►
From YouTube: COVID-19 Media Availability 1-5-21
Description
Mayor Walsh hosts a media availability to discuss updates relating to COVID-19. To view with sign language interpretation please visit:
https://youtu.be/e8dBu6K82u4
A
Thank
you
very
much.
I
want
to
apologize
again
today
that
we
don't
have
an
asl
interpreter.
One
wasn't
available
for
us
today,
so
we'll
have
interpretation
on
video
as
well
as
full
captioning
available
by
tomorrow.
Oh
hi
rita,
I'm
going
to
start
with
the
latest
covet
numbers
here
in
boston
in
massachusetts.
These
are
numbers.
As
of
yesterday,
4
358
new
confirmed
cases
in
the
commonwealth
of
massachusetts.
A
A
We
had
two
deaths
reported
yesterday,
bringing
our
death
total
in
the
city
to
1020.
People
have
lost
their
life,
our
prayers
go
out
to
the
families
who
have
lost
loved
ones,
and
also
our
prayers
go
out
to
the
families
who
are
fighting.
Their
loved
ones
are
fighting
particularly
anyone
who's
on
ventilators
right
now
in
the
boston
hospital
or
any
hospital
in
the
country.
A
Our
latest
complete
test
data
is,
for
the
week
ending
december
30th,
an
average
of
4
561
people
were
tested
each
day,
that's
down
compared
to
the
week
before
it's
down
about
22
percent.
The
reason
for
it
is
the
holiday
season.
Some
days
we
were
closed
and
a
lot
of
people
didn't
take
the
opportunity
to
get
tested
during
that
week.
A
This
does
not
include
college
testing,
as
I
always
say
so.
Our
testing,
when
I
report
here,
does
not
include
the
college
testing
the
average
number
of
positive
tests
each
day
for
boston
residents,
one
up
to
413,
that's
up
slightly
compared
to
the
week
before
about
three
percent
compared
to
the
week
before
our
current
community
positivity
rate
is
8.8
percent,
and
that
too,
is
up
from
the
week
before
about
2.3
percent
higher.
A
Dorchester
high
park,
east
boston
and
roxbury
are
the
neighborhoods
with
the
highest
positivity
rate.
Our
case
numbers
certainly
are
concerning,
as
I
just
mentioned
about.
If
we
took
more
tests,
we
would
have
higher
positivity
rates.
Our
hospital
numbers
are
also
up
higher
than
certainly
would
like
to
see
them.
93
percent
of
of
adult
non-surge
icu
beds
are
occupied.
This
is
the
highest
that
we've
seen
in
quite
some
time
here
in
the
city,
we're
in
constant
contact
with
the
hospitals,
and
we
just
need
to
continue
to
remind
everyone
to
do
your
part.
A
A
We'll
beat
this
thing
if
everyone
continues
to
buckle
down
as
far
as
in
in
mid-december,
I
announced
that
boston
would
temporarily
pause
our
reopening
and
move
back
to
a
modified
phase,
two
step
two
for
at
least
three
weeks
this.
This
was
an
effort
and
is
an
effort
to
slow
the
spread
to
protect
hospital
capacity
and
avoid
a
more
severe
shutdown.
A
A
The
following
activities
remain
closed
for
at
least
three
weeks,
and
this
is
a
list
that
I
certainly
don't
like
to
say
this,
but
we
have
to
do
this
because
of
where
we
are
at
the
virus.
Gyms
indoor,
fitness,
centers
health
clubs
will
stay
closed
for
general
use.
One-On-One
personal
training
sessions
are
allowed
movie,
theaters,
museums
and
aquariums
will
stay
closed.
A
Indoor
athletics
facilities
will
stay
closed,
except
for
youth
18
or
under
this
does
not
apply
to
college
or
pro
sports
indoor
pools
may
remain
openly
open
with
safety
protocols
that
are
put
in
place.
Batting
cages
driving
ranges,
bowling,
alleys,
rock
climbing,
will
stay
closed,
sightseeing
and
organized
tours
will
stay
closed.
