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From YouTube: COVID-19 Media Availability
Description
Mayor Martin J. Walsh hosts a media availability to discuss updates related to COVID-19.
A
I
want
to
say
good
afternoon,
everyone
here
today
again,
I
want
to
thank
the
media,
who
plays
an
important
role
in
getting
current
and
accurate
information
out
to
the
public.
The
coronavirus
is
one
of
the
greatest
public
health
challenges
that
our
city
has
ever
faced.
As
of
today,
we
have
33
confirmed
cases
with
Boston
residents.
We
expect
those
numbers
to
climb.
Our
primary
objective
right
now
is
to
slow
the
spread
and
flatten
out
the
curve,
so
that
Medical
Center's
don't
get
overwhelmed.
A
This
strategy
is
crucial
to
helping
our
most
vulnerable
residents
and
make
sure
that
we
can
rebound
from
this
as
soon
as
possible.
I
also
want
to
thank
today
we
had
a
briefing
with
the
Boston
City
Council
this
morning
and
members
of
the
Boston
delegation
of
the
legislature,
as
well
as
some
of
the
constitutional
officers.
The
city
has
taken
bold
steps,
we're
declaring
a
public
health
emergency
yesterday.
A
As
you
all
know,
the
st.
Patrick's
Day
Parade
was
canceled.
For
yesterday
the
Boston
Marathon's
been
postponed.
We
are
closing
Boston
Public
Schools,
effective
tomorrow,
kids
were
in
school
today,
picking
up
supplies
for
the
closing
of
the
school
last
night,
governor
Baker
announced
the
schools
will
be
closing
statewide
and
that
restaurants
will
be
take
out
only
and
that
gatherings
are
more
than
25
people
are
not
allowed.
A
The
state
also
announced
that
it
will
reduce
the
MBTA
and
commuter
rail
service,
starting
tomorrow,
complete
information
on
all
of
that
information
can
be
found
on
the
MBTA
site
at
MBH
MBTA
comm
today,
I
can
share
some
new
updates
relating
to
construction
activity
in
the
city
of
Boston
Boston
public
libraries
in
Boston
Santa
Fe
with
the
family
community
centers.
These
decisions
that
we
make
are
not
easy
but
they're
out
of
abundance
of
caution.
It's
about
protecting
the
worker
and
preventing
the
spread
of
the
coronavirus
effective
tomorrow,
Tuesday
March
17th.
A
We
are
suspending
all
regular
activity
on
construction
sites
in
the
city
of
Boston.
All
sites
should
maintain
the
crews
they
need
to
help,
keep
their
sites
safe
and
secure,
and
here's
what
I
mean
by
safe
and
secure
all
sites
need
to
be
safe
from
anyone
on
a
site
and
is
near
the
site.
Materials
need
to
be
secured
down
to
keep
them
from
blowing
away
in
the
wind
or
any
other
issue
that
might
happen,
and
securing
measures
will
should
be
taken
to
prevent
any
trespassing.
A
This
all
of
this
work
will
need
to
be
done
by
Monday
March
23rd,
so
it
allows
the
opportunity
to
to
finish
a
lot
of
this
work
this
week
after
the
sites
have
been
made
safe,
skeleton
crews
will
be
permitted
for
the
remainder
of
the
suspension
to
ensure
construction
and
construction
sites
remain
safe
and
secure.
I
encourage
smaller,
especially
construction
on
wood
frame,
to
have
security
on
their
projects,
to
protect
the
building
from
fires
and
other
potential
safety
issues.
The
only
work
that
we're
anticipating
right
now
moving
forward
in
the
city
will
be
emergency
work.
A
That
work
will
need
to
be
approved
by
the
city
of
Boston's,
a
special
service
department,
we're
going
to
prioritize
that
work
and
keep
our
neighborhood
safe.
The
work
that
we're
talking
about
generally
is
energy
Emergency,
street
repairs
and
utility
hookup
work.
I
want
to
remind
Boston
employers
that
were
in
a
robust
construction
market.
A
Boston
is
home
to
a
talented,
hard-working
construction
workforce
and
when
we
get
back
to
eat
back
to
work
as
usual,
employers
need
to
bring
these
workers
back,
and
the
right
thing
that
we
need
to
do
right
now
is
lay
them
off
and
not
fire
them.
