►
From YouTube: COVID-19 Media Availability 4/27/20
Description
Mayor Walsh hosts a media availability to discuss updates relating to COVID-19.
A
Thank
you,
I
want
to
thank
everyone
for
being
here
today.
I
want
to
start
today
by,
unfortunately,
sharing
some
sad
news.
Yesterday
we
lost
somebody
very
special
to
the
City
of
Austin
Bobby
Joel
Easter
was
a
street
worker
at
the
Boston
Center
for
youth
and
families.
For
most
dirty
is
he
mented
young
people?
He
helped
them,
build
their
confidence
and
find
a
purpose.
He
became
a
trusted
adult
so
many
young
people
who
had
major
challenges
in
their
life.
He
connected
system
involved
in
gang
involve
youth
with
jobs
in
education.
A
He
certainly
loved
his
work
and
our
community
loved
him.
He
was
a
mentor
and
a
friend
to
many.
A
few
weeks
ago,
Bobby
Joe
was
caught
in
a
terrible
house
fire
the
Boston
Fire
Department
did
a
tremendous
job
battling
the
blaze
and
rescuing
Bobby
Joe
from
the
building.
Unfortunately,
he's
sustained
serious
burns
who
was
hospitalized
for
several
weeks
and
yesterday
he
died
from
his
injuries.
A
I
want
to
extend
mine
and
our
condolences
to
Bobby
Jill's,
family
and
his
friends
and
to
almost
all
Street
workers
and
to
everyone
at
the
BC
YF
Bobby
Joe
was
a
role
model
who
undoubtedly
saved
many
lives
throughout
his
career.
We
are
devastated
by
his
loss.
I
will
never
forget
the
impact
that
he
made
late
to
ask
everyone
to.
Please
join
me
in
a
moment
of
silence
for
Bobby
Joel
Easter.
A
A
The
total
number
of
cases
in
Boston
are
eight
thousand
one
hundred
fifty
nine
that's
up
from
249
the
day
before
the
total
debts
in
Boston
are
three
hundred
and
Chu,
and
that
sturdy
went
up
from
the
day
before
we
continue
to
see
these
numbers
rise,
and
we
must
also
remember
the
people
in
their
stories.
I,
don't
you
I
won't
use
their
names
to
protect
their
privacy,
but
I
wanted
to
share
something
that
was
deeply
moving.
That
happened
this
past
weekend,
a
South
End
resident
and
his
70s
was
hospitalized
with
Cove
in
nineteen.
A
He
asked
his
doctor
in
his
social
worker
if
they'd
be
possible
for
him
to
marry
his
longtime
partner,
while
he
was
in
the
hospital
he
proposed
from
the
hospital
bed,
our
teams
here
at
City
Hall
rushed
and
got
their
marriage
license
on
Thursday.
They
were
able
to
spend
a
couple
of
days
married
before
he
passed
away
on
Saturday.
A
There
are
countless
numbers
of
stories
like
this
stories
of
love,
loss
and
goodbyes,
as
we
continue
to
fight
this
pandemic.
We
also
need
to
take
time
to
reflect
on
those
that
who
we've
lost.
We
need
to
send
our
loved
ones
to
support
to
all
the
people
who
mourned
loved
ones,
and
we
need
to
remember
every
day
how
precious
life
is.
A
I
have
a
few
updates
to
share
with
you
today
on
our
plans
for
our
schools,
a
new
antibody
testing
initiative
on
the
steps
everyone
should
be
taking
every
day
to
protect
himself
from
others
and
I
know
it
didn't
feel
like
it,
but
last
week
was
April
vacation.
Our
students
and
teachers
had
a
break
from
the
distance
learning
we
put
in
place
when
schools
closed
down.
Today,
remote
learning
is
back
in
session.
A
Students
and
teachers
are
logging
back
into
their
online
classrooms,
and
instruction
is
starting
up
again.
Last
week
the
governor
announced
the
school
buildings
would
remain
closed
for
remainder
of
the
school
year.
That
means
that
online
learner
we'll
be
the
norm
until
the
end
of
the
term.
The
city
of
Boston
has
been
preparing
for
the
likelihood
of
this
happening.
A
A
These
expectations
may
continue
to
evolve
as
we
get
further
guidance
from
the
State
Department
of
Education
and
education
and
secondary
education
and
the
United
States
Department
of
Education.