A
A
The
falling
activities
are
allowed
to
stay
open
indoor
instructional
classes
for
youth
can
continue
with
a
10
person
limit
outdoor
event.
Spaces
can
continue
within
the
25
person
limit
outdoor
theaters
and
performance.
Venues
can
continue
to
operate
within
the
25
person
limit
and
movie,
and
tv
productions
can
continue
to
operate
per
the
state
guidance
that
went
into
effect
on
december
26th.
These
activities
will
continue
with
the
following
restrictions
in
place.
A
Office
space
can
stay
open
at
25
capacity.
I
urge
employers
to
allow
any
employee
who
wants
to
work
from
home
that
can
work
from
home
to
allow
them
to
work
from
home.
Indoor
dining
continue
at
25
capacity,
with
a
90
minute
limit
on
seating
in
boston
bar
seating
is
prohibited
without
approval
from
the
boston
licensing
board,
salons,
bobbers
and
other
close
contact.
Personal
services
can
stay
open
with
a
25
capacity.
A
Places
of
worship
can
stay
open
with
a
25
capacity.
Retail
business
can
stay
open.
Also
with
a
25
capacity.
Golf
facilities
can
stay
open
with
a
20
up
to
a
25
capacity.
This
is
not
a
complete
list
so
for,
if
you're
looking
for
a
list
of
what
can
be
open,
what
is
open,
what
is
not
open?
We
can
go
to
boston.gov
reopening
this.
I
want
to
be
clear.
This
is
not
about
targeting
specific
sectors
as
a
cause
of
the
virus
spread.
A
If
the
metrics
have
moved
in
the
right
direction,
then
we'll
be
able
to
lift
the
restrictions,
and
I
hope
and
pray
that
we'll
be
able
to
do
that
if
the
metrics
get
worse
or
even
before
that
we
might
have
to
put
in
place
further
restrictions
again,
I'm
asking
everyone
to
do
your
part.
Help
us
beat
this
thing
once
and
for
all.
A
I
want
to
talk
quickly
briefly
about
safe
dining,
and
we
continue
to
watch
the
data,
we're
limiting
indoor
dining
capacity
at
levels,
the
public
health
experts
say
and
feel
that
are
safe
right
now.
Thank
you
to
our
local
restaurants
for
following
the
safety
protocols.
Many
of
our
restaurants
have
done
an
amazing
job.
Following
the
safety
protocols,
they've
been
cooperative,
we're
supporting
them
with
small
business
relief
funds,
technical
support
and
outdoor
dining
we're
trying
to
make
it
easy
for
them
to
offer
pickup
and
delivery
services
at
their
at
their
restaurants.
A
But
we
need
patrons
to
do
your
part.
Our
contract
chase
contract
tracing
efforts
have
made
it
clear,
even
though
indoor
dining
itself
isn't
a
high
risk
factor
too
many
people
are
going
out
to
dinner
with
people
outside
of
their
households
outside
of
their
bubble.
People
have
a
few
drinks
and
they
kind
of
wander
around.
Sometimes
it's
the
other
people
in
the
table
hop.
We
need
this
to
stop.
You
can't
have
you
top
table
hopping
in
a
restaurant.
A
We
need
to
keep
local
restaurants
open,
but
only
if
people
follow
the
public
health
guidelines.
If
you're
indoor
dining
we're
asking
you
to
only
go
with
people
in
your
bubble,
keep
your
mask
on
when
you're,
not
eating,
don't
mingle
with
other
tables.
It's
not
just
about
your
safety.
It's
about
the
hard-working
waitresses
and
waiters
hosts
bus
boys
and
people
that
that
are
working
to
make
sure
they
can
earn
a
living.
We're
asking
you
to
be
respectful
and
ask
you
to
help
spread.
The
word
testing
is
certainly
one
of
the
tools
that
we
have.
A
We
have
over
30
testing
sites
in
the
city
of
boston.
