Gov. Baker prohibits reusable shopping bags during coronavirus emergency
Part of new public health order regarding grocery stores and pharmacies
BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday announced a new public health order related to grocery stores and pharmacies in Massachusetts, which includes a temporary ban on reusable bags.
“From now on, reusable bags are prohibited and all regulations on plastic bag bans are lifted,” he said.
The order also prohibits stores from charging for paper and plastic bags while the order is in place.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh had previously announced the same measures in the city.
According to Baker, other features of the public health order require grocery stores and pharmacies to:
- Hold at least one hour per day of shopping time for adults over 60-years old.
- Offer hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, as available, for customers to use in store for cleaning carts.
- Procedures to ensure customers and staff maintain 6 feet of distance.
- Closure of any self-serve food stations.
- Instructs employees to stay home if they are not feeling well.
- Asks stores to offer alternative assignments to employees at high risk for complications if they contract COVID-19.
The companies that operate Stop & Shop, Shaw’s and Star Market stores recently said they were adopting many of these changes. Those chains also announced plans to install the precautionary barriers at checkout lanes in the near future.
According to state health officials, patients were hospitalized in 103 cases, while 350 patients did not have to be hospitalized. DPH said 1,385 cases remain under investigation.
The latest deaths include a man in his 80s from Norfolk County, a man in his 80s from Barnstable county, a man in his 70s from Worcester County and a woman in her 70s from Worcester County. The DPH said all of the patients had been hospitalized and three of them had known preexisting conditions.
The previous 11 deaths were people who died ranged in age from 50s to 90s, the DPH said. Three of the six men were from Suffolk County, the other three were from Norfolk, Hampden and Berkshire counties. Two of the five women were from Middlesex County and Worcester, Essex and Berkshire counties each recorded one female resident death.
The county of residence of 159 Massachusetts patients are unknown.
The DPH said Wednesday that 99 COVID-19 cases are associated with a meeting of executives of the firm Biogen at a Boston hotel last month and the origins of 1,501 cases are still under investigation.
The DPH said 19,794 people have been tested.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Wednesday in its weekly quarantine numbers update that 3,802 Massachusetts residents have been quarantined in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Health officials said 1,655 of those residents have completed monitoring and quarantine, while 2,147 are currently undergoing monitoring or quarantining.
On March 18, the state reported 2,054 total quarantines, with 1,168 people in active quarantine and 886 people who have completed quarantine.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death. The vast majority of people recover.
4 new coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths confirmed in Mass.; total at 1,838 confirmed cases
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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed four new COVID-19-related deaths across the state as of Wednesday afternoon, bringing the state’s total to 15.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose Wednesday from 1,159 Tuesday to a new total of 1,838 cases, all of which are now categorized as confirmed per guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Bristol County, the case total more than doubled, jumping from 31 to 67; and in Plymouth County, the case total climbed by 37, moving the total there from 64 to 101.
There are 146 cases related to local transmission and 92 travel-related cases.
According to state health officials, patients were hospitalized in 103 cases, while 350 patients did not have to be hospitalized. DPH said 1,385 cases remain under investigation.
The latest deaths include a man in his 80s from Norfolk County, a man in his 80s from Barnstable county, a man in his 70s from Worcester County and a woman in her 70s from Worcester County. The DPH said all of the patients had been hospitalized and three of them had known preexisting conditions.
The previous 11 deaths were people who died ranged in age from 50s to 90s, the DPH said. Three of the six men were from Suffolk County, the other three were from Norfolk, Hampden and Berkshire counties. Two of the five women were from Middlesex County and Worcester, Essex and Berkshire counties each recorded one female resident death.
The county of residence of 159 Massachusetts patients are unknown.
The DPH said Wednesday that 99 COVID-19 cases are associated with a meeting of executives of the firm Biogen at a Boston hotel last month and the origins of 1,501 cases are still under investigation.
The DPH said 19,794 people have been tested.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Wednesday in its weekly quarantine numbers update that 3,802 Massachusetts residents have been quarantined in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Health officials said 1,655 of those residents have completed monitoring and quarantine, while 2,147 are currently undergoing monitoring or quarantining.
On March 18, the state reported 2,054 total quarantines, with 1,168 people in active quarantine and 886 people who have completed quarantine.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death. The vast majority of people recover.
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