It's
important
to
remember
that
our
schools
are
more
than
the
classrooms,
their
communities
and
we
work
hard
to
make
sure
we
support
those
communities.
A
We
continue
to
serve
free
breakfast
and
lunch
every
day
to
youth
and
young
children
at
65
locations
all
across
our
city.
We've
also
have
six
adult
meal
sites
providing
grab-and-go
meals
in
East,
Boston,
Dorchester,
Mattapan,
Brighton,
South,
Boston
Eggleston
square,
which
is
easy
accessible
from
Roxbury
and
Jamaica
Plain.
We've
served
more
than
half
a
million
assuming
half
a
million
meals
so
far
and
we'll
continue
serving
them.
For
as
long
as
schools
are
closed,
that's
half
a
million
meals
will
serve
in
these
locations.
A
Our
schools
are
staying
in
close
contact
with
families
that
need
assistance,
we're
delivering
food
to
the
homes
of
students
with
severe
special
needs.
We're
also
focused
on
students
with
social-emotional
health
going
forward.
Every
school
will
have
student
support
team
to
monitor
students,
well-being,
engaging
engagement
and
helping
with
their
progress.
Much
of
this
work
has
been
happening
since
the
very
beginning
of
the
shutdown
I
want
to
thank
all
of
our
educators
and
school
professionals
who
are
doing
this
important
work
day
in
and
day
out.
A
We're
gonna
continue
to
share
more
details
about
our
plans
for
the
Boston
Public
Schools
throughout
the
week.
I
also
want
to
share
some
updates
on
testing.
We
now
have
15
test
sites
up
and
running
all
across
Boston's
neighborhoods.
We
created
a
map
which
shows
the
locations,
hours
and
contact
information
for
all
testing
sites
in
the
city,
we're
also
collecting
and
sharing
data
on
testing,
including
race,
ethnicity
and
neighborhood
information.
We've
increased
testing
by
over
30%
last
week
with
increase
as
big
as
57%.
A
In
some
areas,
we
are
now
doing
Universal
testing
for
our
homeless
population
after
securing
1,000
additional
tests
last
week,
I
want
to
thank
the
state
for
securing
these
tests,
which
were
donated
by
origin.
Today,
we
take
one
of
the
most
important
steps.
Today
we
are
launching
an
antibody
testing
initiative
here
in
the
city
of
Boston,
in
partnership
of
the
Massachusetts
General
Hospital.
We
will
test
1,000
residents,
focusing
on
the
areas
of
East
Boston
Rosendale
Oh,
two
one,
two
one
and
og
one,
two,
five
zip
codes
in
Dorchester.
A
A
This
information
will
help
us
help
us
contain
the
virus
more
effectively
and
help
us
shot
out
a
path
to
recovery.
Most
most
of
us
have
heard
her.
Most
of
us
have
heard
a
lot
about
antibodies
by
now,
but
here's
a
reminder
of
why
they
matter
so
much
regular
testing,
which
were
focused
on
sofa
detects
the
presence
of
the
virus.
It
shows
whether
someone
is
currently
infected.
A
Antibodies
are
proteins
in
the
blood
that
the
body
produces
to
fight
an
infection
like
Cova
19.
They
remain
in
the
blood
after
a
person
has
recovered
from
the
illness.
Antibody
testing
helps
us
see
how
many
people
have
already
recovered
from
the
virus.
Testing
in
our
community
will
give
us
a
better
idea
how
widespread
the
outbreak
really
was.
It
is
in
Boston
the
data
will
help
us
estimate
how
many
people
will
likely
be
infected.
It
will
help
us
plan
to
use
our
resources
in
a
smart
way.
A
It
will
also
help
us
target
the
areas
that
are
most
vulnerable
in
a
sciences.
Learn
more
about
immunity
from
the
past
infections.
Antibody
testing
could
help
us
identify
who
has
a
lower
risk
of
contracting
the
kovat
19
in
the
future.
This
is
all
useful
information,
as
we
think
about
staffing
frontline
workers
in
long-term
recovery
plans.
This
antibody
testing
initiative
is
certainly
a
big
step
forward
and
we
plan
to
expand
the
program
in
the
coming
weeks.
