COVID-19 Massachusetts

Massachusetts health officials reported 31 new coronavirus cases and one new death on Sunday. The day’s numbers pushed the state’s confirmed COVID-19 cases to 663,625 since the start of the pandemic and its death toll to 17,626. The state’s COVID-19 data, tracked on the Department of Public Health’s interactive coronavirus dashboard, fell and that its state of emergency declaration...

With hours remaining before Massachusetts’ coronavirus state of emergency declaration expires, some state lawmakers are working to keep some of the pandemic-related policies that have been in place over the past year. Gov. Charlie Baker on May 17 announced his plans to end the state of emergency that’s been in effect since March 2020, and said his timeline would give…

With hours remaining before Massachusetts’ coronavirus state of emergency declaration expires, some state lawmakers are working to keep some of the pandemic-related policies that have been in place over the past year.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced some big changes for coronavirus-related face coverings coming at the end of the month. Here is what you need to know about when vaccinated and unvaccinated people will still be expected to mask up.

After a well deserved vacation week, given how hard schools have had it this past year, in-person learning is back in session in this week. Some families used to the time to take their first trip in over a year, raising questions about who needs to be tested to prevent any post-break spike in COVID-19 cases. Wednesday is the deadline…

Wednesday is the deadline for middle schools in Massachusetts to return to full in-person learning. Students in grades K-8 who opted for in-person learning will return to classrooms five days a week.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected so many things, including how we mourn for loved ones who have passed. We talked to an expert and four women who have lost their loved ones to covid to explore how grief changed in a pandemic.

Barnstable Public Schools will remain remote as the town sees a rise in coronavirus cases, the district’s superintendent announced on Sunday. In a written statement to the community, Barnstable Superintendent of Schools Meg Mayo-Brown said 70 positive staff members and student tested positive last week. More than 225 close contacts are currently in quarantine. “In terms of current local public…

Gov. Charlie Baker announces new restrictions on Mass. residents to prevent another coronavirus surge, including reducing capacity for most industries to 25% and reducing indoor gatherings to a maximum of 10 people.

Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker announces that effective Friday, hospitals can curtail some elective procedures that would be safely postponed to free up staffing and beds for coronavirus patients. He also announced new free COVID-19 testing locations in the state.

Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker announces a new COVID-19 field hospital opening in Lowell, after touring another field hospital at the DCU Center in Worcester.

If your child develops symptoms of the coronavirus in school, they could get an Abbott rapid test with parental permission starting in early December.

Coronavirus cases have spiked in Massachusetts schools, with 652 more cases reported this week among students and staff members. The Department of Elementary and Secondary released the numbers Thursday in its weekly COVID-19 report. A total of 398 students learning in-person or in a hybrid plan tested positive from Nov. 12 to 18, as did 254 school district staffers. The…

An indoor party of about 20 underage youths, who were allegedly not following social distancing and face covering protocols as they gathered in a small inside space, was reported to and broken up by police in Cohasset late Friday night. Several occupants of the gathering — at which officers say they found open containers — ran away from police into…

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has been talking publicly about COVID-19 since March, often searching for new ways to express his message. On Friday morning, while speaking at an online executive forum, Baker said someone asked him to explain the transmission situation in a way that’s really easy to understand. The governor said yes, and then asked listeners if they’ve...

A study conducted by researchers found that people are more likely to do risky COVID-19 behaviors in October than in the spring.

Last week, 121 communities in Massachusetts were considered at the highest-risk of COVID-19 spread, according to data from Gov. Charlie Baker’s office. On Friday, 105 communities were removed from that list as part of new reporting guidelines. The move comes as the state’s COVID risk map has been changed for the third time in as many weeks. The new data…

Massachusetts changed which communities it considered at high risk of coronavirus transmission, which dropped the number from 121 to 16 on Friday. Officials said the change allows more schools to hold in-person classes.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and his top education advisors urged schools Tuesday not to overreact to the rise in COVID-19 cases this fall, telling even those districts in communities deemed to be at the highest risk for transmission of the virus to stick with in-person learning unless there is evidence of spread within the school system. Education Secretary Jim Peyser…