►
From YouTube: COVID-19 Media Availability 12-30-20
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/XuEfbJkq6HM
A
Thank
you
everybody.
I
just
want
to
start
today's
press
conference
by
congratulating
speaker,
mariano
in
the
house
of
representatives,
former
colleague
of
mine.
I
look
forward
to
working
with
him
in
the
house
on
issues
concerning
the
people
of
boston
and
massachusetts,
and
I
also
want
to
say
congratulations
and
thank
you
to
speaker
bob
deleo,
who
served
12
years
as
speaker
of
the
house
in
massachusetts.
A
A
There
was
58
new
debts
reported
yesterday,
bringing
the
total
of
debts
in
massachusetts
to
11
958
the
boston
numbers,
as
of
today
569
new,
confirmed
cases
bringing
our
total
cases
in
boston
since
the
beginning
of
the
pandemic,
to
thirty
nine
thousand
seven
hundred
fifty
one
we
had
six
debts
reported
yesterday,
bringing
our
total
debt
number
to
one
thousand
and
eight
people
who've
lost
their
life,
and
I
want
to
yesterday
we
surpassed
the
1
000
death
toll
here
for
coronavirus
and
want
the
families
who
lost
loved
ones
during
this
pandemic.
A
To
let
you
know
that
we're
praying
for
you
and
your
loved
ones
and
the
folks
that
are
sick
and
suffering
from
coronavirus.
We're
also
praying
for
you
for
a
speedy
recovery.
We
surpassed
the
thousand
deaths
yesterday.
As
I
said,
each
number
each
of
these
numbers
represents
a
person
with
a
family,
a
community
who's
grieving
the
loss
of
them
every
single
day.
A
The
end
of
this
year
is
a
time
to
reflect
on
those
we've
lost
this
year.
We've
lost
so
much
in
our
city
in
our
state
in
our
country
and
quite
honestly,
the
world
whether
your
loved
one
passed
away
from
covet
or
another
reason
you
continue
to
be
in
all
of
our
prayers
as
we
continue
to
move
forward
here.
A
I
know
that
a
lot
of
people
all
of
us
are
tired
of
living
with
the
virus.
It's
tempting
to
let
our
gods
down
during
this
season
this
holiday
season,
but
the
virus
is
still
very
much
with
us,
as
you
saw
in
our
numbers
today.
We
continue
to
be,
as
we
continue
to
be
in
2021
when,
when
new
year's
night
comes
around
new
year's
day
does
not
mean
the
virus
goes
away.
We're
still
going
to
be
living
with
this
virus
in
boston.
A
A
A
Today,
I'm
going
to
talk
about
how
we
need
to
stay
safe
on
new
year's
eve
and
over
the
holiday,
but
first
I
want
to
provide
some
updates
on
testing
vaccine
and
other
covid
relief
work.
We
continue
to
encourage
everyone
and
anyone
to
get
tested,
especially
if
you
were
traveling
last
week
for
the
holiday.
We
have
more
than
30
testing
sites
available
throughout
the
city
of
boston.
All
of
our
testing
sites
will
be
closed
on
new
year's
day.
That's
the
only
exception.
On
january
1st,
all
of
our
testing
sites
will
be
closed.
A
A
We
continue
to
be
in
communication
with
healthcare
partners,
as
the
federal
and
state
government
works
on
distributing
the
vaccines.
This
week,
boston
emts
began
getting
vaccinated
since
day.
One
of
this
crisis
they've
been
on
the
front
lines
risking
their
own
health
and
the
health
and
well-being
of
other
boston
residents.
A
Our
ems
providers
have
encountered
more
than
3
500,
coveted
positive
patients
in
boston.
Those
are
people
that
are
out
picking
people
up
in
their
homes.
This
is
a
very
proud
moment
in
our
city.
I
want
to
thank
boston
ems,
including
the
emt
paramedics,
for
their
vaccinate
vaccination
efforts.
Vaccine
distribution
amongst
long-term
care
facilities
also
began
this
week.
This
will
help
protect
our
most
vulnerable
people
and
residents
in
our
most
vulnerable
settings
here
in
the
city
and
throughout
the
commonwealth.
