find
more
about
women's
history
month
and
with
that,
I'm
going
to
turn
the
floor
over
to
marty
martinez,
to
talk
a
little
more
about.
B
B
That's
over
a
week
ago,
so
likely
many
more
included
in
there
and
about
of
those
folks
about
42
percent
of
shots
have
gone
into
the
arms
of
people
of
color
here
in
the
city
of
boston,
which
continues
to
be
an
important
piece
of
our
work
to
make
sure
that
we
create
equitable
access
to
the
vaccine
in
communities
of
color.
We
will
release
and
share
more
information
our
goals,
to
release
it
weekly
and
to
examine
that
data.
B
That
data
will
include
neighborhood-based
data
and
age-based
data
as
well,
which
will
help
us
understand
where
we're
making
progress
and
where
we
need
to
do
more
again.
The
mobile
effort
that
mayor
walsh
mentioned
we're
going
to
continue
to
bring
vaccines
to
people,
not
only
have
these
locations
across
the
city
which
are
important
but
ensure
that
we're
bringing
vaccines
to
locations.
So
we
were
able
to
do
that
this
weekend
in
partnership
with
dha
and
the
independent
mass
association
of
pharmacies.
But
ems
will
do
that
this
friday
as
well
to
pilot
that
effort.
B
But
our
goal
will
be
to
use
our
four
approaches
that
we've
laid
out:
mass
vaccination
sites,
priority
group
clinics,
community-based
clinics
open
to
anyone
eligible
and
then
our
mobile
effort,
which
will
be
again
bringing
clint
vaccinations
to
people
as
they
become
eligible.
So
again,
we're
going
to
continue
our
work
across
and
make
sure
that
we
can
get
folks
vaccinated.
B
We
were
excited
to
hear
j
j,
get
approval,
emergency
use
approval
which
will
help
bring
more
vaccine
into
massachusetts
into
boston
and
create
more
access
across
our
community,
so
we're
eager
to
see
that
roll
out
over
the
next
couple
weeks.
So
with
that
I'll
open
it
up
to
any
coved
specific
questions
that
people
may.
A
B
Yeah,
so
the
questions
about
social
distancing
in
our
schools
and
having
the
ability
to
maintain
that
six
feet
of
distance
boston.
Public
schools
worked
with
boston
public
health
commission
to
sort
of
look
school
by
school,
to
be
able
to
figure
out
the
the
make
the
best
way
to
ensure
that
the
number
of
students
that
were
being
invited
in
could
be
spaced
out
by
desks
and
space,
and
it's
a
it
takes
some
real
work.
Right
I
mean
some
of
our
buildings
are
smaller.
B
Some
of
them
are
larger,
but
again
the
we
have
the
capacity
based
on
sort
of
the
formula
that
we've
worked
through
with
bps
to
ensure
that
students
can
socially
distant.
It's
not
just
about
the
physical
space,
but
it's
also
about
doing
everything
we
can
for
young
ones
to
stay
separated,
which
is
part
of
the
challenge.
B
B
Yeah,
the
question
is:
when
do
we
expect
johnson
johnson
to
arrive
and
and
what
quantity?
Obviously,
all
of
that
is
in
partnership
with
the
state
and
the
state
sort
of
leads
that
effort,
the
state's
communicated
they
think
it'll
be
within
the
next
two
weeks
or
so
you'll
start
to
see
johnson
johnson
come
into
bo
into
massachusetts
and
into
boston.
We
also
believe
our
pharmacies
will
be
one
of
the
first
locations
where
we'll
start
to
see
johnson
johnson.
B
I
think
it's
super
important
for
for
bostonians
to
remember
it's
one
shot,
which
is
great,
creates
a
lot
of
access.
It's
been
a
proven
100
percent
effective
in
preventing
death
and
serious
hospitalization,
and
that's
what
we're
trying
to
do
so
to
add.
Another
vaccine
to
the
other
two
vaccines
already
approved,
are
going
to
help
us
continue
to
slow
the
spread.
So
we're
really
eager
about
that
and
eager
to
see
it
included
with
that.
Thank
you.
So.