This
is
something
that
we're
going
to
be
monitoring
literally
weeks
a
week
and
hopefully,
in
the
next
couple
weeks,
we'll
be
able
to
change
the
policy,
but
right
now
out
of
an
abundance
of
caution
for
the
workers
on
the
job
site
and
to
prevent
spreading
the
virus.
A
We
want
to
make
sure
those
workers
are
safe.
I
also
have
an
update
on
the
Boston
Public
Library
system.
All
branches
of
the
Boston
Public
Library
System
will
be
closed
as
of
today
at
6:00
p.m.
that
includes
Central
Library.
During
this
time,
we're
expanding
automatic
renewals
and
allowing
people
to
keep
their
books
and
other
materials
for
15
weeks
instead
of
the
usual
three
weeks,
we
are
waiving
all
late
fees.
Until
May
1st,
we
have
pushed
back
library
card
expiration
dates.
If
your
card
is
due
for
renewal,
you'll
have
until
October
to
renew
it.
A
We're
increasing
the
limits
on
act
on
fines,
for
if
your
account
is
blocked.
So
basically,
what
we're
doing
is
well
we're
lifting
a
lot
of
these
fines.
If
you,
if
you
cannot
get
onto
your
system,
you'll,
be
able
to
get
onto
your
system,
use
online
library
services
will
not
be
suspended
for
patrons
during
this
period.
A
We
know
how
important
library
resources
are
to
the
people
of
Boston,
especially
while
schools
are
closed
in
the
coming
days
and
weeks
will
increase
our
online
service,
including
ebooks,
downloadable
movies,
audiobooks
and
other
other
information
resources,
as
part
of
as
part
of
our
school
closure
plan.
We're
distributing
Chromebooks
to
every
student
who
needs
them,
as
we
will
be
encouraging
them
to
use
them
in
the
ptl's
vast
collection
of
resources
during
this
time,
so
they'll
be
able
to
use
them.
A
For
that,
this
is
a
difficult
decision,
because
a
lot
of
people
use
the
library
as
a
place
to
go
to
get
their
information
and
we're
not
taking
this
closure
lightly.
It
was
a
situation
that
we
decided
that
we
had
to
do
again
for
the
safety
of
workers
in
gathering
spaces.
I
also
have
an
update
for
RBC.
We
have
community
centers.
All
peace
who
have
pools
will
be
closed,
be
cyf,
gyms
and
fitness.
Centers
are
closed
and
as
of
on
wednesday,
all
Boston
Center
for
youth
and
family
programming
will
be
suspended.
A
A
We're
also
gonna
be
working
a
lot
of
street
workers
to
make
sure
that
we're
continue
working
in
our
Street
for
a
list
of
meal
distribution
locations
if
you're,
if
you're
a
parent
in
the
school
system
you
should
know
by
now,
but
in
case
you
don't
know,
go
to
Boston
Club
gov,
slash,
coronavirus,
boston,
god,
/
coronavirus
as
we
deal
with
the
immediate
businesses
of
keeping
people
healthy
and
safe
in
Boston,
we've
also
been
preparing
for
our
long-term
recovery
efforts.
There
is
no
doubt
that
the
coronavirus
will
have
long-term
impacts
on
our
community.
A
That's
why
we're
also
developing
a
comprehensive
plan
to
help
local
families
recover
in
the
weeks
and
months
ahead
today,
I'm
announcing
a
new
fund,
the
Boston
resiliency
fund,
this
effort
in
a
partnership
between
the
city
of
Boston
and
boss,
several
of
Boston's
leading
institutions
we've
been
overwhelmed
by
support.
This
fund
will
coordinate,
fundraising
and
philanthropic
efforts
to
help
Boston
families,
who
are
most
impacted
with
a
focus
on
child
care
and
seniors.
A
The
money
raised
will
go
directly
to
local
organization,
nonprofits
that
support
Boston's
families,
our
main
objectives
of
food
access
technology
to
support
at
home
learning.
For
our
students
and
support
for
our
healthcare
workers
and
first
responders,
including
child
care,
health
care
workers
are
crucial
to
our
recovery
efforts.
We
need
to
make
sure
that
they
can
stay
in
their
jobs
and
do
their
job.
A
One
of
the
biggest
needs
is
child
care
and
we're
using
this
fund
to
help
meet
that
need,
as
a
situation
develops,
will
continue,
identify
the
greatest
needs
and
make
sure
that
we're
supporting
the
people
who
need
it.
