MA Expands Coronavirus Testing; Hospitals Delay Some Procedures

MASSACHUSETTS — The state is expanding coronavirus testing and instructing hospitals to delay elective procedures, the latter of which is a callback to the overwhelming surge of COVID-19 cases during the spring.

Gov. Charlie Baker also appeared to drop hints that additional coronavirus restrictions might not be far away.

Baker made the announcements Monday afternoon after several days of what he said were coronavirus cases that "took off like a rocket" following Thanksgiving.

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Baker parried questions about whether he is considering further restrictions, but it sounded as if he may soon bend to the pressure being applied by mayors and local doctors. "We're taking a good look at the data," he said when asked about new measures. "I fully expect that at some point, we’ll make some decisions."

"Stay tuned," he answered when someone asked about restrictions for social clubs.

The elective procedure postponement begins Friday and is not a blanket curtailment. Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said the state is only asking people to defer in-patient elective surgeries, procedures and treatments that impact staffing and beds. Even still, some in-patient elective procedures will remain available, and people should call their health care providers to find out, she said.

The testing expansion will increase capacity for "testing deserts" in Barnstable, Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties. Meanwhile, there will now be free testing sites in 25 communities — one in Framingham opened Monday. Testing sites will be winterized, Baker said, meaning they will be able to handle the cold and inclement weather. See all testing sites here.

The state can expect 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of the year, Baker said. They will be distributed to frontline health care workers and long-term care facilities. Baker said more vaccine details will be made available Wednesday and an aggressive public information campaign will follow.

The state reported more than 10,000 cases of the coronavirus and 94 more deaths over the weekend. More than 1,400 patients were hospitalized with the virus as of Sunday's report, but the worst could still be yet to come. Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday the brunt of infections from Thanksgiving won't be fully realized for another week or so.

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