The 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Massachusetts is part of an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the US state of Massachusetts. The first confirmed case was reported on February 1, 2020, and cases began growing rapidly as of March 2. GovernorCharlie Baker declared a state of emergency on March 10, and by March 12 over 100 people were infected. Most cases were traceable to a Biogen conference held in Boston in late February. As of March 19, Massachusetts had 328 cases[1] and no deaths due to COVID-19.
School closures began March 9, when Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) moved large classes to only-online for the rest of the semester,[2][3] and a handful of local schools closed. By March 13, many colleges and state school districts announced closures ranging from weeks to months in duration.[4][5]
On March 15, Baker ordered all schools in Massachusetts closed for three weeks from Tuesday, March 17, through April 7. The same day, he also banned eating at restaurants, banned gatherings of over 25 people, relaxed unemployment claim requirements, and enacted other interventions through April 17 to slow the spread of COVID-19.[6]
^On June 3, Massachusetts began reporting recoveries. As a result, these numbers represent all cumulative recoveries dating back to March 1. Recoveries were reported weekly on Wednesdays until the week of October 21, 2020 when they began to be reported on Thursdays. On November 2, 2020 Massachusetts began reporting recoveries on a daily basis. The state stopped reporting recoveries on June 30, 2021.
^The April 24, 2020 data includes 10,897 newly conducted tests and 2,877 newly reported cases, representing a 4.9% and a 6.0% increase respectively, plus an additional 9,240 tests and 2,069 cases dating back to April 13 that had previously been omitted due to a reporting error by Quest Diagnostics.
^ abOn June 1, 2020 Massachusetts began reporting probable cases in the total case and death numbers, as recommended by the U.S. CDC.
^Data from August 22, 2020 represents a shorter-than-usual period due to planned system upgrades, so numbers may appear lower than usual.
^Data from August 24, 2020 includes data reported over the entire weekend (5pm Friday 8/21 to 8am Monday 8/24), as the Department of Public Health was completing system upgrades on August 23.
^ abAs of September 2, 2020, data reflects an updated COVID-19 national case definition by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. As a result, some numbers appear to have decreased.
^ abThe Department of Health did not release a report on November 26, 2020 the Thanksgiving holiday. Data for November 27 includes reports received early afternoon Wednesday, November 25 through 8 a.m. Friday, November 27. The November 27 numbers reflect case counts from that extended period of time.
^ abThe Department of Health did not release a report on December 25, 2020, the Christmas holiday. Data for December 26 includes reports received from approximately 12:00 AM on December 24 through 11:59 PM on December 25.
^ abThe Department of Health did not release a report on January 1, 2021, New Year's Day. Data for January 2 includes reports received from approximately 12:00 AM on December 31 through 11:59 PM on January 1.
^The Department of Health stopped publishing recovery data on June 30, 2021. They also stopped reporting data for weekend days.
^On March 14, 2022, an updated surveillance definition used to count COVID-associated deaths resulted in a reduction of 3,770 fatalities from the total number.
^The final report from the Massachusetts Department of Health was published July 4, 2024. Fatality data continues to be reported by the CDC.