The
most
in
the
face
of
challenges
like
this
one
Boston
and
the
people
of
our
city
show
their
true
colors.
Every
day,
I've
seen
people
help
organizing
stepping
up
and
doing
the
right
thing.
I've
seen
incredible
acts
of
kindness
and
generosity.
A
This
fund
is
a
perfect
example
of
that
we
have
an
initial
goal
of
20
million
dollars
and
I'm,
confident
that
we'll
reach
that
goal
already,
some
of
Boston's
leading
institutions
and
companies
are
committed
to
the
fund
in
the
past
72
hours.
Those
who
have
contributed
a
million
dollars
or
more
include
Jeff
Laden
from
Varitek
pharmaceuticals
and
Co
Blonsky
at
Partners,
HealthCare,
Jack,
Connors,
Liberty,
Mutual,
Bain,
Capital,
the
grass
family
foundation,
MassMutual
statewide
and
John
and
Cindy
fish.
A
I'd
also
like
to
thank
folks
that
have
been
helping
us,
create
this
fund
and
set
this
fund
up
station
mcnaught
from
vertex
sharon,
McNally
from
camp
Harborview,
the
Shah
Family
Foundation
and
the
Boston
foundation,
and
many
members
of
the
team
here
at
City
Hall
we're
gonna
continue
to
share
updates
in
the
coming
days
and
weeks
ahead.
For
now,
if
you'd
like
to
donate,
please
go
to
Boston
gov,
slash,
Boston,
resiliency
fund,
that's
Boston,
gov,
slash,
Boston,
resiliency
fund.
Every
dollar
we
raise
will
make
our
city
more
resilient
and
will
help
our
cut
help.
A
Our
communities
recover
faster.
Every
dollar
we
raise
will
ensure
that
families
have
access
to
nutrition
and
nutritious
food.
It
will
help
ensure
that
every
student
has
access
to
quality
educational
material,
while
they're
learning
from
home.
It
will
ensure
that
our
hard-working
first
responders
and
medical
professionals
have
access
to
the
child
care
they
need
right
now.
This
is
one
of
the
best
ways
that
you
can
help.
Fellow
Bostonians
get
through
this
Boston
is
a
strong
and
resilient
city
full
of
strong
and
resilient
people.
A
We
look
out
for
one
another
and
when
a
challenge
arises,
we
rise
to
that
occasion
together.
I
want
to
thank
all
of
our
generous
partners
who
have
already
contributed
to
the
funds
and
thank
you
to
the
people
of
Boston
for
your
continued
patience,
understanding
and
support
during
these
very
important
times
as
a
reminder
for
more
information
about
closures
and
resources
to
the
city.
We're
asking
people
to
go
to
Boston
gov,
slash,
coronavirus
again,
I
want
to
remind
everyone
if
they
feel
sick
or
have
questions
about
testing
call
you
a
doctor
or
3-1-1
for
information.
A
We
will
have
increased
staffing
sighting
this
afternoon
on
our
three
one.
One
call
center.
This
is
a
citywide
effort
and
everyone's
doing
their
part.
I
want
to
thank
the
people
of
Boston
and
all
of
our
first
responders,
the
medical
staff,
all
of
our
educators
and
everyone
who's.
Making
a
difference
and
I
know
that
there's
a
lot
of
decisions
that
are
being
set
and
guess
and
triple
guessed,
but
every
decision
that
we're
making
here
in
the
city
of
Boston
is
to
make
sure
that
we
ensure
people
safety
and
we
prevent
the
spread
of
the
corona
virus.
A
The
question
is:
I'm
just
going
to
repeat
the
question
as
it
is,
but
cutting
service
on
the
EBT
will
that
increase
ridership
on
the
buses
in
trains?
That's
so
run,
I
think
the
best
way
to
answer
that
is
by
looking
at
Boston.
Today
many
people
are
working
from
home
where
they're
not
working
and
I
think
that
it
was
the
MBTA
I'm
expecting
a
seeing
decrease
in
ridership
across
the
board
and
I
think
over
the
next
couple
weeks
going
to
see
a
larger
decrease
of
ridership.
A
This
is
a
critical
time
for
us
right
now
to
prevent
the
spread
that
I
know.
The
numbers
have
gone
up
in
Boston
and
they've
gone
up
the
last
last
seven
days
every
day,
but
I
think
if
we
can
prevent
the
spread
from
happening
and
try
and
level
this
level
of
the
virus
off
we'll
be
in
a
better
position.
