SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Mayor Sarno along with health officials provided a COVID-19 update Monday morning at City Hall.
Mayor Sarno started off the news conference mentioning good trends continue throughout the city with COVID-19 cases. Friday, there were 5 new cases reported, Saturday 9, and Sunday 7. As of Monday, there is a total of 2,851 positive COVID-19 cases since March. One more COVID-19 – related death was reported since last week totaling 127.
Several free COVID-19 testing sites in Springfield are still working to be established with the help of Springfield Health Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris. As the back-to-school season begins, the Springfield Public School system is working to accommodate changes for the fall during the pandemic.
Dr. Mark Keroack, President and CEO of Baystate Health
- Uptick in COVID-19 cases from community members
- 23 patients test positive for COVID-19
- 22 of those patients at Baystate Medical Center
- 1 patient at Noble Hospital
- 2 patients in critical care
- 800 COVID-19 tests conducted a day
- 2.2 percent positive rate (an increase from last week)
- Patients were tested a week since after recent outbreak
- Additional 8 new patients test positive from the recent outbreak
- Additional 7 new employees test positive from the recent outbreak
Dr. Robert Roose, chief medical officer at Mercy Medical Center
- Focusing on re-enforcing safe care for all patients and staff
- Upon testing, incoming patients will be isolated from others and quarantined up to 14 days even if test results come back negative
- Contact tracing and follow-ups have been conducted to assess the risk is for testing positive
- No patients tested positive for a week after contact tracing was conducted
- Residents are encouraged not to travel outside of the state to a hotspot area
- There is currently three positive COVID-19 patients at Mercy
- 1 patient in ICU
- 2 percent positive rate in testing
- Over 27,000 COVID-19 tests have been performed
Health Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris
- 110,430 positive COVID-19 within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- 8,717 deaths in the state
- 6,698 cases in Hampden County
- 127 deaths in Springfield
- 2,851 COVID-19 cases in Springfield
- AMC Urgent Care, Tapestry Health, and Baystate will be conducting free COVID-19 testing. Turn around testing results is 7 to 10 days as facilities partner with Quest Lab
- 24 tests will be conducted at each site
- 3 testing sites will run on fixed days and times each week; will not be opened daily
Springfield Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvi
- No members out with COVID-19
- Several structure fires reported last week
- Arson arrest made, officers searching for one other suspect
Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood
- Two officers out on COVID-19; One tests positive
- Extra patrols will be out to help with trees and wires still down from Sunday’s tornado
Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools Daniel Warwick
- Over 2 million meals served to Springfield residents since March
- Summer school has been on-going and will be expanded
- 3-models being planned; Full re-opening, Hybrid, Remote
- In Springfield hybrid or remote options are only available due to a high population
- Every parent has a right to chose if they want their child to learn remotely