February
The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed by state health officials on February 1. The individual, a University of Massachusetts Boston student, had returned to Boston from Wuhan, China. Upon returning to Boston he began experiencing symptoms and sought medical care.[7]
175 executives of Biogen Inc., a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, held a two-day leadership conference from February 26–28 at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf hotel.[8] On February 29, a Biogen executive began to develop symptoms and sought treatment at a Boston area hospital. Suspecting COVID-19 was the cause of the illness, the executive requested a test, but was told by hospital staff that it was not necessary.[8][9][10]
March
March 2–3
Until March 2, only one case was known and confirmed in Massachusetts, the second case was confirmed on March 2.[11]
March 4–5
On March 4, staff from Biogen contacted the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) claiming that two executives who had recently traveled from Europe to Boston and had attended the February conference had tested positive for COVID-19 upon returning home. The same day, a "significant number" of Biogen employees asked for coronavirus tests at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), which had not been informed that anyone at the company had been exposed to COVID-19. The state police announced Shattuck Street would be closed because a group of 60 individuals were being transported along the route to Brigham and Women's Hospital.[12]
On March 5, Biogen reported that three individuals who had attended a company event in Boston the previous week had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.[13][14]
March 6–7
On March 6, public health officials reported five new cases bringing the state total to eight.[1][15] Four cases were in Suffolk County, three in Norfolk County, and one in Middlesex County. Two cases were associated with travel to Italy and one to Wuhan. All five new cases were associated with the Biogen meeting.[16][17][18]Northeastern University, which had already closed satellite campuses in San Francisco and Seattle, hesitated to close their main campus for fear of international students losing their F visa status, and publicly called on the Department of Homeland Security to grant clemency for international students so the University can close.[19] On March 7, there were 5 more presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 13.[20] Among those cases was the index case in Berkshire County, a man in his 60s from Clarksburg whose infection could not be traced.[21]
March 8–9
On March 8, MDPH reported 15 more presumptive cases of COVID-19,[18] all of which were individuals present at the Biogen conference,[16] bringing the total to 28.[1] In response to the outbreak, Biogen ordered all its employees to work from home.[22] The fifteen new presumptive cases included five from Suffolk County, five from Middlesex County, four from Norfolk County, and one whose county of residence was unknown.[23]
On March 9, there were 13 new presumptive cases, bringing the total number of confirmed or presumptive cases in Massachusetts to 41.[24] Officials in North Carolina reported that 5 residents of Wake County tested positive for COVID-19; all five were participants in the previous week's Biogen conference in Boston.[25] The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced that all large lectures would be held online only.[2][26]
March 10–11
On March 10, the state reported 50 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 92.[27]Harvard University announced that its classes would be online-only for the rest of the spring semester.[28][29][30] The University of Massachusetts Boston informed faculty that they should prepare to teach remotely.[31]Amherst College, located in Western Massachusetts, instructed students on spring break to not return to campus, and moved all classes online for the remainder of the semester.[32]Emerson College, Tufts University, Babson College, Smith College, and Wheaton College all canceled in-person classes and moved classes online.[33] A man in Sudbury tested "presumptive positive" for COVID-19.[34]
On March 11, several schools were closed including Hopkinton Public Schools, Loker Elementary and Wayland Middle School, and Clark Avenue Middle School.[35] Northeastern University and Boston University moved to online classes.[33][36][37]Williams College will end in-person classes on Friday, March 13 and is moving to remote learning beginning on Monday, April 6.[38]Boston College moved all classes online, and all students have been told to vacate their dorms by Sunday, March 15.[39] All University of Massachusetts classes moved online until at least April 3.[33]
March 12–13
On March 12, there were 108 people in Massachusetts with confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19. Among those cases, 82 (75% of the total) were associates or employees of Biogen.[40] Governor Baker noted that the state had currently tested over 200 patients and had the capacity to test up to 5,000.[41] The Boston Marriott Long Wharf hotel, which hosted a Biogen company gathering linked to a majority of the coronavirus cases in Massachusetts, closed temporarily. In a letter to guests on Thursday, the hotel said it made the decision with the Boston Public Health Commission.[42][43]Acton-Boxborough announced school closures from March 13 until March 20.[44]