If
you
think
you
may
have
been
exposed,
we're
asking
you
to
get
tested
if
you
travel
for
the
holidays,
we're
asking
you
to
get
tested,
it's
been
a
while,
since
your
last
test
we're
asking
you
to
get
tested
again
getting
tested
regularly
we're
asking
you
to
make
it
a
new
year's
resolution.
A
We
have
mobile
sites
which
are
free
and
open
to
all,
regardless
of
symptoms.
This
week,
they're
in
in
high
park
at
the
boston
renaissance
school.
This
is
a
drive-through
only
site
that
you
can
make
you
have
to
make
an
appointment
in
roxbury
at
the
washington
park
mall.
This
is
a
walk-up
site
and
registration
is
required
and
in
jamaica
plain
at
the
anacolle
community
center.
This
is
a
walk-up
site.
No
appointment
or
registration
is
required,
but
we
ask
you
to
be
patient.
A
A
The
city
of
boston
is
following
the
state's
lead,
we're
working
with
the
state
last
week:
boston,
emts
and
residents
and
staff
at
long-term
care
facilities
started
to
get
vaccinated.
Yesterday,
the
governor
announced
all
first
responders
throughout
massachusetts,
will
begin
getting
the
coveted
vaccine
starting
on
january
11th.
That
includes
emts
firefighters
and
police
officers.
A
We
have
about
fifteen
hundred
slots
here
in
the
city
of
boston
for
first
responders
to
get
vaccinated
next
week
in
partnership
with
the
tufts
medical
center.
We
urge
everyone
to
get
vaccinated
when
your
time
comes,
it's
safe,
it's
free,
it's
the
best
way
to
protect
yourself
and
your
loved
ones
in
your
city.
A
This
event
will
be
entirely
virtual,
I'll
discuss
how
the
city
came
together
to
face
the
challenge
of
this
past
year
and
I'll
lay
out
a
plan
for
a
strong
and
equitable
recovery.
Moving
into
2021
more
than
ever,
this
year's
state
of
the
city
is
about
the
people
of
boston.
It's
about
how
we
shared
hopes
for
our
future.
It
begins
at
7,
30
p.m,
we'll
be
broadcast,
live
on
local
tv
stations
in
in
via
and
live
streamed
on
boston.gov.
A
I
encourage
everyone
to
tune
in
we've,
worked
incredibly
hard
over
this
past
year
to
care
for
the
sick
and
in
struggling
and
to
launch
a
strong
recovery.
The
steps
we've
taken
in
this
new
year
will
be
pivotal.
So
let's
continue
to
stand
strong.
There
are
many
reasons
to
be
hopeful,
but
that
doesn't
mean
any
of
us
should
let
our
guard
down.
If
anything
now
is
the
time
to
double
down
in
our
efforts
to
keep
ourselves
safe
and
keep
our
family
safe.
A
A
I
think
a
great
question.
The
question
is:
what
do
I
have
to
see
in
the
next
three
weeks
for
these
restrictions
to
be
lifted?
We
have
to
see
start
to
see
a
decline
in
our
daily
cases.
We've
seen
a
pretty
steady,
rising
of
numbers
every
single
day.
For
the
last,
let's
say
almost
two
months
now
we
are,
we
are
getting
to
a
point
where
it's
getting
very
dangerous,
getting
to
a
point
where
it's
very
dangerous
for
hospitalization
we're
seeing
these
numbers
get
get
higher.
There's
lots
of.
A
I
think
I
was
watching
on
one
of
the
stations
last
night
about
this:
the
virus,
that's
the
strand
of
the
virus
that
was
in
england.
That
is
now
here,
it's
a
more
more
more
contagious.
It's
it's!
I
don't
know
if
it's
in
boston,
but
it's
it's
on
the
east
coast.
So
we
have
to
be
watching
all
this,
so
we
need
to
see
some
some
declines
in
numbers.
A
We'd
like
to
see
ideally,
two
weeks
of
decline
in
numbers,
but
at
this
point
I
think
we
take
five
or
six
days
before
we
start
to
eat
some
of
these
restrictions
that
we
put
in
place
here.