Long
term.
B
C
We
know
statewide,
as
of
this
morning,
there's
been
about
a
thousand
people
that
have
been
tested.
We
don't
necessarily
have
the
Boston
specific
numbers
of
who's
been
tested,
but
we
know
that's
happening.
We
know
the
state's
working
to
grow
its
capacity
every
single
day
and
we
believe
that
they'll
be
able
to
start
to
get
to
a
thousand
in
short
order
that
they'll
be
able
to
have
a
thousand
a
day.
The
private
firms
are
already
on,
so
people
can
also
get
tested
to
their
primary
care
physician
and
as
a
reminder
to
reiterate
the
mayor's
point.
C
A
C
State
Department
of
Public
Health
has
been
following
the
CDC's
guidelines.
Those
were
loosened
on
Friday.
Those
guidelines
used
to
be
pretty
restrictive.
You
had
to
be
it
had
to
be
out
of
travel
or
contact
with
someone
who
had
tested
positive.
That
has
since
been
expanded
to
a
variety
of
other
measures.
For
now,
most
people
in
categories
can
get
tested.
You
still
have
to
have
some
sort
of
risk
factor,
there's
trust
to
be
some
level
of
connection
to
either
someone
who
tested
positive
or
someone
else
who
is
at
risk
for
exposure.
C
But
again,
if
you
call
your
primary
care
provider
they're
following
the
state
guidelines
and
they
have
been
expanded,
which
is
why
the
state's
gone
from
I
think
I
had
I
think
475
tests
on
Sunday
to
know
over
a
thousand
as
of
today.
So
the
the
guidelines
have
gotten
broader
and
more
people
get
tested
in
short
order.
A
The
amount
of
testing
I
think
people
would
like
to
see
more
tests.
Clearly,
there's
no
question
about
that.
I
think
I
made
a
comment
yesterday
that
I'd
like
to
see
the
CDC
come
down
more
tests,
but
we're
being
told
that
this
week
we're
going
to
drastically
increase
the
number
of
tests
that
are
gonna
be
happening.
So
hopefully
we
can
get
ahead,
get
caught
up
on
that
when
I
say
we
I'm,
saying
collectively,
but
the
city
does
not
do
testing,
we
don't
have
the
ability
to
institute
testing
either.
B
A
I
think
the
question
is
what
can
with
all
the
hourly
workers
going
out
of
work?
What
can
the
city
do
we're
working
right
now
in
with
our
Economic
Development
Office,
to
see
exactly
how
we
can
be
assistance,
I
think?
Ultimately,
it's
going
to
be
there's
a
piece
of
legislation
coming
down
from
the
federal
government.
That's
going
to
have
to
have
some
some
recovery
options
for
salaried
workers.
A
Question
thank
you
for
asking
me
that
the
question
was:
are
we
prepared
to
handle
the
schools
being
out
tomorrow
and
our
families
prepared
for
it
I?
Think
that's
really.
One
of
the
things
that
we
tried
to
hold
out
on
is
is
closing
schools,
because
it
was
important
that
families
had
the
opportunity
to
go
to
work
and
not
have
to
make
arrangements,
and
you
know
we
gave
them
several
days
beforehand,
which
I
know
clearly
is
not
enough
for
a
lot
of
families.
A
I
would
say
one
thing:
I
would
ask
families
to
be
very
cautious
that
not
having
large
gatherings
of
young
people
together
I
mean
that
defeats
the
purpose
of
of
kind
of
keeping
this
spread
contained.
Also,
if
you
have
older
relatives
taking
care
of
those,
your
kids
be
cautious
of
that
as
well,
because
that's
something
that
you
know
we
want
to
keep
people
healthy
and
I.
A
A
The
money
that
that's
going
to
go
to
organizations
nonprofits
that
support
Boston's
families,
our
main
objective
right
now
and
we're
focused
right
now-
is
on
food
access
and
making
sure
that
we
have,
through
our
two
other
different
food
pantries
around
the
city,
to
make
sure
they
work
through
the
Greater,
Boston,
Food,
Bank
and
assisting
them
to
make
sure
we
have
enough
food
on
hand
technology
to
support
our
at
home
learning
for
our
students
so
purchasing.
We
purchase
additional
Chromebooks
to
make
sure
that
we're
able
to
do
that.
