POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Virus deaths likely UNDERCOUNTED — SMALL BIZ loans slow to roll out — HARVARD FLIPS, will refuse federal funds

By Stephanie Murray

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. CORONAVIRUS SLAMS NURSING HOMES — A major coronavirus storyline in Massachusetts is what's happening at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. More than half of the state's deaths related to Covid-19 have occurred at long term care facilities, according to data released this week. The first long term care facility to have a public crisis was the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, now the subject of several investigations, where more than 50 veteran residents have died from Covid-19 and 81 employees tested positive for the virus. State lawmakers are working on legislation to ensure nursing home safety, and the White House has ordered nursing homes across the country to report information directly to the CDC and to the families of patients. There have been significant setbacks in Massachusetts - the state is putting part of its nursing home testing program on hold due to test kit issues, according to the Boston Globe, and new nursing home data the state reported this week contained errors. But another way to understand what it's like at nursing homes is through the local newspapers. At just one Topsfield nursing home, 11 residents have died and 58 of the facility's 78 residents have tested positive for coronavirus, according to a report from The Salem News . In Worcester, staff at the Jewish Healthcare Center are relying on a delivery of raincoats and rain ponchos to wear in place of personal protective equipment, which has been in short supply. Volunteers purchased the rain gear from Walmart stores, according to a Telegram & Gazette report. A nursing home in Littleton received threatening handwritten messages following the death of a nurse Maria Krier, who expressed concerns about how the facility was operating before she died of the virus. The Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley has come under scrutiny by town, state and federal officials, according to The Lowell Sun. And other facilities are taking somewhat unusual precautions. The River Valley Rest Home in Northampton installed an unlocked fence around its perimeter to remind residents to stay put, according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette . Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts General Hospital President Dr. Peter Slavin speak at a virtual town hall hosted and moderated by the Boston Globe's Brian McGrory and Janelle Nanos. Rep. Joe Kennedy III hosts a livestream with cast members of the Broadway show "Dear Evan Hansen" Jordan Fisher and Gabrielle Carrubba. Sen. Ed Markey hosts a livestream with Codman Square Health Center CEO Sandra Cotterell.

LIVE TODAY - HOW GOV. LARRY HOGAN SECURED 500,000 TESTING KITS FOR MARYLAND: Join Playbook co-authors Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman today at 9 a.m. EDT for a virtual discussion with Gov. Larry Hogan (R-Md.), who has been on the front lines of this crisis since it began. Hogan will detail the behind-the-scenes efforts that secured 500,000 coronavirus testing kits, what it will take to reopen the state's economy and how governors are trying to collaborate with the White House on the pandemic response. Have questions? They'll answer as many as they can. REGISTER HERE TO PARTICIPATE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

- "More Than 2,000 Deaths: Mass. Reaches Another Grim Milestone In The Pandemic," by Lisa Creamer, WBUR: "More than 2,000 people have now died due to COVID-19 as the pandemic continues to take a devastating human toll in Massachusetts. As of Wednesday, state health officials reported the deaths of 2,182 people. That's 221 more deaths than were reported the previous day — the largest number of deaths reported in a single day since the first death due to COVID-19 was reported more than a month ago."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