A
A
We
we're
going
to
encourage
everyone,
as
the
vaccines
become
available,
we're
encouraging
everyone
to
get
vaccinated.
When
your
time
comes,
it's
going
to
be
it's
safe,
it's
going
to
be
free
and
it's
the
best
way.
You
can
protect
yourself
and
the
fan
your
family
members
and
those
of
you
around
those
people
around
you.
It's
also
how
we
can
all
get
back
to
life
sooner
and
better
and
making
sure
that
we
can
start
seeing
the
people
that
we
love
and
start
spending
some
time
together.
A
A
It's
good
news
that
the
unemployment
benefits
will
continue
until
at
least
march
here
2021,
but
more
supports
needed
so
again,
we're
calling
on
washington
to
take
bold
action
and
bring
more
relief
to
the
american
people.
I'm
also
asking
people
here
at
home
the
state
legislature
to
pass
the
economic
development
bond
bill
and
provide
more
relief
to
small
businesses
and
restaurants
and
their
employees
at
this
very
critical
time.
A
We're
taking
action
at
the
city
level
to
protect
the
most
vulnerable.
The
boston
housing
authority
is
extending
its
moratorium
on
non-essential
evictions
through
the
end
of
february.
This
will
continue
to
protect
tens
of
thousands
of
lowest
the
lowest
income
residents
all
across
our
city.
I
want
to
take
a
moment
to
thank
kate
bennett,
the
administrator
of
the
boston
housing
authority
and
her
team
for
exceptional
leadership.
During
this
very
difficult
time.
A
A
We
continue
to
provide
supports
for
renters
and
property
owners
who
may
be
struggling
due
to
income
loss.
Our
rental
relief
fund
continues
to
accept
applications.
Our
office
of
housing
stability
is
available
to
help
renters
concerned
about
making
their
payments
and
our
boston
home
center.
Can
help
homeowners
concerned
about
paying
their
mortgages
and
also
repairs
in
your
home?
So
we
want
you
to
take
advantage
of
these
programs,
so
anyone
that
has
any
questions
about
rents
and
mortgages
and
concerns
about
banks
taking
your
home,
we're
asking
you
to
call
3-1-1
and
we
can
help
you
up
help.
A
You
connect
you
to
services
with
our
resiliency
fund,
we're
continuing
to
support,
seniors
and
families.
This
week
we're
getting
eight
seven
hundred
and
eighty
thousand
dollars
to
thirty
nine
organizations
in
boston,
working
to
increase
food
access
and
health
care
access,
support,
individuals
facing
homelessness
and
helping
seniors.
A
To
date,
the
resiliency
fund
has
distributed
over
30
million
dollars
to
360
different
organizations
in
the
city
of
boston.
We're
asking
for
information
on
the
resiliency
fund
go
to
boston.gov
resiliency
grantees
tomorrow
night.
I
know
people
are
happy.
It's
new
year's
eve,
thank
god,
2020
is
about
to
be
behind
us.
I
think
I
can
speak
for
everyone
when
I
say
that
I'm
very
we're
excited
that
2020
is
coming
to
a
close.
A
Usually,
we
have
a
press
conference
on
a
day
like
today
to
talk
about
the
new
year's
safety
and
how
to
enjoy
the
holiday
safely
with
all
the
events
going
on
in
the
city
of
boston.
Certainly,
our
guidance
looks
very
different
this
year,
but
it's
important
just
as
important
as
last
year.
I
want
to
be
clear,
and
I
want
to
ask
people
to
not
have
new
year's
eve
parties
this
year
in
order
not
to
spread
the
virus.
A
That
includes
small
gatherings,
we're
asking
people
this
year
to
be
careful.
The
number
today
from
from
a
covert
number,
the
560
plus
people
that
got
covered.
That
is
probably
a
sign
of
what
we're
expecting
over
the
next
couple
of
weeks
here
after
the
christmas
holiday,
seeing
an
increase
in
covert
activity.
So
we're
asking
people
to
be
very
careful.
A
A
major
source
of
virus
transmission
continues
to
be
from
small
gatherings.