A
Any
other
costs
that
come
with
that
supports
for
our
healthcare
workers
and
first
responders,
including
child
care,
work
we're
working
right
now
with
Mass
General
Hospital
and
our
team
here
at
City
Hall
to
come
up
with
a
policy
and
a
procedure,
and
how
do
we
create
child
care
opportunities
for
first
responders
and
for
nurses
and
doctors?
That's
where
we're
beginning
with
this.
This
is
not
a
fund
that
can
be
good
that
can
be
applied
to
to
pay
rent
and
mortgage
and
bills.
That's
not
the
intent
of
this
fund.
A
The
intent
of
this
fund
is
to
support,
basically,
some
nonprofits
in
support
in
there
is
very
specific
areas.
A
lot
of
that
other
stuff
goes
back
to
a
question
asked
earlier
with
unemployment
things
like
that
that
those
relief
efforts
will
have
to
happen
at
a
national
level
state
level
and
in
some
cases,
city
level,.
A
Nasa
NASA
I,
don't
have
a
number
tens
of
thousands
I
mean
we're
in
we're
in
the
middle
of
a
boom
right
now-
and
you
know,
this
is
a
decision
that
today
is
a
difficult
position
to
me.
Just
like
all
the
other
decisions
we
made
on
the
day,
we
made
the
decision
that
were
difficult
and
then
a
few
days
ago
find
you
realize
it
really
wasn't
that
difficult
and
it's
something
that
you
know.
A
Construction
is
at
the
core
of
our
economy
here
in
Boston,
something
clearly
I
come
out
of
the
trades
I
was
I
was
a
construction
worker
myself.
This
is
something
I
very
personal
to
me
and
to
a
lot
of
us.
So
that's
why
you
know
out
of
abundance
of
caution,
we're
looking
at
you
know,
14
days
potentially,
and
then
we
revisit
it,
and
hopefully
they
could
be
the
first
workers
back
to
work,
but
again,
14
days
now
for
in
a
different
situation,
will
be
worrying
about
some
other
things.
A
Is
practice
community,
distancing,
I,
think
that
you
know
I've
seen
people
walking
today
and
people
walking
a
lot
of
them
by
themselves
and
if
you
go
for
a
walk,
that's
fine
stay
at
a
lodge
gatherings.
You
know,
as
chief
Martinez
talked
about
the
number
in
Boston's
33,
the
number
in
the
state
is
somewhere
in
the
hundred
and
sixty
mark.
A
You
look
at
some
other
other
countries
around
the
world
and
they
kind
of
they
got
to
a
too
late
and
and
what
they've
done
now
in
Italy,
for
all
intents
and
purposes,
the
entire
country
shut
down.
I
would
love
us
not
to
get
to
that
point
if
we
can
somehow
level
this
off,
but
by
by
working
closely
together,
we're
not
working
physically
closely
together,
but
working
closer
together.
Each
other
to
prevent
that
the
spread,
and
that
would
be
the
best
we
could
do.
A
Again,
I
think
I
think
it
comes
down
to
a
magnitude
of
capability
and
capacity.
I
mean
this
is
something
that,
as
we
said
a
month
ago,
none
of
us
are
talking
about
the
coronavirus
and,
a
month
later,
with
testing
people
and
figuring
it
out
and
I.
Think
I
think
as
time
goes
on
the
transparency
and
all
of
the
information
that
we
need
is
going
to
be
there.
A
So
me
I'd,
like
the
information
immediately
and
we
get
as
quickly
as
possible,
but
again
I
think
it
was
the
time
for
us
to
be
patient
1
to
each
other
and
moving
forward,
and
it's
not
the
time
I,
don't
in
my
opinion,
to
be
pointing
fingers
at
each
other.
You
know
the
community,
the
public
wants
information
and
they
want
it
and
I
think
as
quickly
as
we
get
the
information
we
should
get
out
to
people.
A
Was
the
city
prepared
for
this
as
well
as
it
could
be?
Nobody
can
be
prepared
for
this
you're
not
prepared
for
it.
We're
not
prepared
for
it
and
I.
Think
that
the
one
thing
that
in
in
saying
that
I
am
really
I
am
honored
by
the
people
that
work
for
the
city.
I
said
this
yesterday
that
have
spent
the
last
five
days,
16
or
20
hours
a
day
in
here
working
on
plans
putting
their
own
personal
family
aside
to
make
sure
the
people
at
Boston
put
first
and
I'm
so
proud
of
that.