In
the.
C
A
The
question
is:
how
long
can
we,
the
city,
sustain
the
economic?
I
guess
downturn,
if
you
will,
if
you
wanna,
for
lack
of
a
better
word
I'll,
intend
two
ways:
one
is
the
city's
budget.
You
know
we've
in
my
seven
years
as
mayor
we're
preparing
for
a
downturn,
the
economy
we
haven't
seen
necessarily
that
downturn
complete
yet,
but
certainly
we're
seeing
the
impacts
of
it.
A
That's
why
I,
I
can't
stress
enough
the
importance
of
wearing
these
the
masks
you
know
really
trying
to
isolate
as
best
as
possible
from
other
people.
That's
the
way
we
stop
the
spread.
I've
heard
too
many
stories
of
people
having
a
party
and
even
even
within
city
hall.
Now
you
know
somebody
somebody
comes
into
the
workplace,
they're
not
feeling
well,
and
you
know
they.
They
test
pauses
of
a
covid
now
all
of
a
sudden
everyone's
on
protocol.
So
people
are
missing
work.
So
we're
really
asking
you
to
keep
the
signs.
A
Just
take
all
the
precautions,
because
the
the
more
we
do
this.
If
we
can
get
through
these
next
two
months
without
having
to
shut
everything
down
again,
I
think
that
will
be
beneficial
to
our
small
businesses.
England,
yesterday,
in
the
uk
just
shut
down
for
a
month,
ireland
is
shut
down.
Other
european
countries
are
shut
down.
A
You
know,
canada
has
done
a
pretty
good
job
of
managing
the
virus
by
by
not
letting
people
in
in
physical
distancing
and
doing
that.
We
can
do
that
here
and
that's
something
that
we
can
all
do,
and
we
have
to
continue
to
do.
You
know
later
on
today,
I'll
get
criticized
for
extending
the
the
moratorium.
If
you
will,
on
on
on
step
two
phase,
two
people
will
come
to
me
and
say
that
you
know
it's
not
it's
not
in
our
business.
A
It's
not
not
business
that
the
virus
is
being
spread
and,
as
I
mentioned,
that
might
be
true.
But
what
we
want
to
do
is
try
and
keep
community
spread
down
as
much
as
possible
and
keep
those
those
potentials
for
cut
for
contact
down.
A
You
know
I
don't
want
to
be
standing
here
as
mayor
at
the
beginning
of
the
new
year
talking
about
shutting
businesses
down.
What
I
want
to
do
is
be
opening
up
this.
This
city,
I'm
hopeful
by
the
summer
time
I'll,
be
able
to
be
able
to
see
people
back
in
the
streets
and
get
our
tourism
back
at
our
economy
back
at
our
restaurants,
full
of
people
again,
but
if
we
don't
take
the
precautions
now
that
will
not
happen.
We've
been
saying
this
now
for
seven
months
and
we're
still
seeing
now
a
surge
in
the
virus.
A
It's
pretty
hard
to
mandate,
it's
pretty
hard
to
mandate
for
people
to
take
the
vaccine.
Some
people
have
their
own
reasons
for
not
taking
it
or
their
own
discomfort
for
not
taking
it.
Certainly,
when
it's
available
for
me,
I'm
going
to
take
the
vaccine,
you
know,
there's
been,
the
testing
is
proven
to
work.
A
You
know
I'm
encouraging
all
first
responders
to
take
the
vaccine,
I'm
encouraging
everyone
right
now
that
has
the
potential
the
opportunity,
I
should
say
to
get
the
vaccine
to
get
the
vaccine
shot.
I
think
it's
really
important
for
you,
it's
important
for
us
to
to
continue
the
the
idea
of
herd
immunity
and
the
vaccine
will
give
us
that
immunity
that
we
need
to
be
able
to
combat
this
virus
again.
But
I
don't
think
I
don't
think
it's
my
place.