I
want
to
thank
the
Massachusetts
General
Hospital
for
being
an
excellent
partner
with
this
antibody
program.
A
Just
a
quick
reminder
about
how
steps
everyone
should
be
taking
every
day
we
are
still
in
the
peak
of
the
outbreak
here
in
Boston.
Every
single
precaution
that
you
take
today
may
be
one
that
saves
someone's
life,
so
we're
asking
people
to
continue
to
wash
your
hands
as
frequently
as
possible
with
soap
and
warm
water.
Keep
practicing
physical
distancing
stay
in,
wear
it
whenever
possible,
only
to
go
for
essential
items
like
grocery
prescriptions
or
safe
exercise.
A
The
people
that
are
working
in
the
grocery
stores
are
frontline
workers,
they're
doing
it
and
they're
helping
us
to
be
able
to
keep
food
or
not
kitchen
tables
and
in
our
fridges.
So,
quite
honestly,
this
is
unacceptable,
you're
putting
other
people
at
risk,
you're,
putting
the
grocery
store
workers
at
risk
and
you're
putting
yourself
at
risk.
If
you
need
any
help
figuring
out
how
to
make
a
face
covering
at
home,
we
have
plenty
of
resources
online
go
to
Boston
gov.
We
can't
let
our
guy
down
right
now
for
one
minute.
A
This
is
a
very
critical
point
on
the
outbreak.
We
need
to
stay,
focused,
stay
vigilant
and
do
everything
in
our
power
to
slow
the
spread
of
the
virus.
I
think
the
vast
majority
of
people
who
are
doing
that
all
the
time
and
thank
you
for
that.
I
also
want
to
give
a
special
reminder
about
seeking
medical
attention.
The
governor
did
this
as
well.
Today
we
have
been
reminded
the
people.
If
you
feel
sick,
you
should
call
your
doctor
or
three
one
ones
helpline.
A
A
That
includes
difficulty,
breathing
or
pains
in
your
chest
or
any
other
issue
that
you
know
is
serious.
Our
EMTs
and
paramedics
and
health
care
providers
are
here
to
help
you
and
they
want
to
help
you.
We
absolutely
have
the
capacity
to
treat
everyone
who
needs
care,
so
we're
asking
you
if
you're
not
feeling.
Well,
you
know
a
family
member,
that's
really
sick,
call,
911
professional
decide
if
it's
safe
for
you
to
go
to
the
hospital.
They
know
what
they're
doing
and
they're
here
to
help
you.
A
We
don't
want
anyone
to
suffer
in
silence
that
includes
people
facing
domestic
violence
or
abuse,
never
hesitate
to
call
911.
If
you
or
someone
you
know,
needs
help.
If
it's
not
an
emergency
and
you
just
need
to
talk,
we
have
a
24-hour
hotline
at
three
one.
One
I
ask
everyone
everyone's
help
in
getting
this
message
to
the
people
who
need
it.
A
The
City
of
Boston
shrimp
certainly
shows
his
true
colors
during
difficult
times.
This
is
once
in
a
generation.
Challenge
in
Boston
is
rising
to
the
task.
In
many
different
ways.
Every
single
person
has
a
role
to
play.
Many
people
listening
today
are
essential
workers
directly
involved
in
this
response.
Many
people
contribute
to
our
long-term
recovery
efforts.
Many
people
are
doing
their
part
to
stop
the
spread
of
the
virus
through
physical
distancing
and
many
are
helping
to
encourage
and
comfort
others
by
spreading
kindness
and
message
of
hope.
A
I've
never
been
more
proud
of
our
city
for
coming
together
and
approaching
this
challenge
and
courage
in
solidarity
and
I
also
think
it's
very
important
to
recognize
the
unsung
heroes
of
this
public
health.
Emergency
I
started
ending
my
press
conferences
last
week
with
a
shout
out
to
different
groups
of
essential
workers.
Today,
I
want
to
talk
about
the
incredible
men
and
women
who
answer
the
phones
at
our
3-1-1
hotline
here
at
City
Hall,
the
3-1-1
call
takers
have
a
vital
role.
They
operate
24
hours
a
day,
7
days
a
week
before
their
crisis.
A
They
were
responding
to
about
800
calls
per
day,
which
was
already
impressive.