You
may
think
you're
bubble
you're
in
a
small
gathering,
it's
a
bubble,
but
it's
not
as
small
as
you
think.
It's
a
lot
bigger
than
you
think
when
you,
when
you're
with
people,
you
don't
live
with
you're
hanging
out
with
everyone,
they've
been
with.
As
well
and
everyone
they've
come
in
contact
with
so,
if
you're
thinking
about
having
a
party
or
attending
one,
I'm
asking
you
to
rethink
those
plans,
stay
home.
Consider
making
these
these
connections
virtually
and
do
something
very
different.
A
This
year
there
are
many
safe
ways
to
enjoy
and
celebrate
the
new
year
coming
in
this
year's
first
night,
boston
is
moving
entirely
to
a
virtual
format.
They'll
be
streaming.
Some
of
the
amazing
performances
go
to
firstnightboston.org,
to
see
the
schedule
and
use
the
hashtag
together21
to
be
part
of
the
excitement
that
we're
having
we're.
Also
asking.
If
you
do,
every
asking
people
to
be
careful
around
consuming
alcohol
and
smoking
marijuana
drinking
and
smoking
marijuana
can
can
lower
people's
inhibitions
and
cause
them
to
forget
to
wear
masks
of
social
distance.
A
We
don't
want
you
to
put
your
guide
down
in
any
particular
situation.
Excessive
drinking
can
also
lead
to
violent
increased
violence.
Our
boston
police
department
will
be
out
patrolling
our
neighborhoods
as
they
do
every
single
year,
so
we
want
to
make
their
job
easier,
not
harder
than
it
needs
to
be.
I'm
going
to
ask
the
commission
to
come
on
here
and
speak
a
few
words
about
some
of
the
public
safety
protocols
and
precautions
that
we're
putting
in
place
for
tomorrow.
Night.
B
B
B
We
want
everyone
to
have
a
safe
and
festive
new
year,
but
keeping
in
mind
covet
19
and
what
a
dangerous
pandemic
it
is,
and
we
have
to
celebrate
this
new
year
in,
as
for
the
bpd,
all
of
my
11
districts
will
be
fully
staffed
matter
of
fact,
I
am
hiring
additional
coverage
because
we
anticipate
there
could
be
loud
parties
or
unruly
parties,
even
though
we
don't
want
any
of
that.
We
want
everyone
to
celebrate
responsibly.
B
B
So,
in
regards
to
any
credible
threats,
our
boston,
regional,
regional
intelligence
center,
as
well
as
the
state
police
fusion
center,
we
haven't
identified
any
credible
threats
to
the
city
and
or
commonwealth,
we're
very
cognizant
of
what
happened
in
nashville.
So
we
haven't
received
any
credible
threats
to
the
city
and
again,
celebrate
responsibly.
Remember.
Take
care
of
each
other
adhere
to
those
cdc,
guidances
and
protocols.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
you,
commissioner.
I
also
want
to,
in
addition
to
discouraging
parties,
remind
everyone
that
people
should
only
celebrate
with
the
people.
They
know
the
people
they
live
with.
We're
asking
people
not
to
travel
travel
increases
the
chance
of
spreading
the
virus
if
you're
planning
on
gathering
outside
of
your
home
or
your
household
or
traveling,
where
you
to
use
extreme
caution
in
boston,
indoor
gatherings
are
limited
to
10
people
or
fewer.
There
are
no
exceptions
to
the
holidays.
A
Anyone
everyone
should
be
wearing
a
mask
when
they're,
not
eating
or
drinking,
and
asking
people
to
stay
six
feet
away
as
much
as
possible.
This
virus
is
pretty
serious
and,
as
we've
seen
these
numbers
over
the
course
of
the
last
two
months
now,
we've
been
averaging
anywhere
from
400
to
500
cases
per
day.
We're
seeing
these
numbers
going
the
wrong
direction,
there's
a
lot
of
specials
on
news,
the
news
and
night,
and
you
see
loved
ones,
being
lost
of
all
ages.
A
I
can't
stress
to
people
the
importance
of
really
being
careful.
I
know
that
when
we
took
action
a
couple
weeks
ago
with
shutting
down
going
back
to
step
two
phase,
two
step,
two,
a
lot
of
people
concerned
and
angry
that
we
shut
gyms
down,
we
shut
museums
down.