On March 13, the Boston Marathon was postponed from April 20 until September 14.[45] A few hours later, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker prohibited gatherings of more than 250 people. The measure was targeted at large events and exempted most workplaces, transit buildings, polling locations, government buildings, and schools.[46]Cardinal O'Malley announced that all daily, Sunday Masses, and other religious services would be suspended in the Archdiocese of Boston until further notice amid concerns about COVID-19.[47] In addition, Boston MayorMarty Walsh announced that Boston Public Schools would be closed starting on Tuesday, March 17 until April 27.[48] MDPH announced that there were 123 cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts.[1][49]Woburn announced that a presumptive positive case in the city had been confirmed as negative.[50]
March 14–15
On March 14, Cape Cod (Barnstable County) confirmed its first case,[51][52] a man in his 60s from Sandwich.[53] There were 15 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts to 138.[1] Officials in Worcester and Malden both announced their respective cities' first confirmed case of COVID-19, both linked to Biogen.[54][55][56] Of the state's 138 cases, 104 (75%) could be traced to employees or contacts of Biogen.[1]
Xinhua News Agency reported a COVID-19 case imported from the United States to China. The patient was a Chinese citizen but had been living in Massachusetts. She developed symptoms including fever and cough on March 1. She, her husband, and son flew back to Beijing on March 13. They were sent to a hospital from the airport. The patient was diagnosed with COVID-19, and her family was reported as suspected cases. According to the patient, she attended a company meeting February 26–27 (the same time as the Biogen conference) in the US, and went to the same hospital on March 3, 5, 10 and 11. Her chest X-ray showed pneumonia symptoms on March 11, but the hospital would not admit her and let her go home. She was denied COVID-19 tests three times.[57][58] The family flew from Boston to Los Angeles on March 11, and took CA988 from there on March 12. One hour after taking off, the patient at seat 40B told a flight attendant she was not comfortable, had no companions, and had not taken any medicine, but had a brief fever one week ago. The flight attendant moved her to a quarantine area at the back of plane. Her temperature was taken five times throughout the flight and was normal. Two hours before landing, she told a flight attendant that someone in her company was diagnosed with COVID-19, that she had taken fever reducer before the flight, and that her husband and child were at seats 54K and 54L. The flight crew then reported to flight control and the family were taken by authorities immediately after landing.[59] Beijing police said they had filed an investigation of the patient for hiding her health status when entering China, a potentially criminal offense. A Biogen spokesperson has confirmed that it believes the patient is a U.S.-based Biogen employee who made a personal decision to travel to China.[60][61] On March 16, the husband of the patient was tested positive for COVID-19. The husband is a US resident and faculty member of a US university.[62]
A 59-year-old Worcester man died on a flight from Dubai to Boston.[63] He had been sick with gastrointestinal problems and was in cardiac arrest during the flight. On March 16, Massachusetts State Police said that an autopsy revealed he did not have COVID-19.[64]
On March 15, Baker ordered all schools in Massachusetts closed for three weeks from Tuesday, March 17, through April 7. The same day, he also banned eating at restaurants, banned gatherings of over 25 people, relaxed unemployment claim requirements, and enacted other interventions through April 17 to slow the spread of COVID-19.[6]MDPH announced that 799 residents had been tested for COVID-19, up from 475 one day prior.[65] There were 164 total cases; 45 confirmed and 119 presumptive. Hampden and Plymouth counties had their first cases.[1] Plymouth county's first case, in Hanover, resulted from travel and the individual was doing well.[66] Hampden county's first case tested positive at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield; the hospital noted an additional 23 suspected cases.[67]
March 16–17
On March 16, a student at Northeastern University tested positive for COVID-19, one day after the university ordered all students to vacate dormitories by 5 pm on Tuesday, March 17.[68][69] Up to this point students were taking online classes but allowed to remain on University property.[70]Brockton announced its first case, and the mayor declared a state of emergency for the city.[71] The number of cases increased to 197.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh ordered construction projects to shut down and be secured with at most skeleton crews by March 23, and that all branches of the Boston Public Library would close that night by 6 pm.[72]
The MBTA announced that starting March 17, it would run subway and buses at Saturday levels of service during the week, with express buses still running, ferries not running, and commuter rail running on a modified schedule.[73] The next day, service was increased on the Blue Line, Green Line E branch (which serves Longwood Medical Center), and some bus lines to reduce crowding. Frequency on Massport shuttles to Logan International Airport were reduced or canceled.[74]
The Department of Public Health revised the criteria for recording COVID-19 cases. Per guidance from the CDC, all confirmed or presumptive positive cases are simply categorized as positive, and not differentiated.[1] The daily table published by the DPH also changed, whereas the category for cases associated with the Berkshire Medical Center was replaced with a category for local transmission.
