Mayor urges COVID-19 safety over holiday
Acting Mayor Kim Janey is warning people to be wary of coronavirus spread ahead of Good Friday and Easter as the city’s positive test rate continues to rise.
“As Christians observe Good Friday tomorrow and prepare for Easter Sunday, I want to take a moment to remind everyone that COVID-19 is still with us,” Janey said in a news conference on Thursday. “Have a talk with your family, and set expectations for a safe holiday weekend.”
She continued, “While many of us celebrate the good news of Easter this weekend, let’s renew our commitment to keeping our families and communities safe. We can all help continue Boston recovery, reopening and renewal. Reopening milestones like opening day at Fenway Park and outdoor dining in the North End can only continue if we all do our part to control the spread of COVID.”
The city’s positive test rate is back on the rise, now hitting 4.8% in the most recent semi-weekly report, which was released Wednesday. That mark was hit last Thursday, March 25, which is the most recent day for which new data is available. Preliminary stats for the following few days show a continued increase.
The positive test rate has crept up over the past couple of weeks after a long decline following a recent peak at the start of the year. The rate is about to cross the city’s “threshold for concern” of 5%. The city laid out that mark in October, and promptly smashed right past it, peaking around 9% in early January. The average number of daily cases, currently at 217, remains below the threshold for concern, which is 340. That metric, however, also is showing a rise.
Testing remains more or less flat, nudging up this week after going down slightly over a few weeks.
The percentage of all Boston adult hospital beds that are filled has stalled around 87%, below the threshold of 95% and well below the peak in January of 101%. The availability of ICU beds, however, remains a concern with just 11% open. The city set a threshold of 20% and dropped below that level more than 110 days ago.
Janey asked residents to continue to wash their hands, wear masks and get vaccinated when they’re able.