- "Official toll of Massachusetts coronavirus deaths likely undercounted, a review shows," by Andrew Ryan, Kay Lazar and Saurabh Datar, Boston Globe: "The number of people killed by coronavirus in Massachusetts in the early days of the pandemic is likely much higher than reflected by the official death toll, according to a Globe analysis of preliminary state death records from March. Total deaths in Massachusetts soared by 11 percent last month over the March average for the last 20 years, a statistically significant increase that far exceeded the expected swings from year to year." - "Baker hints at 'rules of road' for reopening," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Gov. Charlie Baker indicated on Wednesday that some of the state's businesses could begin reopening after the COVID-19 surge concludes as long as they comply with rules his administration is developing with business leaders and other advisors. Baker shut down much of the state's economy in March by urging residents to stay home and ordering non-essential businesses to shutter their physical work settings." - "Pockets of resistance emerge to coronavirus retail closures in Mass." by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "With a Trump 2020 flag fluttering in the background, John Costa stood shoulder to shoulder with a Republican activist Tuesday outside his firearms shop, The Gunrunner, all while a Facebook live stream captured the small, five-person rally honoring his defiance. 'I'm making a killing!' said Costa, who has refused to close his store despite Governor Charlie Baker's order for a swath of businesses, including firearms retailers, to shutter amid the COVID-19 pandemic — and a cease-and-desist order issued by Middleborough officials demanding he do the same." - "Tran linked to police investigation," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "State Sen. Dean Tran has created a legal defense fund as he faces both a campaign finance-related investigation and an unrelated criminal investigation. On March 26, the Massachusetts Senate stripped Tran, a Fitchburg Republican, of his leadership position after an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee found that Tran had used his taxpayer-funded Senate staff to regularly conduct campaign activities, including fundraising." - "Charlie Baker was asked about banning in-store grocery shopping. He said it might defeat the purpose." by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Gov. Charlie Baker's administration has worked to encourage and expand online grocery shopping, but has no plans to make it a requirement in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. 'I haven't had people ask for that,' Baker said during a press conference Wednesday, when asked by a reporter if he was considering an order to keep customers from entering supermarkets by mandating 'curbside pickup only or delivery only for the grocery stores.'" - "Lawmakers weigh remote notary services," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "From wills and trusts to real estate sales, a litany of legal work that needs notarization is on hold amid the coronavirus outbreak. Under Massachusetts law, notarizations must take place in person, which is complicated by social distancing policies aimed at preventing further spread of the virus. On Beacon Hill, lawmakers are weighing a proposal to allow public notaries to certify documents through video-conferencing, rather than in person." - "Arciero, Eldridge file bill ensuring nursing home safety," by John Winkler, Nashoba Valley Voice: "With more reports coming in of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes, legislation has been filed that would allow the state Department of Public Health more leeway to take action. Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, and Rep. Jim Arciero, D-Westford, filed An Act Relative to Patient Safety in Nursing Homes on Friday. If approved, the bill would give the Department of Public Health authority to inspect and even take over management of a nursing home in the time of a public health emergency." - "State Audit Claims Lax Practices, Poor Record-Keeping And Potential Payroll Fraud At State Environmental Police Force," by Tori Bedford, WGBH News: "Between July 2016 and June 2018, thousands of dollars in state funding went to 'potentially unnecessary' overtime payments to the Massachusetts Environmental Police force, according to an audit from State Auditor Suzanne Bump that alleges 'lax practices' and 'poor record keeping' by the force." FROM THE HUB - "Deferred dreams for black, brown business owners," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "Miguel Vargas runs the Bajucol Dance Studio in East Boston, a business out of step with the social distancing required to fend off COVID-19. The two-year-old enterprise shut down in March. Vargas has tried hosting classes online, but few customers have signed up. His income has vanished, his rent is two months overdue, and his future prospects are iffy in the 'new normal' Gov. Charlie Baker is talking about. Vargas' story is typical of many black, brown, and immigrant business owners in Massachusetts who followed their dreams over the last couple years, only to have those dreams turn into nightmares when COVID-19 put the economy into a self-induced coma." - "Boston Marathon, re-opening economy hinge on coronavirus testing: Marty Walsh," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "Re-opening the economy and even running the Boston Marathon this fall will depend on a major increase in testing for the novel coronavirus, Mayor Martin Walsh said Wednesday. 'Getting the economy started up again and moving forward and certainly reopening is a top priority of all of ours. We're developing a public health criteria for what steps would be taken and when,' Walsh said in a press conference outside City Hall." - "As students in coronavirus-shutdown Massachusetts schools work from home, these towns without reliable internet are getting hot spots set up," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Thousands of residents in Massachusetts who have struggled to get internet in their communities may soon have the option to use a local hot spot. As of Wednesday, local service providers set up six hot spots in four towns through a partnership involving the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the MassTech Collaborative, the state-owned MassBroadband 123 fiber-optic network and local internet service providers." - "Not just PPP: SBA's disaster loans slow to roll out in Mass.," by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: "To date, barely more than 500 Massachusetts businesses have been approved for loans through a U.S. Small Business Administration pandemic-relief program that's served as a lesser-known cousin of the Paycheck Protection Program, with the loans totaling nearly $104 million. However, here in Massachusetts the SBA has processed more than 16,500 cash advances of up to $10,000 from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program." - "When it comes to online learning, two New England neighbors take wildly divergent paths," by Bianca Vázquez Toness and Dan McGowan, Boston Globe: "The two states epitomize the starkly different approaches states are taking to learning in the era of COVID-19. Tiny Rhode Island, with just 142,000 public school students, laid out a clear mandate that teachers and students would continue with business as usual — except now online. Massachusetts, by contrast, has left the extent and depth of online learning largely up to individual school districts and teachers while encouraging them to avoid introducing any new content for the time being." PRIMARY SOURCES - "Newton's Fuller joins fellow Mass. mayors in calling for Vote by Mail program," by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "A group of more than 20 mayors of Massachusetts cities called Tuesday for state lawmakers to implement a Vote by Mail program to ensure voters can safely cast ballots in 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. 