Since
the
public
health
emergency
began
that
began
averaging
about
1600
calls
per
day,
that's
double
the
normal
volume
that
works
out
to
more
than
60
every
hour
about
1
minute
per
call.
They
help
the
people
and
blossom
all
types
of
concerns
like
way
to
get
free
meals
and
laptops,
while
schools
are
closed,
how
to
get
copies,
its
birth
certificates,
questions
about
parking
and
street
cleaning
and
resources
for
seniors,
you
name
it
3,
1,
1,
call
takers.
A
Other
people
who
help
I
also
want
to
thank
the
neighborhood,
liaisons
they've
been
picking
up
shifts
at
3:01
and
doing
all
kinds
of
outreach
in
the
neighborhoods
they
serve.
Thank
you
also,
thank
you
also
to
everyone
who
has
worked
tirelessly
to
compile
information,
update
our
databases
and
make
sure
all
of
our
call
takers
get
the
latest
information
that
residents
need
so
to
our
entire
team
at
3:01
and
to
our
office
of
civic
engagement.
I
want
to
thank
you
all
for
your
hard
work
and
you
service
to
our
city.
A
Now
I'm,
going
to
open
up
for
some
questions.
I
have
a
few
previous
questions
that
I'll
read
and
then
I'll
take
questions
from
the
press.
Sincere
a
question
from
data
more
at
the
Boston
Globe
about
research
from
Northeastern
University
that
estimates
there
were
undetected
cases
of
corona
virus
in
Boston
before
March
1st,
there's
three
questions
and
I'll
answer
them
all
at
one
time
does
the
may
have
believed
knowing
what
he
knows
now
is
that
this
is
likely.
A
What
might
have
the
city
done
differently
if
we'd
had
perfect
clarity
back
then
in
early
March,
given
the
leg
and
testing
at
a
federal
level
with
the
have
been
ways
any
way
of
detecting
this
beforehand,
I
haven't
reviewed
this
research
yet,
but
any
data
that
shows
more
widespread
infection
again
just
shows
the
continued
need
for
more
testing.
Of
course,
if
we
had
seen
the
positive
results
earlier
much,
we
would
have
acted
earlier,
since
every
step
we've
had
taken
has
been
guided
by
public
health.
A
The
public
health
since
day,
one
I'm
certainly
focused
on
what
we
know
today
and
the
findings
we'll
gather
more
ways
of
data.
As
we
look
through
these
surge
and
the
information
for
the
recovery.
That's
why
we're
working
every
day
to
increase
access
to
testing
throughout
our
neighborhoods,
and
this
week
we
launched
antibody
tests
for
over
a
thousand
residents
and
we're
going
to
continue
to
try
and
increase
testing
and
antibody
testing.
A
As
we
move
forward
here,
a
question
from
Karen
Wiegel
at
WBZ,
there
has
been
an
uptick
in
people
calling
three
one
one
soar
report,
people,
not
social,
distancing
and
not
wearing
masks.
Should
people
be
using
three
one
one
in
this
way,
we
need
everyone
to
take
the
public
health
emergency
seriously.
The
measure
the
city
of
Boston
has
put
in
place
and
already
affected
are
already
affecting
ways
to
slow
the
spread
of
the
virus.
I
urge
everyone
to
take
a
public
health
emergency.
A
Take
the
public
health
emergency
seriously
by
staying
at
home
as
much
as
possible,
keeping
sick
sweet
feet
away
from
others,
went
out
and
wearing
face
coverings
outside
your
home
and
just
to
add
a
little
more
to
that.
As
I
mentioned,
the
3-1-1
call
takers
are
taking
about
1600
cars
average
a
day.
If
people
want
to
call
301,
you
can
but
I'm
asking
people
in
the
community
to
help
by
putting
face
masks
on
so
we
can
cut
those
calls
out.
It's
really
important
that
we
do
that.
I've
received
several
questions
about
reopening
on
May
4th.
A
There
is
no
question
that
May
4th
is
too
early.
The
lives
of
our
residents
and
the
work
of
our
businesses
have
been
uprooted
for
weeks,
many
aphasia
and
financial
hardship,
and
we
know
that
the
economy
in
the
people's
livelihood
on
the
line.
This
is
not.
This
is
not
a
moment
that
there's
never
a
moment.
