Gov. Baker to announce measures supporting hospitals amid COVID-19 surge

BOSTON — Governor Charlie Baker is scheduled to speak at 9 a.m. Tuesday alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders to discuss new measures to support the healthcare system, according to a news release from his office.

It was about a month ago that Gov. Baker issued a public health order forcing hospitals to reduce non-essential elective procedures. This was done due to a critical staffing shortage that reduced the number of available beds for COVID-19 patients and others. Since then, COVID-19 numbers continue to spiral out of control, with the positivity rate and hospitalizations seven-day average at the highest levels since January, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Health leaders are urging people who are not vaccinated or due for a booster to get the shots as soon as possible. A recent study by DPH of breakthrough COVID cases shows 97 percent of breakthrough cases do not result in serious illness or death. The study also showed unvaccinated residents are 31 times more likely to be infected than fully vaccinated people and that 99.9 % of breakthrough cases in vaccinating people under 60 did not result in serious illness or death.

Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said the data clearly show near-universal protection from illness and death if you are fully vaccinated.

“Amid the season of gathering indoors and the emerging Omicron variant, the time to get vaccinated and boosted is now. It is the best gift of protection for yourself and your loved ones,” added Sudders.

The governor’s news conference will be seen on Boston 25 News starting at 9 a.m.

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