Biogen announced that it would donate $10 million to support global response efforts and communities around the world affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[75]
On March 17, the reported number of coronavirus cases increased 21 from Monday to 218. The number of hospitalized patients with suspected or known infections quadrupled to 53 between March 16 and 17, as major hospitals began reusing protective gear or asking the public for donations of masks.[76]
March 18–19
On March 18, the number of cases increased to 256, an increase of 38. The number of cases where initial exposure was under investigation rose rapidly, whereas cases tracked to Biogen attendees and household contacts continued an overall mild decline.[note 1]
On March 19, Governor Baker activated up to 2,000 Massachusetts National Guard to assist in the management of the pandemic.[77] The number of cases increased by 72, putting the total at 328, with 119 in Middlesex County.[78]Franklin and Hampshire counties—both in Western Massachusetts and the last non-island counties—had their first confirmed cases of COVID-19.[1]
The Boston Celtics announced that shooting guard Marcus Smart tested positive for COVID-19 and was in isolation while in treatment.[79]
March 20
Authorities from Massachusetts DPH reported the state's first death: a 88 year old patient from Suffolk County, hospitalized and with preexisting conditions.[80]
Epidemiology
Diagrams
Massachusetts COVID-19 cases by category
Total reported cases, stacked by testing level[note 2]
Cases by initial exposure
Cases by hospitalization
Growth by exposure cluster
COVID-19 in Massachusetts has spread through exposure contact networks. These were traced and clustered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which released daily public updates.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Massachusetts by exposure[1]
Citing the rapid increase in cases, Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency for Massachusetts on March 10.[82][83] During a press conference at 11:00 on March 14, 2020, Governor Baker established an emergency command center, with multiple state departments working with contact with one another, Baker also promised an expansion of statewide lab testing.
On March 15, Governor Baker banned all public gatherings of over 25 people, closed all K-12 public schools from March 17 through April 7, and banned on-site service at bars and restaurants for the same period.[84]
Economic and social effects
The sudden surge of cases in Massachusetts during the week of March 9 led to many organizations ordering workers to work from home and closures of museums and libraries, leading to a noticeable decline of Boston's notorious rush hour traffic. In some cases, drive times for major highways during Boston's rush hour dropped by 30 to 50 percent.[85]Panic buying, especially since the week of March 11, led to shortages of various products, with many shoppers and long lines at grocery stores as early in the day as 7:00 am.[86]
School closures
School closures began in early March, starting on March 9, when MIT announced it was moving to only-online classes for the remainder of the spring semester.[2] Also on March 9, two elementary schools in the Plainville school district and one in Arlington were closed for the day due to tests being conducted on two parents and one child.[87] School districts began closing on March 11. Within a week, many colleges and state school districts announced closures ranging from weeks to months in duration.[4][5].
Wellesley and Framingham closed their public schools and libraries for two weeks on March 13.[88][89][90][91] Also on March 13, Boston announced that its public schools close for six weeks from Tuesday, March 17 through April 26.[92]
On March 15, Governor Baker ordered all schools in Massachusetts closed for three weeks from Tuesday, March 17 through April 7.[6]
Most of state's sports teams were affected. Several leagues began postponing or suspending their seasons starting March 12. Major League Baseball cancelled the remainder of spring training on that date, and on March 16, they announced that the season will be postponed indefinitely, after the recommendations from the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, affecting the Boston Red Sox.[93] Also on March 12, the National Basketball Association announced the season would be suspended for 30 days, affecting the Boston Celtics.[94] In the National Hockey League, the season was suspended for an indefinite amount of time, affecting the Boston Bruins.[95]
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^On March 16, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health revised the criteria for recording COVID-19 cases. Per guidance from the CDC, all confirmed or presumptive positive cases were henceforth simply categorized as positive, and not differentiated.
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