It's
not
something
that
I
want
to
do
as
a
mayor.
It's
not
that
something
that
any
mayor
wants
to
do
across
this
country.
A
It's
certainly
not
something
that
the
governor
wants
to
do
or
other
officials,
but
if
we
don't
get
these
numbers
down
and
we
have
over
capacity
on
hospitals
we're
going
to
have
to
take
further
action.
So
I'm
asking
everyone
to
please:
please
be
careful.
We've
done
you've
done
an
amazing
job
for
the
last,
almost
10
months
now
in
keeping
this
virus
to
some
degree
under
control
and
we're
asking
you
just
a
few
more
months
here
as
we
continue
to
move
towards
the
vaccine,
we're
also
suggesting
that
people
get
tested.
A
Often
testing
does
not
protect
you
from
the
virus,
so
you
cannot
test
your
way
out
of
the
virus
or
test
your
way
to
a
safe
holiday
gathering.
It
will
still
be
high
risk
activities
getting
together.
So
we're
going
to
ask
you
again
just
I
can't
stress
enough
the
importance
of
staying
physically
apart
from
people
this
this
new
year's
eve
2020,
has
certainly
been
one
of
the
most
challenging
years
that
we've
ever
seen
here
in
boston
in
this
country.
A
A
Every
student,
every
teacher,
every
parent
who
persevered
through
uncertain
academic
year
this
year,
every
shelter
worker
who
kept
our
shelters,
open
and
safe
options
for
our
homeless
community,
all
throughout
the
city
of
boston,
every
donor
to
the
boston,
resiliency
fund
or
another
covert,
19
relief
fund
to
make
sure
people's
immediate
needs
were
met,
and
every
non-profit
and
partner
throughout
the
city
who
made
sure
those
resources
were
getting
to
the
people
who
need
it.
The
most.
A
I
want
to
thank
every
resident
who
made
a
sacrifice,
both
big
and
small,
to
keep
others
safe.
I've
watched
our
city
come
together
in
extraordinary
ways
over
this
last
year
and
from
the
bottom
of
my
heart.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
everyone.
I
say
this
a
lot.
I
mean
it
every
time
I
say
it,
I'm
proud
to
be
mayor
of
the
greatest
city
in
the
world,
boston
massachusetts.
A
I
look
forward
to
seeing
better
days
ahead
in
2021
as
we
turn
the
clock,
and
I
want
to
wish
everyone
a
happy
and
safe
and
healthy
new
year.
I
also
wanted
to
give
a
shout
out
because
I
probably
won't
be
speaking
to
the
press
before
next
year.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
covering
these
press
conferences.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
giving
good
information
good
facts
out
to
people.
The
very
beginning
is
pandemic.
A
Most
people
don't
know
this,
but
the
press
really
helped
getting
information
out
to
people
and
and
they
covered
this-
the
way
they
needed
to
and
they
do
every
day.
So
I
want
to
thank
you
for
taking
time
to
be
here
at
this
press
conferences
and
the
work
that
you
do
as
well
with
that
all
of
those
questions.
A
Well,
we're
playing
that
we'll
be
writing
them
up
afterwards.
If
we
get
if
we
get
calls
to
complaints
to
houses
with
loud
noise
and
music
or
more
people
are
doing
that,
we'll
be
knocking
on
to
us
and
asking
people
to
shut
down.
Hopefully,
people
cooperate
a
lot
of
the
house
parties.
Also
it's
it's
a
nuisance
for
families,
people
around
you
little
kids
and
things
like
that.
So,
if
need
be,
we
will
have
police
knocking
on
doors
and
asking
people
shut
down,
but
I
guarantee
you
we
will
be.
A
A
I
mean
I
people
will
be
gathering
in
different
places,
but
we're
going
to
be
actually
wearing
masks,
keeping
physical,
social,
distancing
and
working
to
make
sure
that
that
they're
available
I'll
be
talking
to
my
public
health
department,
possibly
about
bringing
some
mass
out
to
the
community
just
to
make
sure
people
have
them.