We
don't
think
think
about
that.
But
I
have
to
stake.
A
I'd
have
serious
concerns
if
we
start
relaxing
some
of
the
measures
we've
taken
in
Boston
and
across
the
Commonwealth
on
May
4th,
especially
if
it's
done
without
clear
and
thoughtful
a
plan.
Our
residences
and
our
businesses
need
transparency.
Whatever
level
of
predictability
we
can
offer
during
this
unpredictable
time,
I
can
tell
you
right
now:
Boston
will
not
reopen
on
May
4th.
We
need
to
determine
what
that
public
health
benchmarks
are.
They
can
only
be
answered.
The
question
can
only
be
answered
when
it's
safe
to
begin
relaxing
some
of
the
measurements.
A
When
we
have
a
chance
to
look
at
the
information
look
at
the
data,
we
can
inform
what
protocols
need
to
be
put
in
place
to
allow
this
to
be
done
safely.
That's
exactly
the
work
that
we're
working
on
here
in
the
city
of
Boston
and
I,
know
on
a
state
level
were
part
of
a
task
force
that
was
appointed
by
the
governor.
That's
going
to
be
looking
at
these
benchmarks
and
looking
at
how
we
reopen
society
safely.
A
We
are
currently
building
a
recovery
framework
in
the
city
of
Boston
that
will
give
us
a
guide
for
short,
medium
and
long
term
recovery.
This
will
need
to
be
a
plan
that
can
be
adapted
as
quickly
as
the
virus
can
change
on
a
situation
it
will
be.
It
will
need
will
need
to
include
public
health
interventions
to
ensure
the
spread
is
minimized
until
a
vaccine
or
treatment
is
ready.
Our
goal
will
be
to
prevent
further
spikes
of
the
corona
virus
and
reduce
both
health
and
economic
inequalities
during
recovery
efforts.
I
can't
stress
that
enough.
A
We
can't
afford
to
make
any
mistakes.
We
are
not
going
to
sit
back
and
wait
for
the
corona
virus
to
go
away
to
take
the
next
step,
but
we
are
going
to
approach
it
very
thoughtfully.
We
should
never
put
ourselves
in
a
position
where
we
move
too
quickly
and
the
progress
that's
been
made.
I
want
to
say
to
the
people
of
Boston.
We
may
not
have
all
the
answers
at
once,
but
as
soon
as
we
know
our
plans,
what
they
are
in
Boston
we're
going
to
share
them
with
you
from
the
beginning
of
this
crisis.
A
A
B
Yeah,
so
the
thousand
individuals
were
randomly
selected
into
the
four
different
zip
codes
and
they'll
be
tested
over
the
course
of
this
week,
and
then
the
results
should
be
available
into
next
week.
So
it
will
give
us
some
indication
of
the
the
spread
of
the
antibodies
or
the
spread
of
the
virus
within
these
neighborhoods.
A
Ross
is
considering
anything
similar
as
far
as
the
fine.
We
have
not
taken
that
step,
yet
I
will
make
sure
I
just
found
out
when
I
was
walking
down
here,
that
something
will
did
that.
So
I'll
probably
give
the
mayor
of
Somerville
a
call
today
to
talk
to
him
about
it.
We
have
not
done
that
I,
don't
to
say,
we've
been
hesitant
to
do
that,
but
I've
been
trying
to
ask
people
to
do
it
voluntarily.
So
we
don't
have
to
put
restrictions
in
place.
A
That's
a
piece
I'm
sure:
that's
a
piece
of
legislation
at
the
Statehouse,
so
the
answer
is:
is
the
city
of
Boston
would
support
some
regulation
for
grocery
store
workers
to
be
treated
in
some
cases
as
first
responders
as
far
as
pay,
and
things
like
that
certainly
certainly.
I
certainly
would
personally.
A
And
you
can
also
write
in
front
of
me
a
phone
numbers
for
the
texting
line
if
you're
not
signed
up
for
the
texting
line
to
get
daily
updates.
Please
sign
up,
and
also
we
have
those
text
messages
in
eleven
different
languages.
So
we
can
help
you
with
that
as
well
and
with
that
I
want
to
thank
everyone
for
coming
out
today
and
to
the
people
of
Boston
continue
to
be
strong
day
at
a
time.