Baker declares state of emergency as Mass. cases rise to 92
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Gov. Charlie Baker
Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency late Tuesday to give Massachusetts officials a better ability to fight the coronavirus outbreak as the state's number of cases rose to 92.
The number of Worcester County cases remained at one, but Middlesex County, which includes much of MetroWest, reported 41 cases. The Worcester County case was a woman who showed symptoms at UMass Memorial Medical Center's emergency department in Worcester and was later released to be quarantined at home.
Baker's declaration said taking such an action facilitates and expedites the use of state resources and deployment of federal resources to protect the public.
The order discontinues for state executive branch workers all out-of-state work-related travel, canceling or virtually holding conferences, and informing employees not to attend external work-related events. Baker also reminded employees sick with fever or flu-like symptoms not to go to work, and for those at higher risk of contracting the virus to talk with their supervisors about potential alternative arrangements.
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Baker gave public school systems the ability to close temporarily if needed without having to hold classes later than June 30, even if 185 school days don't take place.
The state of emergency order came as the Massachusetts coronavirus tally more than doubled in one day, hitting 92 cases, all of one of which are still presumed cases until confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The first Worcester County case was reported Monday. A day later, Eric Dickson, the head of UMass Memorial Health Care — the largest employer in Central Massachusetts — assured caregivers in a staff memo a system-wide task force is working on the issue and reminded them to be diligent.
"Our patients need us. And we need each other," Dickson, the UMass Memorial president and CEO, said. "As the safety net health system for our region, we care for our most vulnerable patients. Those who are most at risk for getting seriously ill from COVID-19 are those same vulnerable patients. We have a higher responsibility than most to protect ourselves because we are a critical resource for the communities we serve."
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As the virus has spread into Massachusetts, the area's colleges have taken action to keep students and employees safe.
Assumption College in Worcester is temporarily shutting its Rome campus, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute has canceled summer courses in China and Taiwan and suspended school-related travel, including for student projects for the academic term. UMass Medical School in Worcester has canceled all school-related international trips, including faculty and staff trips to China, South Korea, Iran and Italy.
Others, including the College of the Holy Cross and Clark University, both of Worcester, have advised their campus communities they're closely monitoring the situation.
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