D
A
That's
a
great
point:
we're
working
right
now
to
figure
out
how
we're
going
to
be
able
to
market
to
two
communities
of
college,
the
african-american
community
latino
community,
to
let
people
know
the
importance
of
taking
this
vaccine.
I
think
that
I
think
we
have
some
work
to
do.
I
think
we
have
a
lot
of
work
to
do
in
society.
A
There
is
a
lack
of
trust
in
the
health
care
system
and
I
think
that
you
know
we're
going
to
need
the
healthcare
system
to
help
us
to
rebuild
that
trust,
along
with
local
leaders,
activists
and
other
folks
that
we're
going
to
be
leaning
on
to
help
us,
including
police
and
fire
and
ems.
I
mean,
I
think
some
of
our
our
officers
will
be
able
to
help
us
with
that
as
well
messaging.
A
Yeah,
I
actually
think
it's
working.
I
think
I
think
what
we're
doing
is
working.
I
think
that
if
we
weren't
communicating
to
people
and
we
weren't
getting
information
out
every
day,
our
numbers
would
be
far
worse
than
they
are
today.
So
I
do
think
it's
working.
I
think
that
there's
you
know
I
think
what's
happening
now,
is
that
some
people
are
unintentionally
letting
their
guide
down
and
thinking
that
you
know
it's
safe
to
beat.
A
You
know
we
see
each
other
every
day,
we're
in
the
workplace,
so
we
we
kind
of
hang
out
so
we're
safe.
But
no
one
knows
when
everyone
that's
why
I
ask
people
to
stay
in
your
bubble,
your
family
bubble,
so
you
know
where
everyone
was,
but
I
I
think
that
we
kind
of
let
our
god
down
like
all
of
us,
for
example.
Here
you
know
we
see
each
other.
You
know
a
couple
times
a
week.
We
feel
like.
B
B
A
Think
this
year
we
did
see
an
increase
in
in
homicide
rate
in
the
city
of
boston,
and
we
saw
an
increase
in
shootings,
we're
about
we're
at
about
a
seven
year
average,
which
you
know
we
haven't
seen
the
spike
that
other
cities
certainly
experienced.
I
was
talking
to
manchester
around
the
country.
They
saw
a
very
big
number
jump,
but,
as
I've
said
in
the
past,
one
homicide
is
too
many
in
the
city
of
boston.
A
There
is
no
question
in
my
mind
that
coronavirus
has
added
to
that
has
had
a
desperation
and
and
created
that
opportunity
for
help
create
that
opportunity
for
more
violence
in
the
city.
I
think
that
you
know
when
you
look
at
the
second
half
of
the
second
half
of
the
year
when
we're
able
to
get
our
street
workers
back
out
in
the
street
and
be
able
to
engage
our
community
residents
and
activists.
A
Again
we
saw
that
number
go
down
a
bit
where
we
saw
the
the
spike
in
violence
really
was
was
in
the
height
of
the
pandemic,
so
we
just
have
to
continue
to
stay
vigilant
again.
We
had
to
we
pulled
a
lot
of
people
off
the
street
police
were
out
there
doing
their
job,
but
street
workers
were
off
the
street.
We
didn't
have
the
pro
the
safety
net
programs
we
didn't
have
all
usually
we'd
have
school
going.
So
I
think
that
you
know
we've
readjusted
and
we're
taking
a
different
approach
down.
A
Hopefully
in
2021
we
get
those
numbers
back
down.
One
life
is
too
much
to
be
lost
to
violence
in
the
city
city,
any
city,
but
in
boston
in
particular.
So
we're
gonna
do
everything
we
can
to
get
that
violence.
B
A
I
mean
our
police
department
when
you
look
at
the
work
that
they've
done
the
last
seven
years.
The
amount
of
guns
have
taken
off
the
street.
Our
arrests
are
down
in
the
city
of
boston
over
30
percent
and
that's
from
resolving
conflict.
That's
not
from
not
doing
their
job.
That's
from
resolving
conflict,
our
our
you
know
this
has
been
a
2021.
