COVID-19 cases ticking up; travellers face virus restrictions

BOSTON – The number of new COVID-19 cases has ticked up in Massachusetts.

On Tuesday, the state reported 438 newly confirmed cases and 108 new probable cases, for a total of more than 540 confirmed and probable cases. That brings the total number of confirmed and probable cases to more than 119,000 in Massachusetts since the start of the pandemic.

The state also reported nine newly confirmed deaths linked to COVID-19 on Tuesday — bringing the number of confirmed and probable deaths to 8,657.

There were 354 people reported hospitalized Tuesday because of COVID-19, while 56 were in intensive care units.

The number of confirmed and probable COVID-19 related deaths at long-term care homes rose to 5,512 or nearly 64% of all confirmed and probable deaths in Massachusetts attributed to the disease.

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VISITOR QUARANTINE

Thousands of travellers to Massachusetts have begun filling out forms required by the state to help combat the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday.

On Saturday, the state began requiring visitors comply with a new executive order mandating they quarantine for 14 days or face a $500-per-day fine.

That includes residents returning home from out-of-state trips.

Travellers who can produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72 hours before their arrival in Massachusetts are exempt.

Those visiting from a lower-risk state as designated by the state Department of Public Health are exempted from filling out the form. Current lower-risk states include New England states, New York, New Jersey and Hawaii.

Baker said thousands of visitors have already completed the online form.

There are also exemptions for people simply passing through the state, people who commute across state lines for work, and for those travelling to Massachusetts for medical treatment or to comply with military orders.

Baker also said Tuesday that it’s critical for everyone to continue to be vigilant to guard against a resurgence of the virus. If cases begin to rise significantly, Baker said he could take actions like restricting the size of gatherings or tightening business regulations.

“We’re not taking any options off the table when it comes to fighting COVID,” he said.

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NURSING HOME WARNINGS

The Massachusetts’ state Medicaid program has issued termination notices to three private nursing homes for allegedly failing to meet care expectations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hermitage Healthcare in Worcester, Town and Country Health Care Center in Lowell, and Wareham Healthcare received the notices Monday from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The notices are the first step in being eliminated from MassHealth, which could force the closure of the facilities.

Next Step Healthcare, the parent company of Hermitage Healthcare and Wareham Healthcare, said in a statement to The Boston Globe that the state Department of Public Health had found both facilities in compliance with infection control standards on three out of four recent visits.

The company said it would appeal both decisions.

A person who answered a phone call to Town and Country on Monday told The Sun of Lowell that the facility would have no comment.

Hermitage Healthcare has had 12 deaths from COVID-19, Town and Country has had 10 deaths and Wareham Healthcare has had no reported deaths.

The state said the facilities demonstrated poor adherence to basic infection control practices.

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SALEM HALLOWEEN

Salem is scaling back Halloween celebrations because of the coronavirus.

Each year thousands of revelers descend on Salem, which has embraced the moniker of “Witch City,” a reference to the infamous witch trials of the late 1600s. But the mayor’s office announced Tuesday that many city-run events are being cancelled.

The Salem News reports events that have been called off include the Haunted Happenings grand parade, food truck festivals, the Great Salem Pumpkin Walk, and the Mayor’s Night Out.

City officials said they expect the state will still have restrictions in place that would make it difficult to safely allow the events. Limitations imposed by the state will apply to privately run events.

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RESTAURANT WORKERS PARTY

No new cases have been reported from an outbreak on Cape Cod stemming from Chatham house party attended by restaurant workers, town officials said Tuesday.

Robert Duncanson, Chatham’s health director, said 33 of the 34 people tested at a “pop-up” testing site offered July 27 have tested negative for COVID-19. One test result is still pending, he said.

The July 12 party has been linked to at least 13 positive cases of the virus, and is the popular seaside town’s first outbreak.

Harwich is also hosting a pop-up testing site this week, Duncanson said.

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FREE TESTING SITE

Framingham is the latest Massachusetts community to get a free coronavirus testing site as part of the state’s Stop the Spread program.

The free testing sites are set up in communities that are above the state average in total cases, positive test rate, and while at the same time have fewer people getting tested.

Seventeen such sites have now been set up.

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Associated Press reporter Philip Marcelo contributed to this report.