You
know
you
can't
you
can't
lock
people
in
their
house,
obviously,
but
or
lock
them
out
of
coming
in
town,
but
we're
gonna
ask
be
smart
about
it
and
be
careful
again.
A
You
know
some
of
the
stories
I
was
watching
last
night
on
tv,
where
were
family
members
that
that
got
sick
of
covert
and
died,
little
kids
and
no
one.
No
one
intentionally
went
out
interacted
with
somebody
got
covered,
19
brought
in
the
house
and
next
thing
they
have
a
death
in
their
family.
But
the
reality
is
it's
happened.
You
know
we
have.
I
think
it's
340
000
americans
at
this
point
have
lost
their
life
due
to
cover
19.
and
unfortunately,
over
the
next
two
weeks,
we're
going
to
see
that
number
grow
very
substantially.
A
We
know
it's
going
to
happen
because
right
now,
they're
on
ventilators
and
people
have
contracted
the
virus
over
christmas
break,
it's
in
their
body,
they
don't
know,
what's
how
it's
going
to
impact
them
and
over
the
course,
the
next
two
to
five
days
it's
going
to
be
full
front
and
center
and
then
a
couple
days
later,
people
be
in
hospital.
So
again
it's
about
being
careful.
I
can't
stress
enough
about
the
importance
of
being
being
careful
right
now.
Sean.
A
No,
we
generally,
we
generally
put
extra
extra
patrols
on
new
year's
eve.
We
protect
the
city
of
boston,
the
residents
of
the
city,
making
sure
that
you
know
normally
we'd
have
a
parade
in
town
with
the
fireworks
and
all
that
stuff
going
on
tomorrow
night.
But
you
know,
we've
gotten
a
lot.
A
lot
of
calls
from
the
community
over
since
the
summer
about
parties
happening
whether
it
was
backyard
barbecues
or
more
recently,
in
the
fall
and
early
winter
lots
of
house
parties.
A
No,
no
idea,
no
idea,
I
think,
there's
a
there's
a
list,
I'm
not
on
the
top
of
the
list.
B
B
I
don't
know
if
they
were,
I
can't
say
what
family
had
those
dogs,
but
I
can
tell
you
where
the
crime
took
place,
that
was
in
the
backyard
of
number
seven
rockville
terrace
and
unfortunately,
that's
where
the
11
year
old
was
mauled
and
thank
god,
the
officer
went
through
those
measures
to
save
that
child's
life.
B
B
E
A
E
A
Yeah,
I'm
very
very
confident
in
that
that
the
police,
the
boston
police
department
can
police
themselves,
but
also
we
we
just
finished,
putting
together
a
task
force
that
came
back
recommendations
and
and
we're
working
right
now
and
implementing
those
implementing
those
recommendations.
A
With
the
civilian
oversight
board
aboard
to
review
internal
internal
affair
cases,
putting
more
putting
our
cases
up
on
a
computer
transparency,
so
people
can
access
the
information
very
easily,
so
all
of
that
will
be
in
in
place.
After
the
first
year,
the
city
council
passed
the
the
the
board
that
we
just
created
the
other
day
with
the
subpoena
power.
So
all
of
that
is
work
that
we've
been
working
on
for
a
long
time,
but
obviously
the
sense
of
urgency.
A
This
year
has
stepped
up
in
a
different
way
since
the
killing
of
george
floyd
and
I'm
proud
of
the
task
force,
the
work
they've
done,
I'm
proud
of
the
work
that
we
continue
to
do
here.
I
mean
I
think
that
there's
going
to
be
individual
cases,
all
you
know,
with
the
police
department
here
in
boston
and
around
the
country,
there's
going
to
be
individual
cases
in
different
areas
that
we're
going
to
have
to
be
watching
monitoring
closely.
A
Scriptures
last
time
I
talked
to
the
vice
president,
the
president-elect,
I
should
say,
was:
I
was
on
a
zoom
call
with
him
with
the
us
conference
of
mayors
about
a
week
after
he
got
elected
president
united
states
of
america
at
least
the
time
I
acknowledged
it
to
go
like
the
president.
So
I've
not
been
talking
to
anyone
in
the
by
demonstration.