BOSTON (WHDH) - White House officials are keeping a close eye on Boston as the city becomes a hot spot for the coronavirus.
Vice President Mike Pence said during a Sunday briefing, “Areas that we continue to watch carefully on the task force include Chicago-metro area, Boston-metro, and the Philadelphia-metropolitan area.”
Dr. Deborah Birx, of the federal task force, added in an interview with CBS News that they are monitoring cases throughout the state.
“We’re very much focused on Boston and across Massachusetts where the epidemic continues to spread,” she said.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says the northeast is working together to improve testing capacity and keep distancing guidelines in place in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“I think us thinking about this regionally is an important element because I don’t want Massachusetts to do anything that makes life difficult for New York or New Jersey or New Hampshire or Vermont,” he said, “and I certainly don’t want them to do something that would unwittingly create issues and problems in Massachusetts.”
Health officials say Massachusetts is close to its peak, while New York has been seeing a drop in cases.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during a press conference over the weekend that the state is willing to help others.
“I said, ‘You were there for us and we’re going to be there for you,'” he recalled. “If they need 400 ventilators, we’ve already identified them and we will bring them over on 24-hours notice.”
Baker told 7NEWS on Monday morning that he has been in close contact with Cuomo, who has already sent the ventilators to the Bay State.
“I think we’re starting to feel pretty good about our supply,” Baker said.
As of Sunday, health officials announced that there are 38,077 confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts and 1,706 virus-related deaths.
Those looking to get tested in Massachusetts Hyde Park location must answer “yes” to all of the following questions:
- Have you had a new fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose or nasal congestion, shortness of breath, muscle aches, or loss of the sense of smell?
- Are you 15 years of age or older?
- Are you a resident of Hyde Park, MA?
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