Bay State’s COVID-19 cases climb to 197
Trump urges limiting gatherings to10
Regan said that by August when the device is ready, coronavirus cases should have dropped drastically thanks in part to social distancing measures and warmer weather.
But, when the weather gets cooler and kids go back to school in September, there is likely to be a resurgence of cases and we may still be left without a vaccine or antiviral medicine, said Regan.
“We’re going to be in a very, very sticky situation,” said Regan.
There’s also a chance the coronavirus can mutate quickly like the flu, rendering tests inaccurate.
Regan said the LexaGene analyzer can tackle that issue due to its open access status, “This allows for our technology to be very rapidly configured with a new test.”
Adequate testing has been one of the biggest hurdles in tackling the coronavirus outbreak, with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert at the National Institutes of Health calling it “a failing” last week.
A total of 20,907 specimens have been tested at CDC labs and local public health labs since the outbreak started.
As the nation holed up at home, the number of coronavirus cases in Massachusetts climbed by 33 and President Trump urged Americans to limit gatherings to 10 people.
There are now 197 confirmed cases in the Bay State, an increase from 164 cases on Sunday, health officials announced.
Of the 197 cases, 100 are connected to the Biogen employee conference in Boston’s downtown waterfront in February. Eighteen are travel-related, 28 of the cases are local transmission, and 51 are under investigation.
A total of 14 people have been hospitalized, the state report adds.
The president, flanked by members of the nation’s coronavirus task force, rolled out tighter restrictions for the next 15 days that included limiting gatherings to 10 people, asking the elderly to stay at home and suggesting schools close in states where there is community spread.
He added bars, restaurants, gyms and other gathering spots should also be aware of the spread of COVID-19 and cap gatherings — a warning already taken here in Massachusetts with Gov. Charlie Baker ordering all restaurants and bars to close for all but take-out business.
“It seems to me if we do a really good job, we’ll not only hold the death down to a level that’s much lower than the other way had we not done a good job, but people are talking about July, August,” Trump said, alluding to the possible duration of the coronavirus crisis.
“It isn’t an overreaction,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading voice of the task force. “I say it over and over again: When you’re dealing with an emerging infectious diseases outbreak, you are always behind where you think you are.”
Also on Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention set the limit on gatherings at 50 people. In Massachusetts, Baker has put that count at 25. It comes as the U.S. has about 3,500 coronavirus cases with about 80 deathsand the San Francisco Bay Area has been ordered to shelter in place.
Worldwide, as of Monday night, the count was 181,377 COVID-19 cases and 7,119 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University map. China, Italy, Iran and Spain top the list of deaths, according to the go-to map.
Yet, Trump urged calm and said the end could come sooner if everyone does their part to “flatten the curve” of the pandemic.
“If everyone makes this change or these critical changes and sacrifices now,” the president said Monday, “we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus and we’re going to have a big celebration all together.”
As for talk of a nationwide shutdown, similar to Italy’s and Spain’s, the president said it was not likely here in the U.S. — at least not yet.
Scientists tracking the spread of the coronavirus also reported Monday that, for every confirmed case, there are most likely another five to 10 people with undetected infections.