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Gov. Baker: State is doing everything possible to prepare for expected surge of COVID-19 cases

BOSTON — Governor Baker says the state is doing everything they can to curb the spread of coronavirus as an expected surge in cases looms.

In a press conference last week, Baker said the state would be seeing its peak number of cases between April 10 and 20, where anywhere from 47,000 people to 172,000 are expected to contract the virus.

“No one really knows how many people will be lost to this virus,” said Baker. “The numbers are extraordinary, and as I’ve said before behind every one of those numbers is a person with a story and a family and a circle of friends.”

Baker says the state of Massachusetts is already doing everything possible to prepare the people in the state and its hospitals for a possible surge in COVID-19 cases in the next week. He says 100 ventilators were distributed to hospitals on Monday, and he hopes more are on the way.

Last week, the Patriots helped fly a shipment of over 1 million N95 masks from China to New England. Over 300,000 were later distributed to New York officials, also with the help of the Kraft family.

On Sunday, Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh issued a public health advisory, setting a series of new protocols for the city due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all of which are set to be in place through at least May 4.

Among those protocols is a curfew for the city every night from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. as well as asking residents to cover their faces whenever going outside.

“I think in many respects the overarching message comes from many of the announcements he made yesterday is a really simple one: if you don’t have to leave home, don’t,” said Baker.

While Baker says he supports Walsh in implementing more safety protocols for the city, he says he will not be requiring people across the state to wear a mask in public, but says it’s a good idea in some situations.

“If you’re not going to be in a situation where you’re able to create distance, the CDC recommendation is that you wear a mask and I think that makes sense,” said Baker.

Again, the governor is asking people to stay home as much as possible and to practice social distancing ahead of what he says will be a difficult couple of weeks.

He maintains his stance in deciding not to order a statewide lockdown. Baker reiterated on Monday he does have the power to make certain changes if necessary and close down places.

“If we see circumstances and situations where people aren’t abiding by these rules like we saw with some of the stuff around the beaches, we acted on it and we’ll continue to do that,” said Baker.