A
2020
was
a
difficult
year
for
a
lot
of
people,
but
one
thing:
I'm
proud
of
the
police
department
continued
to
do
their
job
continue
to
move
forward,
continue
to
build
trust,
continue
to
keep
our
streets
safe,
and
we
just
have
to
continue
to
build
on
that
and-
and
I
I
do
feel
confident
that
I'm
hopeful
that
we'll
have
a
a
peaceful,
a
more
peaceful
2021.
A
Certainly
that's
something
that
that
that
that
we're
gonna
focus
on
you
know.
I
talk
to
the
commissioner
every
day
every
single
day
and
since
I've
been
mayor,
I've
talked
to
the
commissioner
every
day.
You
know
it's
one
of
the
areas
that
people
want
to
be
able
to
go
outside
their
home
and
feel
safe,
and
we
have
to
make
sure
the
city
of
boston's
safe
for
them.
C
A
What
I've
been
focused
on
quite
honestly
in
the
last
nine
months
and
in
particular
the
last
five
days,
is
focusing
on
covert
19
in
the
city
of
boston.
I'm
going
to
stay
focused
on
that.
I'm
going
to
focus
on
my
state
of
the
city,
which
is
coming
up
next
tuesday,
there's
going
to
be
whatever
the
speculation
is
or
whatever
the
talk
is
well,
I'm
going
to
let
that
going.
There's
certainly
lots
of
rumors
yesterday
that
I
heard
as
well
as
you
did.
I
read
the
story
in
the
paper
today.
A
I
am
focused
on
getting
these
numbers
down.
I'm
focused
on
getting
boston
through
the
pandemic.
I'm
focused
on
in
the
next
couple
of
weeks
here,
building
up
starting
to
build
a
budget
as
we
move
forward
in
for
the
next
fiscal
year.
So
I
really
don't
have
anything
other
than
that
to
say
do
you
have
any
interest
in
that?
B
A
A
The
state
is
working
right
now,
with
with
fenway
the
state's
working
in
collaborating
with
these
sites
are
going
to
be
we're
working.
The
city
is
working
with
the
state
as
well.
We
need
to
get
some
sites
into
our
communities.
You
know
again
we're
laying
down
we've
laid
down
the
foundation,
we're
going
to
increase
that
foundation
as
more
and
more
vaccines
become
available,
but
the
state
is
kind
of
leading
that
charge
right
now,
but
we
are
rita.
A
Nueve
is
the
director
of
our
public
health
commission
is
here
with
me
today
and
we're
working
to
start
thinking
about
when
we
start
getting
larger
amounts
of
vaccines,
making
sure
we
get
out
to
people.
What
we
don't
want
to
have
is
hundreds
of
thousands
of
vaccines
here
in
the
city
of
boston
sitting
in
a
freezer
somewhere
or
on
a
shelf.
However,
you
store
it.
Different
vaccines
are
stored,
different
ways.
A
Tufts
medical
next
week,
starting
on
the
12th
11th
yeah,
yeah
they're
all
going
to
be
there
right
now.
I
think
that
the
states
still
work.
I
don't
think
the
family
parking
is
finalized.
I
think
the
state's
working
on
that
now
and
the
state's
working
in
other
sites
around
around
the
commonwealth
of.
A
No
they're,
actually
quite
the
opposite.
People
are
anxious
to
get
it.
You
know
they're,
front-facing
and
they've,
been
you
know
on
the
front
line
since
the
beginning,
the
pandemic,
I
mean
they
don't
can't
get
a
day
off.
You
have
to
do
your
job,
there's
no
no
way
around
it.
So
there
are
officers
that
are
in
that
age
that
are
a
little
older
and
firefighters.
A
little
older
and
they're
worried
in
pre-existing
health
conditions,
they're
worried
as
well.
A
So
I've
heard
nothing,
but
but
people
wanting
to
get
the
test
get
the
vaccine
quicker
and
unfortunately
we
couldn't
get
it
done
quicker.
So
we
have
it
for
next
week
and
we'll
be
able
to
get
it
to
people
thanks.