'In this time of pandemic, no one should be forced to choose between their health and their right to vote,' the mayors said in an April 21 letter to Senate President Karen E. Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo." IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN - "Remember that gas tax increase? Lawmakers aren't so sure now," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "With the virus at the center of virtually all legislative action and the economy in shambles, key lawmakers overseeing transportation policy in each chamber sound like they're having some second thoughts about the gas tax. State Representative William Straus still favors increasing the gas tax this session, but delaying its implementation until the economy improves." TRUMPACHUSETTS - "Harvard announces it will not accept CARES Act funds after pressure from Donald Trump and other Republicans," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Harvard University announced Wednesday that it will no longer accept the coronavirus relief funds it was allocated through the recently passed CARES Act, following pressure from Republican politicians, including President Donald Trump. In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the university said that, despite the 'significant financial challenges' the institution will face due to the pandemic, it was 'concerned' that 'the intense focus by politicians and others on Harvard in connection with this program may undermine participation in a relief effort that Congress created and the President signed into law. '" - "WATCH: Boston Mayor Walsh Calls Trump Immigration Restrictions 'Foolish,'" by Esteban Bustillos, WGBH News: "Boston Mayor Marty Walsh spoke out on Wednesday against President Donald Trump's announcement earlier this week that he will temporarily suspend immigration to the United States because of the coronavirus pandemic. 'It was a foolish policy only to distract people from the real issue at hand,' Walsh said." DATELINE D.C. - "Barack Obama just gave Mass. a shout out for its coronavirus efforts," by Christina Prignano and Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe: "President Obama is praising Massachusetts for launching an aggressive contact tracing program that aims to identify and isolate people who may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus. In a tweet on Wednesday, Obama contrasted the state's response with that of the federal government, and suggested the federal response helmed by his successor, President Trump, was lacking." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "HARVARD BLINKS," — Globe: "Mass. virus deaths likely undercounted," "Two takes for online learning." FROM THE 413 - "State inspector general began investigation into Holyoke Soldiers' Home weeks before residents were infected with COVID-19," by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: "More than six weeks before the first veteran at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke tested positive for COVID-19, the state Office of the Inspector General had begun an investigation into the state-run facility. Inspector General Glenn A. Cuhna began the investigation on Jan. 30. He recently announced he is expanding that ongoing investigation to include looking into the circumstances leading to the coronavirus crisis that has killed at least 55 residents and infected another 93 at the home." - "Springfield sees 'major spike' in coronavirus cases; 104 new COVID-19 cases reported," by Patrick Johnson, SPringfield Republican: "The city saw a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases on Wednesday with an additional 104 cases reported, which brings the total number to close to 1,000, according to city officials. The 104 new cases is 73 higher than what was reported Tuesday, and represents an all-time high for any day since Springfield began tracking COVID-19 cases, according to city records. The highest previous one-day total was 60 set on April 10." THE LOCAL ANGLE - "In Chelsea, Surging Coronavirus Accompanied By Growing Hunger Crisis," by Isaiah Thompson, WGBH News: "Speaking with WGBH News just a few weeks ago, Chelsea community organizer and activist Gladys Vega said she feared the small city was on the brink of disaster. For one thing, she thought coronavirus was more prevalent — likely, far more prevalent — than officials understood or acknowledged. Now, just a few weeks later, there are roughly one thousand known COVID-19 infections in Chelsea alone — something like one known infection for every forty to fifty residents. But Vega had also been sadly prescient about another problem facing the city: food." - "Mortuary at Fitchburg's Landry Arena up and running," by George Barnes, Telegram & Gazette: "The Landry Arena operated by Fitchburg State University is now up and running as a temporary mortuary. The mortuary site began accepting bodies on April 9, and has received seven so far. At present, three of the deceased are being kept in mortuary trucks outside the arena. The bodies are held at the arena pending transfer to funeral homes or crematoriums, according to Jake Wark, spokesman for the state Office of Chief Medical Examiner." - "Seashore officials report uptick in violations," by Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times: "The allure of the Cape Cod National Seashore is built on its beauty and solitude. While it draws between 3 million and 4 million visitors annually, the national park remains relatively untouched and undeveloped. It's a natural jewel in a region that boasts seabirds and seals, coyotes, foxes a nd deer. But the quiet and sheer size of the park also make it an easy mark for misbehavior." HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to 90 West founder and CEO Alex Goldstein; Warren 2020 alum Terrence Clark, Kerry Talbot, state Rep. Brian Ashe, former GOP candidate for Senate Geoff Diehl and former Massport Police Chief Joe Lawless (h/t Ed Cash). Want to make an impact? 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